Past Events
Saturday February 4th, 2023
Katrina Kadoski & Friends
Soul Anthems album release concert
Harrison Memorial Cultural Centre.
Katrina Kadoski, a Vancouver Island based singer / songwriter / playright / poet and local duo Wherzpeter (Mary Livingstone & Paul Winfield) staged a wonderful performance of poetic and heartfelt original tunes replete with 3 part harmonies and tasty guitar interplay.
Katrina’s voice was in top form, showcasing music from her latest album Soul Anthems, as well as songs from her multimedia presentation Mountain Myths.
The evening was pure magic for the local audience in attendance.
Another successful concert from artConnect!
POSTPONED!
Christmas Open House
Sunday December 18
Harrison Memorial Cultural Centre.
Sadly we have had to postponed this event due to inclement weather and poor driving conditions. We are planning to host a replacement Open House soon, so please check back here for details. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this change in dates.
For more information please contact Zora 250.777.1856
Saturday December 3
Cam Penner &
Patrick Alexandre
featuring Morgan Rael
An intimate concert of John Prine tunes and stories by legendary Kootenay performers Cam Penner, Patrick Alexandre and Morgan Rael including bonus cameo appearances from locals Chloe and Howling Dan … a heartfelt tribute to one of the great songwriters of our time and fine way to conclude ArtConnect’s 2022 Concert Series!
Thursday November 17, 2022
Howling Dan
with Velle Huscroft Weitman
Local legend Howling Dan treated ArtConnect audience to an acoustic performance, sharing his melodic and folky-bluesy song-writing skills that most of us have not seen … a tender and heartfelt performance and a wonderful evening of song, with fabulous fiddling and sweet vocal harmonies from Creston’s own Velle Huscroft … all in all, a fine evening’s entertainment!
Friday October 21, 2022
The Doggone Brothers
Friday night the audience at the Harrison were treated to the homey, approachable, irreverent, and uplifting music of the Doggone Brothers.
Their set of originals and hillbilly cover tunes is distinctly “grassy, with a dash of old country and a side of old-time music” and the cheeky banter, tasty harmonies, and all-in stage presence held our attention from the opening notes to the last laugh.
Be sure to catch the Doggone Brothers next time they’re in town … it was a doggone good time!
Sunday October 9th, 2022
Noemi Kiss, David Restivo, Don MacDonald
This powerful combo of three exceptional, highly accomplished musicians presented a fabulous tribute to Michel Legrand to a packed house!
The timeless beauty of Legrand’s music combined with the talents of Noemi Kiss and her beautiful voice, David Restivo, one of Canada’s top jazz pianists and composer/violinist Don MacDonald had our audience spellbound from the opening chord to the last note in this unforgettable performance.
Saturday Sept 24th, 2022
Thomas P Radcliffe
Featured Performer Thomas P Radcliffe dazzled the Coffee House audience with his incredible finger style guitar skills.
His music resonated magnificently throughout the Harrison Memorial Cultural Centre. Like many an accomplished artist before him, Thomas marvelled at beautiful sound quality of artconnect’s heritage venue. His uplifting messages came across intimately, as he wandered down the aisles playing and singing from the heart his songs of peace, and encouraging us to sing along in traditional Folk Music fashion.
Each tune ended with a smile and his signature peace sign gesture. Players in the crowd immediately understood why Thomas is fondly referred to as a “musician’s musician” all across the continent.
ArtConnect’s 7th Coffee House was lucky indeed to feature Thomas P Radcliffe and we wish him well as he tours back to Vancouver Island.
Saturday August 27th, 2022
Peach & Quiet
A peach of an evening was had by all, for August 27th’s sixth ArtConnect Coffee House. Travelling all the way from Pender Island – where the music never sleeps – Peach & Quiet served up a slice of heaven, with songs from their first album Just Beyond the Shine, and their soon to be released collection of originals, Beautiful Thing. They brought with them one of Nelson’s finest guitarists, Rylan Kewen.
Heather and Jonny are love in song – at once gentle, intimate, trusting, connected, patient and poetic. Listeners reflexively held their hands to their hearts as they opened to a delicious balance: Heather’s perfectly ripened vocals alongside Jonny’s gentle melodic growl. These are two profoundly gifted songwriters, their love lyrics enhanced by Jonny’s tender electric touch. Rylan Kewen’s guitar mastery accentuated the love with striking sensitivity.
Like every Coffee House Feature Act to date, Heather and Jonny loved the acoustically rich ambience at the Harrrison Memorial Cultural Centre. Their generosity satiated us, yet we won’t resist a second helping of Peach and Quiet, coming in 2023!
Sunday August 14th, 2022
Cougar Annie Tales
Katrina Kadowski
Award-winning Vancouver Island singer-songwriter and playwright Katrina Kadowski presented her one-woman musical play to the Harrison Memorial Cultural Centre on Sunday. With agile use of shadow screens, historic film archives, authentic props, set, and costume, along with Nightgirl’s lighting and technical support, Kat Kadowski’s script led to multi-instrumental song interludes, culminating in an important historic Canadian biography.
Cougar Annie Tales held the Harrison audience rapt as it tenderly brought to life the Vancouver Island settler best known as Cougar Annie, and the hardships of her remarkable pioneer life. Cougar Annie cleared and worked remote acres of unsettled land, gave birth to eleven children, operated a post office and a general store, supplied seeds and bulbs by mail-order, and shot dozens of cougars in her 97 years!
Cougar Annie Tales met with such audience enthusiasm that we’ve issued a standing invitation for Kat to come back! Stay tuned …
Tuesday August 9th, 2022
Chill ‘n’ Go
Big thank you to all of our members who ventured out on a Tuesday night to be part of the absolutely amazing event with the members of Antidoping!
