Allison Crowe's Nanaimo Tidings December 11, 2010

Musical Tidings of Comfort and Joy - Allison Crowe & A Really Big Show - Saturday, Dec. 11 @ St. Andrew’s United Church

“Music for the season and all time” – Allison Crowe and Nanaimo’s exceptional young musicians bring festive fun to warm body and soul with their “Tidings” concert at St. Andrew’s United Church (311 Fitzwilliam), Saturday, December 11 at 7:30 pm (Doors: 7:00 pm).

Tidings stirs together traditional Christmas carols and holiday favourites with an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. "The Yuletide find of the year," says The Record. "Be prepared to be amazed," chimes ChristmasReviews.com

This annual show also brings some aid to The Mind's Eye (NYSA) youth newspaper and Woodlands Secondary School Basketball and Band Programs - well-springs of a new generation of athletes, musicians and writers.

Those who nurture talent in our community are essential. The Tidings line-up is especially indebted to Andrea Bertram, Vocalist and Teacher at Andrea Bertram Studio, and Rick Becker, Band Master at Woodlands Secondary School - along with all teachers and mentors in the community, at home, and school.

This year’s Tidings concert opens with feature performances from:

Hayley Read is a student at Vancouver Island University. She is an experienced festival and musical theatre performer, currently studying the role of "Captain Hook" in the Kirkwood Academy production of "Peter Pan" for May 201I. She is a member the indie rock duo "Emanate".

Kiana Smith is a Grade 9 student at Dover Bay Secondary School. She is a triple threat performer who just recently played Annie in the Dover Bay Theatrix production of "Annie". She is another Kirkwood performer who will be playing "Peter Pan" in "Peter Pan".

Mathew Walker is a Grade 12 student at Dover Bay Secondary School. He has just concluded playing "Daddy Warbucks" in the Dover Bay Theatrix Production of "Annie" and is an experienced performer in concerts and music festivals. Like Allison Crowe, he is a former "Songbird" winner.

Taylor Manns is a Grade 11 student at Wellington Secondary School. Besides being another triple threat performer, she was awarded top honours at numerous jazz festivals for her vocals. She was also selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in June 2010 as a member of the North American High School Honours Choir. Another Kirkwood performer, she will be lending character to "Tinkerbell" in their "Peter Pan" production.

Brynn Newman is in her second year at Vancouver Island University acquiring her pre-requisites for Dental Hygiene. She was a gold ticket finalist at the last Canadian Idol. She is a veteran of festivals, competitions, dinner theatres and concerts.

Chelsea Peckett has trained as a collaborative pianist and is a veteran of many music festivals, concerts, dinner theatres, and of course the Allison Crowe"Tidings" Concert. She currently teaches piano privately and accompanies the AVVA women's choir. Andrea Bertram and the students appreciate her diligence and sensitivity and feel privileged to work with her throughout the year.

Emily Blake is a grade 10 student at Woodland's Secondary School where she resides in the band room doing Tour Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Jazz Combo, and Peer Tutoring for grade 8 and 9 classes. Her instruments include piano, saxophone, flute, trumpet, and vocals. In her spare time she is on student counsel and has a leading role in Nanaimo Theatre Group's musical production of "Panto in the Jungle" which runs through this holiday season.

Kevin Patton is a versatile multi-instrumentalist in his graduation year at Woodlands Secondary School. Kevin plays saxophone, trombone, bass, guitar, and keyboard. In 2008, Kevin was a member of the Woodlands Junior Jazz Combo which achieved a "Gold" rating at Musicfest Canada. His music training includes Headliners' Academy of Performing Arts, and five years in the Woodlands Secondary Music Program.

Emily and Kevin will be joined as a combo by “Maestro” Rick Becker.

Following intermission, the Tidings concert resumes with a full set from Allison Crowe. The Nanaimo-born musician, who now lives on both of Canada’s coasts, has gained a tremendous international fan base by following an independent path – outside the confines and compromises of the corporate record industry.

Along with releasing seven albums/CDs containing original song-writing of a singular range and quality, this century Allison Crowe has earned a reputation for her gorgeous voice, and unique ability to viscerally communicate emotion without sentimentality.

Crowe’s honest approach serves well, too, in making her, not only an uniquely exciting songwriter and live performer, combining voice, piano and guitar, but, at the same time, a peerless interpreter of a most varied songbook.

Upon returning to Canada, following her most recent European concert dates, earlier this month, popular Leonard-Cohen-centric blog, “1 Heck of a Guy”, commented:

"Allison, whose covers include not only outstanding versions of Joni Mitchell’s 'River' and 'A Case of You,' Leonard Cohen’s 'Hallelujah,' 'The Beatles’ 'In My Life' and 'Let It Be,' Lennon’s 'Imagine,' and Cyndi Lauper’s 'Time After Time,' but also the most provocative and seductive (forgive me, Aretha) take I’ve heard on Ronnie Shannon’s 'I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You).' And, I stand by my conviction that Allison Crowe is the best thing to happen to 'Me And Bobby McGee' since Janis Joplin changed Kristofferson’s lyrics."

No doubt several of these much-loved interpretations will ring in the Tidings concert mix this joyful Winter’s eve – joining Crowe’s fresh takes on such seasonal classics as “The First Noel”, “Silent Night”, and “O Holy Night”.

Tickets @: West Coast Classic Floral; Lobelia's Lair; Andrea Bertram Studio; Fascinating Rhythm; Tom Lee Music; Mind's Eye-NYSA; House of Indigo; Thrifty Foods (Longwood Station and Port Place stores); Woodlands Secondary School; & online @ www.allisoncrowe.com/shoptickets.html ~ $20 General/ $15 Students & Seniors advance ($22/$17 door)

More info @: http://www.allisoncrowe.com

Official Website: http://www.allisoncrowe.com