SEPTEMBER 2002
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 9
THE VFO MEETS THE COAST FIDDLERS
THE VANCOUVER FIDDLE ORCHESTRA play traditional jigs, reels and strathspeys.
The sounds of Celtic music will echo through Mount Seymour United Church at 2 PM on October 20. The Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra (VFO) and the Coast String Fiddlers, two of the liveliest groups playing traditional music, will entertain a toe-tapping audience.
The Fiddle Orchestra is made up of more than 25 dance musicians who play traditional jigs, reels and
strathspeys....the kind of "Let's-get-up-and-dance!" music which Ashley Maclssac, Natalie McMaster and Alasdair Fraser have made increasingly popular in recent years.
For those who have seen and heard the famous 100 strong Scottish Fiddle Orchestra in live performance or on television -well - the VFO is Vancouver's own mini-version. The Orchestra, led
by guitarist Janet Wright, specializes in playing the intricate dance music needed by dancers of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and performs at formal balls wherever there is an active Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
The Coast String Fiddlers, a group of young musicians all under 20 years old, is based on BC's Sunshine Coast. They have fallen in love with the traditional music of Scotland and since their creation in 1993, have established their musical credentials by playing concerts everywhere, including an amazing trip up to Igaluit in Canada's north.
They welcome visiting fiddle groups from other areas of Canada and from Scotland and now host the annual Sunshine Coast Summer School of Celtic Music. The young group serves as a terrific inspiration to all their audiences and to their adult friends in the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra.
Mount Seymour United Church, with its exceptional acoustics, is located at 1200 Parkgate, North Vancouver. Tickets priced at 812 for adults and 88 for seniors and children under 12, are limited and early purchase is advised. They may be purchased at Long & McQuade, 1615a Lonsdale, North Vancouver, or by calling (604) 929-2235 or (604) 947-2440.
More Entertainment for Local Goon Show Fans
By EIFION WILLIAMS
VANCOUVER - Fans of the British comedy series The Goon Show will have another opportunity in October to enjoy their favourite brand of zany humour.
The astounding success of the two previous Goon Show retrospectives - "Goon Forever" and "The Last Spike" -has resulted in the organizers deciding on an annual gathering to be held in October each year.
The two previous gatherings were successful despite minimal publicity and advertising. A capacity crowd filled the Cambrian Hall at 17th and Main on both occasions, most of those attending having heard of the event by word of mouth. Despite the numbers, the nostalgic enthusiasm of Goon fans delighted the organizers and participants.
Organizers of the next Goon Show event - Paul Lievesly, Ray Soden, Paul Kloegman, Neil Gray and Neville Thomas - anticipate that more publicity will attract even more Goon fans who might not have been aware of the previous events.
As a result, they have arranged for three separate evenings of Goon entertainment at three different venues. This will allow more fans to choose an evening and a location while maintaining the intimate fellowship in which Goon addicts seem to revel.
Two of the organizers, Ray Soden and Paul Kloegman, will be familiar to those who attended the previous gatherings, and to Lower Mainlanders in general, as members of the well-known Comedy Company. They will again play an important part in the presentations of original Goon Show material. Paul Lievesly will again look after the technical arrangements.
The Goon nights, all in Vancouver, are planned as follows: October 18 at the Cambrian Hall, 215 E17th Avenue; October 19th at the Billy Bishop Legion, 1407 Laburnum Street, Kitsilano; October 20 at the WISE Club, 1882 Adanac Street.
The events will begin at 8 PM, doors open at 7 PM. The entrance fee will be 810, which will also include membership in the exclusive Goon Fellowship.
The organizers would much appreciate any help in broadly publicizing the upcoming event to the wide Goon fan audience that is out there.
Posters, pamphlets and flyers are available for distribution by those eager to help. Publicity material and tickets are available at (604) 294-4332 (Neville) or (604) 737-7734 (Neil) or e-mail: nkthomas@shaw.ca.
Highland Games 2002
The United Scottish Cultural Society extends a warm thank you to all who attended the B.C. Highland Games 2002 on June 29 and to all the willing volunteers that helped to make the Games a great success. For information on next year's games, call (604) 929-1802 or 604-463-8088.
•
Staff Change at Scottish Cultural Centre
There have been staff changes at the Scottish Cultural Centre. Anyone who had bookings or anyone wishing to book the centre for weddings and meetings should call (604) 263-9911. Regular office hours are from 10 AM to 3 PM weekdays.
DIRECT FROM SCOTLAND
Knowledge Network presents
"An Evening with Isla St. Clair
7:30 p.m., Wednesday,
September 25,2002
Jdmes Cowan Theatre, Shadbott Centre for the Arts in fiumaby
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OWLIDCE T WORK
Scottish Cultural Centre
SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE CENTRE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH - SCOTTISH CEILIDH DANCING From 8-11 p.m.
Adults $8, Children $4 including live music and refreshments. For info
call Duncan at (604) 436-3193. Sponsored by the Royal Scottish Country Dance
Society.
ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH AT 8:00 p.m. THE MORAY NAIRN & BANFF ASSOC. are holding a PUB NIGHT. Entertainment by Lorraine Smith & Friends. For info call (604) 274-4405 _
ON OCTOBER 12TH at 8:00 p.m. • THE ALEXANDER BROTHERS will be returning to the Scottish Cultural Centre to entertain us. Don't miss them! Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. To reserve, please call (604) 939-3063
LEARN TO DANCEI SWING, LATIN OR BALLROOM with Maggie Denis* Bretton. Regular Classes are held on Wednesdays & Thursdays. Social Dance held on Fridays - twice a month. For info, call Maggie at 43-SWING (604) 437-9464
HIGHLAND DANCE LESSONS from Beginner to Adult Levels are held at the Centre on Wednesdays & Thursdays. Classes are taught by Angus MacKenzie, Former World Champion, Inquiries call (604) 687-KILT
The Scottish Cultural Centre 8886 Hudson St. (at 73rd) in Vancouver
CALL US AT (604) 263-9911 OR FAX (604) 263-9510
Learn to play pipes and drums with the World Champions!
Interested?
The SFU
Pipe Band's
world-famous
teaching
program
for children
starts
immediately.
Lots of fun • Great instruction
For information, call: 604-943-1987