Hello and welcome to the middle of September.
Hopefully, everyone has had a chance to catch their collective breath after the end of summer and enjoy some of the good weather we have been having, this week. And of course, catch up on arts and culture happenings here in O-Town.
A couple of big events have been announced in the past few days, so I want to highlight them first off.
Firstly, Mariposa in Concert has announced its first show of the 2019-20 year, an Echoes of Mariposa combo pack with The Doozies, Rick Fines and James Gray. This all-Canadian evening will have something for everyone, with east coast kitchen party fun, incredible singing and songwriting and bluesy-folk tunes to make you weep.
This great Mariposa workshop-style evening is Sat. Oct. 26 at St. Paul’s Centre, 62 Peter St. N. in Orillia. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. and the show gets under way at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door and available online here.
The second big announcement in recent days was the Carmichael Canadian Landscape Exhibition dates and list of artists, at the Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH). The exhibit runs from Nov. 8 to Jan. 2 with an opening reception on Nov. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Featured are 41 works by artists too numerous to mention, but I will say that local artists Patti Agapi, Ronald Regamey and Peter Stranks made the cut and their works will be part of this stellar exhibit.
Speaking of OMAH, another great exhibit there is opening soon and co-sponsored by the Orillia Centre for Culture.
Pest Control: Works by John. F. Ross and Amy Swartz runs from Sept. 28 to Oct. 13, short and sweet so make sure to come out and see these amazing pieces. John is legendary in these parts by dint of being the son of Don and Evelyn Ross, former owners of Manticore Books, another reason to check this exhibit out. For more information on this show and all things OMAH, go to their website.
And, speaking of legendary Orillians, who knew that Gray Powell, son of local Green Party superstar and community activist Valerie Powell and husband Jamie, is starring in the Shaw Festival epic play, Man and Superman, this season?
This play is not only epic in name but also in run time as it is six hours long. Shaw Festival has chosen to run it as an all-day event with a lovely luncheon in the middle to sustain audience-goers. Man and Superman has received great reviews during its Niagara-on-the-Lake stint, so do nip over and check it out. But hurry, it is only on stage until Oct. 5. For tickets, click here.
But what’s happening this weekend, you ask? Plenty! Our neighbours to the south of us in Barrie have an awesome event, Troubadour Music Festival, running Friday and Saturday throughout downtown Barrie. Featured acts include The Cowboy Junkies performing in a winery, Bedouin Soundclash, My Son the Hurricane, Danny Michel, Matt Andersen, Jerry Leger and the Situation and many more great acts. For tickets and more information, click here.
Hibernation Arts at 7 Peter St. S. first Wordsmith session of the season is Thurs. Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. with readings by Dave Armishaw and Josh Poitras. The $10 cost includes light refreshments. HA is also hosting a House Concert on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. with Sean Patrick and Darrin Davis. Tickets are $20 and more information can be found at the HA Facebook page here.
Don’t forget the comedy revue 80’s Kids Will Understand at the Geneva Event Centre at 16 West St. S. on Thurs. Sept. 19! Tickets are at the door and here.
Music in the bars! Here you go: at The Brownstone Café, Thurs. Roman Clarke, Fri. Sarah Osborne and Moonfruits, Mon. An Evening with Mark Martyre. At the Hog ‘n’ Penny, Fri. The Hillbirds, Sat. Barbara Jordan Trio. At Fionn MacCool’s, Fri. and Sat. Zach Erickson.
See you around town, and don’t forget to send me your arts events, to [email protected] by Tuesdays at noon.
