Entertainment

The 2011 competition season for Turning Pointe Performance Company (TPPC) has come to a close. We would like to recognize the hard work and commitment all dancers, teachers and parents put forward this year! Our 52 dancers attended festivals/competitions in Vernon, Cranbrook and Castlegar.

It’s almost that time. Time for a summer long exhibition (and year round display) of sculptures in every size, shape and medium.

Castlegar residents will have the opportunity to see each other through a different lens in an exhibit that opens next week at city hall.

The West Kootenay Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with “Decadence” — an exhibit of paintings by 11 of its members at the VISAC Gallery from May 20 to June 21.

By now, Calgary singer/songwriter Chris Gheran has the touring thing down.

On Friday, May 27 Nelson based singer-songwriter Aspen Switzer will perform at the Kootenay Gallery in Castlegar with her musical collective For the Birds. The three musicians met through a competition to play in Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair Tour, each ranking in the top six. Words to best describe this trio are soulful, gutsy, witty and magical. This highly entertaining concert combining folk, traditional and roots music will be held on May 27 at 7 p.m.

Canadian comic Derek Edwards, once described by Rick Mercer as “the funniest man in Canada,” will be wrapping up a two-year, cross-country tour with a pair of shows in the West Kootenay in mid-May.

The Rougemusic series that began last fall at the new Rouge Gallery location in the historic BMO building will celebrate the finale of a successful first season with back-to-back female vocalists — the haunting Eastern European voice and accordion of Bessie Wapp accompanied by Ben Johnson on the oud, santoor, and percussion on May 14, and the joyful soul jazz roots of Rossland favourite, Coco Love Alcorn, on May 17.

Lowry Olafson, a singer-songwriter with nine CDs and a tour of the globe under his belt, will be back in Rossland and performing at Terry and Janet Marshall’s house on May 10 at 7 p.m.

The June Bugs from Alberta and Rossland’s own Glee Club led by Nadine Tremblay entertained an audience at the Miners’ Hall last Thursday with beautiful harmonies. The multi-instrumentalist Bugs got down with the folky tunes on spoons, double bass, guitars, banjos and more. They were brought to Rossland on their CD release tour by the Rossland Council for Arts and Culture.