Chris Stodola and Rick Braman are Up The Crick. Sometimes literally, and oftentimes figuratively, this piano/guitar duo features close harmonies and vocals on a wide variety of vintage music from throughout the past century. Quirky, humourous, nostalgic; from 1915 through to modern day, this is a set list like absolutely no other!

The duo serves up a little bit of everything: from Mills Brothers to Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks; from songwriters Fred Eaglesmith to Frank Loesser; from modern Bob Seger pop covers to Roy Rogers-Dale Evans novelties. And added to the mix: a number of original tunes.

Audiences are engaged with stories about the music, with encouragement to sing various vocal parts to add to the sound. An underlying theme to each show is the International flavour (or should it be “flavor”…) of this team. Rick was born in Seattle, Washington, USA while Chris was born in Osoyoos, BC, Canada. US-Canada differences; and sometimes cultural similarities, are often the target in their pop-blues-jazz-nostalgia-novelty presentation.

Chris and Rick (hence the name “Crick”), met as members of Osoyoos’ International Choir, singing side by side in the Bass Section and discovering a mutual love of music, and harmonies in particular. It wasn’t long before plans for a performing duo took shape.

Up The Crick invites everyone to this upcoming “performance” on Thursday Aug. 27 from 6:30 p.m. at the Oliver Community Stage. Yes, this is a live concert, but more importantly it is a “sharing”….sharing a love of music and fun.

Local arts enthusiasts may know Susan McCarrell’s distinctive mixed media work from her award-winning entries in the annual Fall Art Show and Sale. Combining sepia-toned photographs, archival newsprint text, and textured media, she creates haunting imagery with layers of meaning.

Now Susan has her own exhibit! Opening Reception is August 29th at the Osoyoos Art Gallery, and the show runs until September 19th.

Eclectic yet focused, Susan McCarrell’s mixed media works are reflections on memory, rituals of life, including celebrations, successes and hiccups.  She owns a unique style which is energetic, playful, bound by discipline and tradition.  Her art confronts the ups and downs of modern life with connections to similarities of past lives with strong feminine energy.

Using a combination of mixed media, photography and historical images, she likens her art to a ‘construction’ to produce her natural and organic pieces.  A thread runs through Susan’s work that makes it unmistakably hers.

Susan relocated from Vancouver, British Columbia to the South Okanagan, British Columbia in 1996.

This week’s Music in the Park will be a fitting celebration to the region hit hard by fire and all those tireless first responders and other volunteers who supported their efforts. Join the crowd Thursday August 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Oliver Community Bandshell for the Kettle Valley Brakemen. The concert will include a special acknowledgement to all first responders, who will be feted with a dinner at the Community Hall that same evening.  The community park is the place to be from 4:30 onward: a great evening market with produce, crafts, raffles, info booths, and gift items, kid’s activities including face painting and bouncy fun, food vendors for pic-nicking, and a beer and wine garden for raising a toast to the firefighters. The music gets going a little after 6:30 and doesn’t let up until 8:00 p.m.   Please bring a donation for your admission, and a little extra for your shopping, food, and fun.

For 18 years the overall-clad Brakemen have toured from the coast to the Kootenays regaling concert goers with true stories and original songs about B.C.’s colourful railway history.  With 2015 being the 100th anniversary of the Kettle Valley Railway, The Brakemen have put together a completely Kettle Valley show.

Head Brakeman Jack Godwin (pictured) says, “This year our audiences will get a full picture of Kettle Valley Railway history from construction camp songs, triumph and disaster songs plus our usual mix of humour and historical oddities.  With tributes to the official railway doctor on the KVR and beloved characters like conductor Perley McPherson, our audiences will get KVR history set to a toe-tappin’ folk/bluegrass beat.  Naturally, we’ll have a couple of sing-along numbers at the end so we hope everyone will get involved.”

For those who’ve never seen one of their concerts, The Kettle Valley Brakemen are heritage entertainers and what they do is unique.  A Brakemen show is a series of brief stories and original songs about B.C.’s colourful steam rail history.  The songs either complete or complement the stories.  Each performance finishes with a couple of singalong numbers. So audiences get a slice of B.C. rail history, a concert of folk/bluegrass music AND the chance to participate.

