Crash Karma is coming to On the Rocks Night Club Sat, April 3rd - The debut CD is offically being released on March 15th, but we have some of the tunes available to listen to right now! Check it out:

 Here's some info about Crash Karma from their website, www.crashkarma.com

Self-produced by Mike at The Pocket, Crash Karma is an all-out rock record with songs that are heavy, intricate, big, intense and melodic with a sound that can only result from the combination of these four guys with their respective history, chemistry and musical prowess.

The first single "Awake" is a psychedelic, other-worldly percussive rock trip into a higher consciousness; "Fight" is an aggressive accusatory punch-up about reflection and perseverance; the mercurial “Next Life" hopes for a different outcome from the troubles of this life, while the acoustic ballad, "Lost" (featuring guitarist Ian Thornley), is sentimental and tender. The insistent rocker, "Man I Used To Be," is a reminder that the past only has value if you learn from it.

Crash Karma made its live debut in May 2009, playing Jeff’s annual 24-hour drum marathon charity event in Windsor. The set included songs from OLP and IME and gave the guys their first indication of how the band dynamic would work on stage.

"I didn’t know what to expect," says Jeff. "Without any rehearsals or ever playing together, they joined me at the last half hour of the marathon and Ed was killin’ it. He was singing with enormous intensity, like he had on the record, but hearing him do it live with confidence boosted my energy. I was delirious after drumming for 23 hours straight, but got a huge second wind playing with these guys for the first time. The chemistry just felt right."

Fort St. John's Earth Hour celebration has a great line-up of local and far-away musicians set to rock the lights right out.

Earth Hour is always an intimate, acoustic, and unique show - it's the only day of the year when we have a concert completely lit by candlelight!

This year's celebration will be at 7pm on Saturday, March 27 at Whole Wheat n' Honey.  Tickets are $10 or $5 for NEAT members. Advance tickets can be purchased online at northerngroove.com (see link at bottom of article) or at Whole Wheat n' Honey.

Brian MacMillan and Dave Tolley

Toronto's Brian MacMillan (BMac) and Dave Tolley are two of FSJ's favorite musicians. They've both visited the city many times, and in fact Dave has taken to living and working here in his spare time.

Take the sweet vocals of James Taylor, the rhythm of Paul Simon, pepper it with a heartfelt message of love and you have the one-and-only Brian MacMillan.

Brian is one of Canada’s finest young musicians. An extremely talented singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, Brian’s uplifting music is a blend of all of his favourite styles; Folk, Reggae, World and Pop music. Equally at ease and captivating as a solo performer or with his trio, Brian aims to connect and convey his genuine love of making and sharing music.

Brian has released 2 critically acclaimed solo albums; Gone To See The Morning in 2001 and Let The Darkness Go in 2007. He has since been across Canada 4 times, gathering a solid fan-base along the way. He continues to be heavily supported by the CBC and many national college radio stations across Canada. His 3rd release, tentatively titled “Shine”, is to be released in the spring of 2010.

The Ontario Council of Folk Festivals recognized Brian’s songwriting abilities in 2005 by awarding him the Colleen Peterson Award for a song he wrote with juno nominee Lori Cullen. Brian is a 2x Ontario Arts Council grant recipient.

Brian was a guest performer on all 3 of the Barenaked Ladies, “Ships and Dips”, Caribbean cruises, sharing the stage with The Barenaked Ladies, Great Big Sea, Sarah Harmer and Guster. Outside of his busy solo career he has appeared on albums by Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle, The Wailing Jennys, Garth Hudson, Lori Cullen, Jory Nash, Mr. Something Something, Layah Jane, Nine Mile and Eden Hertzog.

Jolene Reid

Jolene grew up in a family of musicians. Her sisters and her would fall asleep to their mom singing and playing her own songs when they were little girls. It was an easy choice for Jolene to follow in her footsteps at 17 and coerce older sister into teaching her to play the acoustic guitar. She wrote her first song at 18 and has been writing ever since.

Lorissa Scriven

Lorissa Scriven is a beautiful young singer-songwriter on the verge of releasing her first album. She has been influenced by many artists and styles, but has refiner her own unique sound. Lorissa’s sweet and gentle voice cuts straight to the heart. Her poignant, “coming-of-age” lyrics are often based around the universal theme of breaking free and realizing hopes and dreams. Her pure sound is refreshing and her words are achingly honest.

Join the Earth Hour Celebration in Fort St. John for 2010 at Whole Wheat 'n Honey on Sat. March 27th, starting at 7pm.  It'll be a light out show featuring the music of Lorissa Scriven, Jolene Reid, and Brian Macmillan with Dave Tolley

Earth Hour in FSJ is being hosted by NEAT (Northern Environmental Action Team) ... and if you are a NEAT member (membership is easy and anyone can join, check out their website!) you will get $5 off the ticket price.  Non-Member tickets are $10. You can buy advance tickets online below or at Whole Wheat n' Honey.

