Smoking hot guitar, searing blues voice and a delivery that will leave you breathless

“Every now and again you hear an artist that just pulls you up short, stops you dead in your tracks, like being on a top flight cutting horse that can stop on a dime, rollback and give you a nickel in change. Matt Andersen is the whole package and can play guitar, write relevant songs and present the songs in a way that will just bring you to a standstill you and make you listen up”

The best performing songwriters, the ones who sound like they really mean what they’re singing about, tend to come from areas known for hard times and hard work. Like say, Perth-Andover, a rural blue-collar village in the Canadian Maritime province of New Brunswick—the home of acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Andersen.

“Perth-Andover’s a really small, family-oriented community,” says Matt. “Everybody knows everybody. My dad’s worked as a logger pretty much his whole life. But there’s always been music around: My grandfather played fiddle, my mom plays piano in church. Most of my cousins have had bands at some point. Whenever there’s a get-together there’s always about nine or ten fiddles or guitars in the room.”

Matt’s musical household got him interested playing early on and by junior high he was in the school band, first on tuba and later on trumpet. He took up guitar at 14, and before long was playing classic rock and Top 40 covers in pub bands while he studied studio engineering. Things changed dramatically, however, when he discovered the blues.

“Through Eric Clapton I got into B.B. King, which led me to the Chicago electric stuff and eventually back to the Mississippi Delta guys,” says the 30-year-old singer. “What really hit me most about the blues was its total honesty.”

Matt began to build his name on the Canadian circuit, his imposing voice and slashing slide guitar making a monolithic impression on audiences. He debuted with 2002’s One Size Never Fits, and followed with the likewise-warmly received Solo at Session (2004) and Live at Liberty House (2005).

What is it Matt hopes audiences experience when they hear him? “I’m not trying to change anyone’s lives in a big way, but I love it when [listeners] really get involved in the music,” says Matt, performs over 200 shows a year and in 2011 won the Maple Blues Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Acoustic Act of the Year and was nominated for four East Coast Music Association awards. “That’s what really makes it a great night, for everyone.”

Guitar players worth their salt will not miss this show.

Matt Andersen will be performing on Sunday, Feb 12 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 and online.  Adults $35, Students & Seniors $30 and Children $20.

A dance extravaganza brings on the clowns, amazing entertainment for the whole family!

Performed with the signature MOTUS O physicality and humor, see for yourself how a little magic, some juggling, tight-rope walking and fortune-telling can fulfill every child’s fantasy to ‘run off and join the circus!’  

We first meet our three circus performers boarding the train to their next show. A case of vanishing tickets, however, thwarts their plans and strands them on the platform. It takes every trick in the book (and their suitcases!) to create an impromptu show to raise money for new tickets. But it works! By watching the antics of these 3 enigmatic clowns, the Train Conductor is drawn into their mayhem and magic. He finally agrees to be their new Ring Master!  With the Conductor’s help, our performers arrive at the theatre just in time to present their magnificent CIRCUS TERRIFICO ~ hilariously unkempt micro-version interpretations of their favourite ballets, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and the Nutcracker!  

Circus Terrifico is a whimsical and poignant comedy featuring original music by composer Ray Ludecke and also some soaring scores of Tchaikovsky. It makes audiences of all ages laugh out loud and leave with a big clownish smile!   

Circus Terrifico will be on stage on Saturday, Feb 4th at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 and online. Adults $25, Students & Seniors $20.
Note: This show is FREE for children when accompanied by an adult (max. two children per one adult)

African Guitar Summit

The African Guitar Summit is performing at The North Peace Cultural Centre on January 23 at 7:30.

Face The Music Workshop with African Guitar Summit - Monday January 23 at 5:30 at the North Peace Cultural Centre

Alright, so as a musician I dream of concerts like this. Nine guitar players of African descent touring together to showcase some of the best music this planet has to offer. As a young percussionist the music of Africa was so intriguing. The melodies are intricate and beautiful. The rhythms create a pulse that makes you dance and groove. Once I started to explore African music I soon came to the truth that the roots of blues, jazz, rock, and country were given birth in a continent so far away.

As a musician, I'm not really suggesting you attend I'm actually going to reach out on a limb and telling you to buy a ticket... NOW. The African Guitar Summit is performing at The North Peace Cultural Centre on January 23 at 7:30. You can buy tickets at www.npcc.bc.ca.

BUT, a big BUT, if you are a musician, interested in music or just love the music of Africa you need to check out the Face The Music workshop, it's taking place at The NPCC on Monday January 23 at 5:30 at the North Peace Cultural Centre. This music is the roots of almost everything we listen to. Let's hear some great guitar players.

The star-studded collective unites the talents of 9 musicians, each an expert in their individual style. The African Summit features: From Guinea, the smooth fire of Juno Award winner Alpha YaYa Diallo, with his countryman Naby Camara on balafon; From Ghana, we have the elder master of the guitar, Pa Joe, the “golden voice” Theo Boakye, and the heartbeat of drummer Kofi Ackah; From Kenya, Professor Adam Solomon brings the Fiesta guitar. From Burundi/Rwanda, we have the bluesy Mighty Popo; and from Madagascar we have the quicksilver guitars and harmonies of Donne Roberts and multiple Juno Award winner Madagascar Slim. 

