Here are three words you probably never ever thought you would hear in the same sentence – Tanya Tucker and Kelowna. Well well well – grab your cowgirl and hold her tight. It happened. Right there in the middle of the stage at Kelowna Community Theatre. On a school night. In front of an enthusiastic crowd that wanted to saddle up for a hayride down Delta Dawn lane. Country music legend Tanya Tucker belting out her signature hits and classics…
Okay, help me out here. Which one was Blackie and which ones were the Rodeo Kings? I’m still not sure of the answer, even though wife Elaine and I saw Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (B&RK) perform live on stage at Kelowna Community Theatre. The three front men – Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing, and Tom Wilson – were guitar-playing wizards who took turns singing lead vocals. Behind them were bass player Johnny Dymond and drummer Gary Craig. Blackie – will…
Based on global events garnering outrageous headlines, perhaps a more accurate name of Friday night’s show at Kelowna Community Theatre might have been “From Russia with Love.” I mean that in a positive way. The only operatives peddling influence on this delightful evening were the musical tacticians in the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO). Led by Music Director Rosemary Thomson, the OSO presented its “Masterworks IV – Colours of Russia” showcase to a sold-out house. The orchestral compositions were mostly upbeat…
Have you ever had the experience of watching a movie or television drama and saying to yourself “I’m not really following the plot but like what I’m seeing?” That was me exactly on the first Tuesday night of March at Kelowna Community Theatre. In town for a one-night floor routine was the Alonzo King LINES Ballet from San Francisco. Based on this touring group’s reputation and global rave reviews, wife Elaine and I viewed this opportunity as a chance to…
Now that was entertainment at its highest and twangiest form. On the first Sunday of March, nobody at Kelowna Community Theatre delivered the wrong envelope or read the wrong name. The headliners on this memorable night were two talented technicians – Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt. As advertised, these premier American singer-songwriters joined forces for an acoustic evening backed by nothing but their high-octane voices, incredible guitar playing, and friendly banter between songs that came off as unrehearsed as two chums sitting…
Staying at the Old Lahaina House in Maui can be described in various ways – island affordable, close-to-the-beach, close-to-downtown Lahaina, residential, low-security, animal-friendly, cluttered, and, perhaps most importantly, purposely non-corporate. I know. I just described a lot of sea shells on this seashore. Here are the foremost un-fancy facts. It’s not a hotel, it’s a house. It’s in a residential neighborhood. There are four rooms to rent. There is no front desk, no elevators, no…
99 Red Balloons – bravo to Wentworth Music and its roster of talented musicians for elevating their game and putting on an uplifting rock concert. On the final Saturday of February, a full house at Kelowna Community Theatre got to sit back and be entertained by youthful exuberance in a show entitled “One-derful – a Tribute to the One-Hit Wonders from the ‘70s and ‘80s.” It wasn’t jukebox karaoke, it was students of all ages, genders, and races at Wentworth…
Remember that familiar adage – “there’s a first time for everything.” That’s what Elaine and I experienced on Saturday, February 18th at the loudest and wildest show we’ve ever seen at Kelowna Community Theatre. We got “patted down” by security guards inside the front entrance doors. This wasn’t the airport. These weren’t TSA agents. This was theatre management making sure the evening’s entertainment went off smoothly in a mostly controlled environment. Why the extra muscle? Rock-and-roll, baby! Three bands and…
The third Friday of February at Kelowna Community Theatre was the whole enchilada as the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO) got spicy and performed Masterworks III – Latin Fiesta. This night of colorful instrumentation and syncopated rhythms paid homage to Romance-speaking countries like Spain and regions such as Latin and South America. For a nearly packed house hungry for multi-cultural cuisine, there was a full menu on stage that featured three appetizing entrees: flutist (or flautist) Christie Reside on loan from…
Can someone recommend a good audiologist in the Central Okanagan? On Monday, January 30th, Kelowna Community Theatre put its revamped sound system to a three-hour test with a rock-and-roll double bill that put the amp in amplifier and tinn in tinnitus. The headliners on this loud-and-proud evening were platinum-selling rock blasters Big Wreck. This four-person crew was touring to support the release of “Grace Street” – the group’s fifth full-length studio album. Ascot Royals were the special guests and mild-by-comparison…