A Little About Earth Hour

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. So sign up now and let’s make 2010 the biggest Earth Hour yet!.

It’s Showtime! Show the world what can be done.

The Fort St. John Community Arts Council will host its first ever Toga Party on Saturday, April 10 at On the Rocks Nightclub. Doors open at 8pm.

This event will serve as fund raiser for the Community Arts Council, with proceeds supporting the continued operation of the ArtsPost facility. The ArtsPost is a storefront building dedicated to promoting and supporting arts and culture in Fort St. John. The ArtsPost is home to the Arts Council’s administrative office as well as meeting and workspace for its 24 (and growing) member groups and includes the North Peace Potters’ Guild studio and the North Peace Spinners and Weavers Guilds’ workspace. The ArtsPost is located at 10320-94th Avenue.

Guests are invited to don their best toga or attire recalling the days of ancient Greece and Rome. Creativity is highly encouraged (floral sheets make excellent togas). Prizes for best costumes will be awarded.

For entertainment, guests will be treated to an evening of dancing, complementary appies, a chance to win a stunning diamond necklace. In addition, there will be a very tongue and cheek ‘Slave Auction’, where upstanding gentlemen will be auctioned off to the highest bidder as the perfect date for an evening. These good sports excel at drink delivery, purse holding, have exceptional dancing skills, and are adept at arranging a safe ride home for you upon the evening’s conclusion.

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at the following locations: the Fort St. John Visitor’s Centre, Whole Wheat ‘N Honey Café, Retro Relics, and at the door.

As part of Open Mic's grand tour of the city it will be stopping at Jackfish Dundee's this Wednesday, March 10.

As Jackfish Dundee's is out of town, for the Open Mic night they are offering a shuttle to anyone who may need that sort of service. I thought I would post the scoop about it to clear up any confusion.

The shuttle holds 6 people and will make 3 runs from FSJ to Jackfish Dundee's. 

Pick-up point: Co-op Mall Parking Lot

Pick-up times: 7:00pm, 7:45pm, and 8:30pm

To make sure everyone has a safe ride home the shuttle will also offer rides back into town.

The night will be hosted by Open Mic veteran Steve Ryan, and as per usual will get rolling around 8:00pm-ish MST (Musician-Standard-Time). So bring your instruments down, get your name on the list, and let's play some music!

Stay tuned to Northern Groove if you're interested in Open Mic's other March tour stops.

Hello, all you music lovers!

You know, as the days are getting longer, I am always inspired to write songs about the positive weather changes of spring! So when I thought about that this week, knowing that I was needing a theme for 'Mysteries of Music', I came up with this:

'Soft Spring Breezes Blow'

Now as a theme, I do not imply that this will be the song title. It is only to be the inspiration for your suggestions. You can suggest a story line, a thought, a lyrical line (or even a complete lyric!), a tune suggestion (a line of notation, tabs, etc, or an already written song tune) or even some personal experimenting recorded in mp3.

I will sort the suggestions and give the best ones to three anonymous consenting musicians to make into a song (if you wish to know if your suggestion is to be used, leave contact info, and I will let you know).

If this project works, the songs produced will be performed on a single night once a year, arranged by Mysteries of Music. So let's work together to give this our best shot! I can't wait to see your suggestions!

I was listening to Lindsay Pratt sing 'Acid Tongue' the other night when I noticed a very interesting Mystery about music. Did you ever notice how many songs have lyrics that do not completely tell the story? The lyrical lines seem to carry a mystical element of intrigue about the story, but the listener must make his own story in his mind.

Music makes this possibile in a way that naration never could. the tune remains in your head, helping you to remember the lines that are there, and giving you the subconscious time to fill in those details that are not clear. In a song, the real complete story could never be given in detail, yet the beauty of the music allows every person to enjoy it as it is, without the need to explain. This makes music one of the least offensive forms of communication, and so it can be used in all types of social gatherings.

This is probably why love songs have become so popular in publicly played music. Each person can apply the emotions of the song to his own experience, even if the details are very different. And every human has some emotional feelings tucked away in his head!

So let your thoughts soar, and bring in some ideas that will provoke a musical thought in others - and dont forget to write it down and send it in! Comment on this column, or send your idea to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or send it to 'Hilding Donaldson, Box 167, Montney BC, V0C 1Y0.

Till next time,

Hilding Donaldson.

Photo: The Outstanding Dance Group from the 2009 Peace River North Festival of the Arts.  Standing left to right:  Cassandra Arntson, Hayley Popwell, Kendra Coulter.  Centre:  Mariah Boot, Sarah Wilkinson.  Front:  Elan Miller Jeannotte, and Kelani Shuster.