See ya there,

Dave 

Hey it's that time again….time to get your talent on and come out and support the Child Development Center and help us reach our goal of $100,000. The 38th Night of Stars Talent show will take place on March 2, 2012 at the North Peace Cultural Center and we are looking for you! Have a talent and want to show it off. This is your chance to come and be a star and support a great cause.

This year the CDC will put a portion of the proceeds raised form the talent show to helping to develop the outdoor play space. This play space will make the outdoors of the CDC as interactive and dynamic as the interior.  Programs offered by the CDC will be able to take place outdoors. For example physiotherapy could be done outdoor, preschool classes would have a dynamic play space, and all children would have an opportunity to take part in learning about how nature works. This project will be broken down into 3 phases, with the completion of each phase taking place after the talent show. The completion of the entire project will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the talent show and 40th anniversary of the CDC.

So here is our call to action...Have a talent? Come and perform. Have a heart? Come and volunteer. Have a strong passion for community? Come and sponsor. Let’s help to make the Fort St John Child Development Center a world class facility and build a stronger community! It all starts with you. Stand up and say "I believe in a strong community and opportunity for all our children" then come out and lend a hand and a heart.
 
For more information on how to take part in the 38th Night of Stars please call Johanna Kunz, Talent Show Coordinator, @ 250-719-6092 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Cultural Centre kicks off 2012 with supergroup, the African Guitar Summit!

Last years Memeza Africa show brought a full house audience cheering & waving to their feet. This year, the Cultural Center supports Black History month with the award winning African Guitar Summit, featuring nine of the most celebrated guitarists of African origin.

The group arrives in Fort St John January 23 for their only show in the cold north (their talent is hot enough to warm the entire city!)

Come early for preshow drumming with Fort St John’s Pan African group. Visions for Change, a group of 38 high school students will also be on hand to talk about their spring trip to
Ghana and the work they’ll be doing in an orphanage there. And then, the show we're all waiting for starts at 7:30.

History was made in 2004 when the super group African Guitar Summit assembled at the CBC studios to record what has been widely hailed as the greatest recording ever to come out of the fertile African music scene in Canada.

This is a really special show. Not only is it superb entertainment, it’s a great way to celebrate the growing cultural diversity in our community and bring people together with music.

African Guitar Summit is selling out venues across the country…huge venues like Massey Hall where entire audiences are jumping to their feet. I’m hoping that here in the Music Capital of the North we can fill the theater for them too. It takes a lot to get these kinds of groups here and we need everyone’s support to make it work …trust me this is worth coming out for!

See them. Experience this superb and truly incredible performance live on stage at the Cultural Centre …and take note: while you take in the rich, harmonized vocals, the movement, the rollicking guitar lines and unmistakable African flavor, you’ll need to look around at your surroundings to remind yourself you’re in Fort St John and not in the artists’ African home. It will be that easy to forget!

The show starts at 7:30 and the tickets are $40.00 Adult, $35.00 Seniors/Youth, $25 12 and under.  Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 or online.

Last night I was blown away (once again) by the local theatre community.  I went to see, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", put on by Stage North.

Charlie Brown is my kinda humor... and these guys had me laughing the whole night.  It actually didn't work out in my favour, because I went to take pictures and had a hard time getting shots that weren't blurry because of my chuckling.  Therefore... if there are any blurry photos, I'm putting all blame on the cast. ;)

There are still a few more opportunities to go see the show... so if you can... go!

From the great ballet traditions of the 19th Century, through the sultry tango bars of Argentina, to the most impassioned and tragic love story of all time, Ballet Kelowna takes audiences on a passionate journey through ballet history. Argentinian composer Astor Piazzola’s exciting and vibrant music is the inspiration for Tangazzo (2005), an intoxicating look into the seductive dance of love and passion. Romeo and Juliet Appassionata (2010), set to Tchaikovsky’s soaring and powerful music, is a condensed version of the familiar tale of star-crossed young lovers and will surely move all who see it. To complete the program, we will offer a new ballet once again from one of Canada’s acclaimed choreographers, a work that is sure to captivate.

Ballet Kelowna will present A Grand Passion on Tuesday, February 28th, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available from the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 and online.

Adults $37, Seniors $27, Students and Children $17.

You may be on the ball and have finished your Christmas shopping or you may be like lots of people and are still rushing to find that perfect gift!

It's never too late to give a totally unique gift of a totally awesome experience! The North Peace Cultural Centre has loads of fantastic shows and cultural experiences coming up in the new year and it's the perfect time to grab some tickets.

In the new year you can look forward to an amazing music cultural experience when the African Guitar Summit performs on January 23rd - said to be the finest Canadian guitarists of African origin. Or get the kids and take in a singing and dancing show with The Backyardigans on January 19th. Also upcoming is Motus O - Circus Terrifico, performing hilariously unkempt micro-version interpretations of favourite ballets, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker!

These are just a few of the great shows coming up but that's not all! Mat Anderson, Carlos del Junco, Caladh Nua, and the Arrogant Worms - the next months at the Cultural Centre are going to be full of music, dance, theatre and the best cultural experiences you could ever wish for. 

So maybe think about giving the gift of a Cultural Centre experience, whether it be in music or dance or theatre... I can promise you, it will be the highest quality and greatest time!

Tickets for upcoming shows are available at the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 or online. Or you can save 25% AND receive additional perks on specific shows by purchasing one of NPCC season passes - either the Touchstone Series pass, International Series Pass, or Guitar Guru’s Pass.