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Lots of attractions coming to town

The final performance in the ninth season of the Lakes District Arts Council takes place on Sunday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Alberta singer-songwriter to perform

The final performance in the ninth season of the Lakes District Arts Council (LDAC) takes place on Sunday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lakes District Secondary School’s multi purpose room. Alberta singer-songwriter John Wort Hannam and his band, The Blue Collars, perform acoustic roots music in the style of Loudon Wainwright III, John Prine and Steve Earle - but as proud Canadians.

John taught grade nine language arts in Alberta for five years, until one day he heard a record by Loudon Wainwright III. In 1998 he bought a guitar and taught himself to play. In 2002 he quit teaching and began to pursue the dream of being a working musician. The rest, as they say, is (musical) history. Since 2002, John has captured a Juno nomination, and won a Canadian folk music award for album of the year.

“You’re dead a long time,” says John. “So you better get out there and play.”

Look for posters around town, and LDAC’s ads in the Lakes District News. Tickets are available at LDFC Printing and Stationery (250-692-3309) and Lakes Artisan Centre (250-692-3344), and at the door. And… a couple of bonuses: the evening’s art exhibition will be a group show by six local visual artists, and LDAC will be announcing the performances to come in the 2015/16 season - our tenth. To learn more about John Wort Hannam, check out this link: http://johnworthannam.com

For this month’s contest...

To be entered in the draw to win one of two John Wort Hannam CD’s, answer this question - John Wort Hannam has released five CD’s, name the title of any one of John Wort Hannam’s five CD’s. Not sure? Go to John’s website: http://johnworthannam.com and click on ‘music.’ Send in your answer to jbarth46@telus.net by midnight, Saturday March 7.

Renée Fleming in ’The Merry Widow’ from The Met: Live in HD

The fourth of this year’s co-presentations by LDAC and The Beacon Theatre of live opera broadcasts from The Met in New York takes place on Monday, March 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. sharp at The Beacon Theatre. American soprano Renée Fleming stars as Hanna Glawari, the rich widow who captivates Paris, in the famous Franz Lehar operetta The Merry Widow. The show features glorious Viennese waltzes, dances, romance and comedy.

If you’re not sure about opera or operetta, but want to give it a go, The Merry Widow would be a great place to start. All tickets are $12, available Monday evening at the door. To check out video and audio clips, and a synopsis of the operetta, visit: http://www.metopera.org/opera/the-merry-widow-lehar-tickets

Annual Lakes District Festival of the Performing Arts just around the corner

One of the longest running cultural events in the Lakes District, the annual Lakes District Festival of the Performing Arts, begins in just a few days. Key dates: piano, speech arts and vocal: March 10 to 15; instrumental: March 18; festival honours concert, Saturday March 21. All festival events are at the Island Gospel Fellowship hall. Watch for an ad in the Lakes District News, or for more information about the festival, visit the festival’s website: http://www.ldfestival.com

Bye-bye winter, hello spring fling!

The Rose Lake Community Club is hosting its annual “spring fling” at the Rose Lake hall on Saturday March 14. Doors open at 5 p.m. for happy hour (no host bar) and a fantastic four course meal will be served, with dessert by Magi at 6:30 p.m.

There will be great entertainers who promise to get the hall “a rockin.” Tickets are $25 each, and are available by contacting Karen Sirfalk at 250-696-3379.

Francois Lake Coffee House

The Francois Lake Community Hall is hosting a coffee house with local performers on Saturday March 28 at 7 p.m. at the hall. Admission is by donation. Look for posters around town, or for more information contact Joan at 250-695-6381, or Naida at 250-251-5415.