by Marion Boyd, South Okanagan Concert Society

As I write this, “the weather outside is frightful” but the promise of music delightful.  On Friday, January 23^rd,  the new Venables Auditorium in Oliver will be the scene for an evening of jazz (think Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Diana Krall), some tasty Latin grooves, a bit of boogie (think Michael Kaeshammer) and some beautiful ballads  when Penticton’s OffRamp Jazz Sextet rolls on stage at 7:30 pm.   Hot and satisfying, this is a band guaranteed to lift midwinter blues.

Four admission flex pass tickets for only $70 are on sale at Beyond Bliss Esthetics in Oliver, Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos or at the door.  The flex ticket can be used in any combination.  Four can go to one concert,  snowbirds can share a ticket or one person can come to all four concerts.  Single entrance is $20.  Students 17 and under gain admission free and those needing a ride from Osoyoos can call Maureen at 250 495 7978 and arrange to come by bus.

OffRamp Jazz Sextet is the brain child of band leader and pianist, Justin Glibbery.   He is also music director at Penticton Secondary School and artistic director for the Naramata Choir.  Originally in 2010,  Glibbery hand picked each member of OffRamp Jazz to form a local group to perform in the Penticton Jazz Festival.   There was an excited audience response and before long the group was playing to sell out crowds at the Dream Café and the Vernon Jazz Club.

So who did Glibbery pick then and now?  If you caught the recent Soundstage production of Les Miserables, you will know Aidan Mayes stunned the audience with her powerhouse voice as the tragic heroine, Fantine.  She is the vocalist for OffRamp and teaches guitar and voice at the Maeve Lily School of Music in Penticton.

On drums, Mike Treadway alone is worth the price of admission to this ‘different’ kind of musical evening where musicians interact with the audience as they announce their pieces but also interact among themselves to decide what to play next.   Treadway teaches drums and percussion at Steve’s Groove School in Penticton.

Stefan Bienz works his particular magic on upright Bass.   He is a member of the roots duo ‘The Darylectones’ and he has played at folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass, country and rock festivals all over North America.

Larry Crawford, a professional sax player who performed for Sesame Street and with many of the “who’s who” of the Canadian Jazz scene was another of Glibbery’s picks.   Crawford has performed with entertainment legends that include Liberace, Sammy Davis Jr., and Harry Belafonte.  Joining him, also on sax is a founding member, Stan Sabourin, who, like Glibbery, teaches music in the Penticton School District.   Sabourin recently took a leave of absence to achieve a Master’s degree in Saxaphone.

Come to our beautiful new theatre!  Relax!  Enjoy!   This one is a “don’t miss”.

The Federation of Canadian Artists (South Okanagan-Similkameen Chapter)
Launches their 2015 Exhibition Year at Osoyoos Art Gallery from January 10 – 31st.

Stepping into the new year, the Federation of Canadian Artists presents a
juried exhibition of works by members of the South Okanagan-Similkameen
Chapter. Artists in this branch of the national federation come from Osoyoos,
Keremeos, Oliver, Okanagan Falls, Penticton, Naramata and Summerland.

Called “Colours in Winter”, the show will be at the Osoyoos Art Gallery
from January 10 to 31. An opening reception is set for Saturday January 10,
from noon to 2:00 pm. Everyone is invited: come and see the new show and
enjoy the opportunity to meet the artists.

The Osoyoos Art Gallery is at 8713 Main Street in Osoyoos. Winter hours
at the Gallery are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 12:00 to 4:00 pm. So plan to
spend a little time with art! “Colours in Winter” promises to be a great launch to the South Okanagan-Similkameen’s exhibition season for 2015.

The Women of Oliver for Women (WOW) Society is calling for entries to its annual “Mainly for Women” Trade Show held on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 10 a.m. – 4.pm. at the Oliver Community Centre. This popular event hosts home business booths such as housewares, preserves, jewellery, photography, clothing, pottery, woodworking, linens, and home decor items. The show also welcomes small business owners who want to promote their services via information tables. Entries must be submitted by February 2.

The show’s wide variety of booths attracts more than women customers. The name of the show reflects the charitable work the society does: proceeds from booth registration goes towards local projects that assist women and children.  Past beneficiaries include worthy causes such as Desert Sun Counselling, a Citizenship scholarship for a student graduating from the high school and a bursary for women who through circumstances need to return to the work force and require further education or training.

An entry form for the trade show is located here, as well as the guidelines for participants:

WOW Entry Form 2015

WOW Guidelines 2015

Download, complete, and mail to the address listed on the form.

Please note that due to the number of interested parties and to avoid duplication of product and services, it is necessary to rent the tables on a first come first served basis, determined by when your completed entry form and payment are received. The successful entrants will be contacted to confirm their table.

The Oliver Community Arts Council donated the proceeds from its Community Christmas Concert to the Oliver Food Bank in early December. Pictured are Jennifer Mapplebeck (L) and Brian Mapplebeck (C) presenting both a cheque and food items collected at the event to food bank volunteer Jim Ouellette (R).

The Oliver Community Arts Council thanks all performers, who helped keep our overhead costs to a minimum by performing out of the goodness of their hearts. They are: the OES Handbell Team, the OES choir, and the Sage Valley Voices, all led by Lori Martine, family entertainer Mat Duffus, Vintage Voices Choir, storyteller JoAnn Turner, guitarist Jeremy Cook, rockin’ duo Ken Repkow and Mikie Spillett, and the Dance Studio of Oliver. You put on an awesome show!

Thank you to our sponsor Your Dollar Store with More (Osoyoos) who provided goodie bag candies and quiz prizes.

Thanks also to committee volunteers Brian and Jennifer Mapplebeck, Shirley Corley-Rourke, and Penelope Johnson.

Please continue to support the Oliver Food Bank this winter. Hunger doesn’t end after Christmas.