It was a very hot night and the music as hot as a Mexican chilli sauce. Starting with a slower, cooler jazz the music got hotter as the night progressed … so chairs got moved aside and room was made for “swaying” which became dancing before long.
The Harrison was full of vibrant happy energy! Audiences hung out with the band and the general feeling was of family and happiness. At the end, there was some spontaneous jamming with local musicians.
It was an unforgettable summer night full of fun and magic!
Monday August 1st, 2022
Kurt Lowen
Kurt Loewen, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist and former member of The Tequilla Mocking Bird Orchestra, played his ballad-style folk to a full house. It was a fine evening of stories and tunes.
Thanks to the Starbelly board for bringing Kurt Lowen to our community!
Saturday July 23rd, 2022
Gratitude Festival
ArtConnect co-sponsored event with organizers WILLPOWER1:30 Threewheeler | 3:00 Sam Hurrie | 4:30 The Bats
6:00 Zabel Trio | 7:30 High as Mountains
9:00 The Arcane Garden
The Acoustic Stage (aka the Gyspy Stage)
4:00 Lisi Sommer & Caleb Hunt | 5:30 Andrew Caron
7:00 Reghan Ottenson | 8:30 Greg Lostracco
Saturday July 2nd, 2022
The Way They Came
A truly gifted performance by a truly gifted creative.
Saturday June 25th, 2022
Diemm
For Crawford Bay’s 4th Coffee House on June 25th, ArtConnect presented a stellar encore performance from Kaslo’s treasured singer-songwriter, harper and poet, Diemm. Music’s power to align and illuminate was in full bloom, as Diemm laced her profound poetry into her riveting harp compositions. Thoughtful prose delivered in deft, dramatic layers. Thank you, Diemm for an exceptional evening that we’ll remember fondly …
For more on Diemm, check out her website at https://www.diemm.ca/
Praise for Diemm:
“Diemm has the incredible ability to discuss heavy, sad, or even complicated topics in a manner that makes them sound light.” ~ Alana Ballantyne, Two Story Mel-ody.
“Diemm sings a lot of otherworldly melodies that sound as if they might’ve been inspired by Indian ragas or Punjabi folk songs. And the spoken word pieces work because Diemm is a truly expressive raconteur.” ~ Roots Music Canada
Saturday June 11th, 2022
Zabel Trio
What a lovely night with Zabel Trio at the helm of this wonderful night of music! We lovely this local trio and hope to have them fill this church again in the future!
Saturday May 28th, 2022
The Wilds
B.C.’s peerless Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright – known and loved as The Wilds – infused our third Coffee House with an energetic buoyancy that had us all humming, snapping, tapping and clapping in a rhythmic eco – echo! The evening flew by as folks smiled, laughed, danced and sang along with Holly’s & Kevin’s lush vocal harmonies and magnificently matched, incomparable instrumentals of keyboard, cajon and dulcimer. If the call of The Wilds is to have the best possible time rockin’ out for our planet, mission accomplished!
Audience members are still commenting on The Wilds’ high calibre of talent and purposeful delivery. Carrying the messages, “Chowiyes” (rise up!) and “Xwithet” (wake up!), Holly & Kevin wholeheartedly embody quality music, ecology, education, entertainment and action. Let us keep their songs in our hearts and on our minds as we protect and stand for the earth, sea and sky!
You’ll find music and more from The Wilds at:
www.VoicesOfNature.ca
www.ArtistResponseTeam.com
www.TheWildsBand.com
Sunday May 8th, 2022
Two Sopranos & Piano
in a special Mothers’ Day Concert
What an enchanting evening of beautiful vocals and lovely piano accompaniment to celebrate mothers in every form! Glad you all could join us!
Saturday April 23rd, 2022
Garuda
Garuda’s performance was worship worthy! The rhythm was uncompromising: Ferdy Belland’s fingers blurred, weaving his wondrous 7-string bass tones into the vehement drum drive of Jason Deatherage. Steve Pierson’s stunning Indian sitar brought in a vibrant element of surprise, and harmonic vocals by Steve and Ferdy completed Garuda’s meteoric sound.
If you missed them this time, fear not! Garuda appreciated the sonic resonance of Harrison Cultural Centre, and promised to return. Until then, don’t miss their online album Sacred; it lives up to its name.
Saturday April 9th, 2022
Patrick Alexandre
We all gathered in the historic venue for a sold out show and a lively evening of Roots, Blues, Country, + Rock & Roll, from Gray Creek’s own Juno nominated Producer, Singer, Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist Patrick Alexandre! Joined by special guest Morgan Rael on guitar for a few songs and guitar tuning comedy act. Truly an event we hope you did not miss!
Saturday March 26th, 2022
Sam Hurrie
Sam launched ArtConnect‘s Inaugural Coffee House into orbit with his inimitable combination of smooth voice and masterful guitar, for March’s premiere Featured Act.
The Open Stage saw a stylish keyboard performance by Rebecca Fuzzen, a few tunes by Wherzpeter, and a welcome surprise appearance by local greats, the Zabel Trio. THANKS to all who joined us for this rich debut experience!
You’ll want to save the 4th Saturday night of every month for the ArtConnect Coffee House Music Nights!
Saturday March 12th, 2022
Diemm
Ethereal chamber folk. Crystalline vocals, lyrics like arrows. Poetry that tugs you into the liminal place between conscious and subconscious mind.
To entertain is one thing. To enrich is another. Singer-Songwriter-Harper-Poet Diemm plays for that one note, that one resonant chord that opens a cascade of ‘yes’ inside you.
Learn more about Diemm at https://www.diemm.ca/