Festival time is approaching and young performing artists are working on putting the finishing touches on their musical pieces and their dances before taking to the stage from March 14 to March 21 for the Peace River North Festival of the Arts at the North Peace Cultural Centre.  Preparations began as far back as last summer when visiting teachers choreographed dances at local dance studios, and many hours of practice have been put in since then.

Music Festivals have a long history in Fort St. John with mention of children feverishly practicing their pieces as far back as spring of 1930.  In 1946 the Festival was revived with an impressive 166 entries in drama, vocal and choir, dramatic speech, piano and violin.  In that year Miss Evelyn Jonasson tied with the Misses Dorothy and Marna Stewart for the Bowes & Herron Grand Trophy Shield for the highest mark by pupil or group.  By 1948 dance was a part of the festival with pupils of Mrs. Dorothy Forrester very much to the fore.  Rural schools that have long since disappeared, such as Montney and North Pine, were prominent in those early reports, participating in choral speech, a category that has recently been revived in our own modern version of the festival.

Styles have changed and the children of Fort St. John have opportunities to train in music and dance that the Misses Stewarts could only dream of, but the enthusiasm to perform and the butterflies when getting ready to face the adjudicator probably have not changed very much over the years.

The 2010 version of Fort St. John’s “Musical Festival” will include classes in a wide range of disciplines starting with strings on Sunday, March 14.  Instrumental classes start things off on Monday, March 15, after which the energy level in the Cultural Centre will take a sharp rise when seven bands perform in the afternoon.  Three bands from Fort Nelson will join our four local bands and it promises to be an exciting and entertaining afternoon. 

Voice and choir take over in the evening, then piano takes centre stage through March 16 and 17 with a wide range of style on display from Classical to Popular and Jazz.  There are sure to be some impressive music coming from some very small hands over two packed days of piano classes. Our new category of speech will be introduced on the morning of Thursday, March 18, and the festival organizers excited to put this skill on display for the first time in many years.

On Thursday afternoon, things will really start jumping when five dance studios descend on the Cultural Centre and adjudicators will be busy with this exciting and highly competitive category with very few breaks until the afternoon of Sunday, March 21.  Solos are performed during the day with group sessions scheduled for each evening and duos being feature on the Sunday session.

On Sunday evening the “Best of the Fest” will be on display as the best of every category from throughout the week will perform and delegates to the Provincial Festival in Duncan will be announced.  This show is a wonderful showcase of the outstanding talent in this community and it never fails to be an entertaining evening of music and dance.  All sessions throughout the week are open to the public for a small admission fee of $3.00 per session while tickets to the “Best of the Fest” honours show can be purchased at the Cultural Centre box office.  These young performers deserve our support and their hard work and talent never fail to make us all proud.

The City of Fort St. John is excited to announce a series of upcoming events aimed at promoting environmental awareness, energy conservation and emissions reductions.

Thursday, March 4

The City of Fort St. John Presents: Awareness Film Series at the Lido.

Fifth in the city's Awareness Film Series, the evening will feature a Canadian documentary film that explores the challenges and rewards of living more lightly. The film runs about 45 minutes in length and will be followed by three presenters from the community outlining what they are doing to support living more lightly and offering advice on steps anyone can take to be the change. Presentation topics covered will include:

Community Gardens in Fort St. John

Sustainable Building Options

Save Green – The Benefits of Green Real-estate

Admission is free! Doors open at 6:30pm. Show starts at 7:00pm.

Thursday, March 11

The City of Fort St. John Presents: “Be the Change – Fort St. John” at the North Peace Cultural Centre. 

This event features a powerful musical performance by Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright - the Voices of Nature (more info about them below) accompanied by a choir of 130 local school children, keynote speaker Tzeporah Berman , and an unveiling of our new Community Energy & Emissions Plan by our Mayor and the City Manager. This event is sure to inspire you to be the change.

Admission is free! Doors open at 6:30pm. Show starts at 7:00pm.

Tzeporah Berman is executive director of PowerUp Canada – Canadians for Climate Leadership. She's different kind of environmentalist -- one with deep roots in the nascent environmental movement, but also armed with uncanny business and media smarts. At the not-for-profit Forest Ethics, she works with massive corporations to transform their buying habits and reinvigorate their public image. The companies she partners with -- including Home Depot, Dell and Staples, the world's largest paper retailer -- have boosted employee morale, extended the public life of their brands, and saved millions in costs (and inpotentially ruinous boycotts). The Globe and Mail calls her "one of the most prominent environmentalists in Canada." In the States, The Utne Reader named her One of the 50 Visionaries Changing the World. Through her work at Forest Ethics, Berman has helped save over 12 million acres of endangered forests in Canada, the United States, and Chile.