Okanagan Life Magazine has described The Brakemen by saying “Every concert is a rollicking history lesson”.  The band was featured in the autumn 2009 “Heritage Music” edition of Canadian Folk Music Magazine and in 2012, Castanet music critic Bruce Atkinson said,  “A vastly talented group of musicians, The Kettle Valley Brakemen are a ‘must see’ ensemble!  They bring back a period of our history in story and song, a fantastic way to learn about our heritage.”

The Oliver Community Arts Council thanks their corporate sponsor, Valley First Credit Union. Please remember to support their Feed the Valley campaign by making a food bank donation at the local branch any time. We also thank our partner Oliver Parks and Recreation Society for helping us grow our concerts into one of the best family entertainment events around! And thank you to our faithful audience — there’s one more week to go on Thursday August 27 with vintage pop duo Up the Crick.

Medici”s Friday Nights Live Music

It’s Friday Night Live this Friday Aug 21st at 7:00 p.m. The beer is cold and the music IS outta sight. We have a new line up of tapas and appies that will have you begging for more. The band Mountainview Drive brings a special guest for a major 3 song set extravaganza… Bring your music, your instrument and your voice and become part of the night sounds. We crank up the music shortly after 7:00. The music is huge…Tons of talent…all we need is you! .

We are licensed. We have beer, wine, coffees with a kick and our usual great gelato and snacks and sweet treats and of course…a great host!. Medici’s this Aug 7th at 7:00 PM. 522 Fairview Road. 250-498-2228

With a set of powerful pipes and dynamic delivery, Darlene Ketchum  kept the rhythm and blues coming at Music in the Park on Thursday August 13. From Etta James’ At Last (My Love has Come to Me) and Billy Holiday’s God Bless the Child to the Motown sound of My Guy and You are the Sunshine of my Life, to the traditional gospel Wade in the Water, Ketchum showed her range. Backed by jazzy pianist (and husband) Kelvin Ketchum, solid bass guitarist Gerry Teichrob, and super-hot drumming by Tyler Friesen, the Delta-based quartet entertained with two sets that perfectly matched the sultry summer weather.

The backing trio, two of whom are members of Quintessential Jazz,  got to strut their stuff on two numbers, including the haunting Autumn Leaves. 

Ketchum also shared some of her original compositions, including the funky That Kind of Friend. Her theatrical delivery, radiant smile, and wide gestures were especially welcome in the large outdoor venue where distance can mute the emotional power of a song.  This lady knows how to hold the attention of a crowd.

Next in the Music in the Park lineup is the Kettle Valley Brakemen on Thursday August 20, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Oliver Community Bandshell on Park Drive. Admission by donation. Bring a lawnchair or blanket.  The popular beer and wine garden continues, including some fine brewskies by OCAC member business, Firehall Brewery. Evening market with fresh produce, crafts, and home items, bouncy castle and face painting for the kids, and food vendors for picnics in the park.

On Friday Sept 11, Medici’s Gelateria and Coffeehouse is bringing in a fantastic comedy show starring Just For Laugh’s and Montreal Comedy Fest star Tim Nutt.

Tim Nutt is a comic who can’t be judged by his cover. Long-haired, bearded and “rough around the edges”, audiences expect Nutt’s material to match. But he surprises with razored-down punch lines and well conjured-up premises that place him as one of the top comics working today.

His appearance at the 2006 Just For Laughs was so impressive he was named one of the “Best of the Fest” and reviewers asked “where have they been hiding this guy?” The answer was, in comedy clubs across Canada where Tim has established himself as a top-draw for the past 16 years.

“Remember this name: Tim Nutt.  The shaggy-haired and bearded Vancouverite was the standout comic in a very strong line up.  Where have they been hiding this dude?” ~ Anne Sutherland,  Montreal Gazette, “Just for Laughs Festival Review”

He’s the featured star of the night …  many more details to follow soon!