A young star of the environmental movement, Berman appearaed in Leonardo DiCaprio's documentary The 11th Hour. She was also nominated for the Schwab Social Entrepreneur Award, and named by the BC Royal Museum as one of the 150 people who have changed BC's history. She has been featured in The Globe and Mail, Green Living and The Vancouver Sun, among other publications. In her uplifting keynotes, she draws from her groundbreaking work -- in the boardroom, in the legislature and in forests -- to show us that the notion of activists vs. corporations, of good vs. evil, no longer applies in the age of global climate change. It's about creating dialogue, and finding the solutions that will be mutually beneficial to all. "It's not about whether or not it's nice to have forests anymore," she says, "It's about our future."
 

Friday, March 12

The City of Fort St. John Presents: Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright - the Voices of Nature at Whole Wheat & Honey.

Here is an opportunity to enjoy some upbeat music, enjoy complimentary coffee, snacks, and find out more information on the Community Energy & Emissions Plan.

Admission is free! Show starts at 7:00pm.

Based on Vancouver Island, BC, Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright perform music about sustainability, ecology and the human dilemma: folk pop to rock your world! They are creating the new edge of environmental music by blending their very diverse musical backgrounds and weaving them into songs that touch people’s souls and make them think about the world around them. When Holly and Kevin sing together - think Joni Mitchell and Bon Scott.  With Holly on slide dulcimer and piano and Kevin playing percussion and sax, they produce a wide range of sound and feeling.

With over 30 years as a folk/jazz performer, Holly has appeared at most major music festivals in Canada and has shared the stage with artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Stan Rogers and Herbie Hancock. Since the mid-80s, Kevin has been a pioneering member of the Victoria rock scene performing in seminal bands such as Armoros, Turk and the Rat (Rocktoria 1 winner) and After Dark.

Holly and Kevin form the core of the Artist Response Team (ART) - a ground breaking production house that delivers fabulous Voices of Nature community outreach events throughout BC and Alberta. Using their award winning and provincially recommended Cycle of Life learning resources, they travel the land bringing music and science education to entire school communities.

On Thursday, March 11, 2010, Holly and Kevin will be at the North Peace Cultural Centre performing with a 130-voice choir from Alwin Holland School, in a concert called Be the Change – it’s a celebration of the new Community Energy Plan.

On Friday, March 12, Holly and Kevin will give a rocking duo performance at the Whole Wheat and Honey Café.

Both shows start at 7pm. Admission is free.

Based on Vancouver Island, BC, Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright perform music about sustainability, ecology and the human dilemma: folk pop to rock your world! They are creating the new edge of environmental music by blending their very diverse musical backgrounds and weaving them into songs that touch people’s souls and make them think about the world around them. The two are a powerful unit that interweave stories, personalities and a true belief that this world of ours can get better.

When Holly and Kevin sing together - think Joni Mitchell and Bon Scott. Many people comment on the full sound that comes from just two people. With Holly on slide dulcimer and piano and Kevin playing percussion and sax, they produce a wide range of sound and feeling. It’s a blend that leaves people feeling like they’ve experienced something fresh and real.

With over 30 years as a folk/jazz performer, Holly has appeared at most major music festivals in Canada and has shared the stage with artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Stan Rogers and Herbie Hancock. Since the mid-80s, Kevin has been a pioneering member of the Victoria rock scene performing in seminal bands such as Armoros, Turk and the Rat (Rocktoria 1 winner) and After Dark.

Holly and Kevin form the core of the Artist Response Team (ART) - a ground breaking production house that delivers fabulous Voices of Nature community outreach events throughout BC and Alberta. Using their award winning and provincially recommended Cycle of Life learning resources, they travel the land bringing music and science education to entire school communities. The 4-day artist in residence school music program culminates in fabulous theatre concerts, bringing hundreds of young singers together with The Dream Band to sing and speak out for sustainability.

Got the acting bug? A hankering to work backstage? A yen to design?

Dionysus Theatre has the solution!

Dionysus will be holding auditions for SYLVIA, a comedy by A.R. Gurney, on Tuesday, March 9th. We are seeking actors, designers, and backstage saints.

Where: NLC Dawson Creek Campus

Date: Tuesday, March 9th

Time: 6:30 pm - Meet us in the foyer.

Roles:

Sylvia -- female, age 21-30

Kate -- female, age 40-50

Greg -- male, age 40-50

Tom, Phyllis, Leslie --- played by one actor, can be male or female, age 40-50

No need to prepare; you will read from selected scenes.

No need to be nervous, bring a friend for support if you’d like.

SYLVIA will be our spring production. A couple approaching their middle years find their marriage jeopardized by the antics of a stray dog, Sylvia. Sylvia soon becomes a rival for the wife's affection. Something has got to give....

Rehearsals will start in March with an opening date for late April or early May.

For information call Cynthia at 786-6837 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it