If the WGO calendar is any indication, it’s another busy weekend in Sydney with lots of evening entertainment to choose from. Here are some of the weekend’s highlights well worth your consideration.
The Antigonish band Transatlantic Zodiac Ensemble will be making two stops in Cape Breton as part of their November tour, appearing Governor’s Pub on November 5 at 10:00-2:00am, and at The Hoff in Inverness on November 6 at 11:00pm-2:00am With rock/pop, folk, and world music sounds topped off with frontman Michael Dalton’s charismatic vocals and style, the TZE guys show us that Antigonish is no slouch when it comes to offering up quality east coast musicianship. It may be near impossible to say this group’s name correctly after 2 or 3 drinks, but with their high energy performances you hardly need to do much more than shut up, dance, cheer, and repeat as necessary.
The TZE boys will be joined for their Sydney show by Cape Breton folky bluegrass group Crowdis Bridge. With the multi-instrumentalist, songwriting talents of Andrew Fedora, Ben Furey, and Jason Rudderham, there’s almost too much talent than should be allowed in one band, but the result is some dynamic, earthy, beautiful stuff. If you like Old Man Luedecke, you’ll like these guys. The band will also be playing at Shindigs in Port Hawkesbury on Saturday November 6th from 4-7pm.
The CBU Centre for International Studies is hosting An Evening of Art, Music and Politics at The Upstairs club on Saturday, November 6, with doors opening at 8:00pm. The Centre brings together artists who all have something to say about social justice and international issues. For five bucks, you’ll get an eclectic intergenerational lineup of some newer favourite performers and longtime Cape Breton heavy hitters, including Steve Fifield, Yvette Rogers, The Misfit Boys, John Gill, Leon Dubinsky, Beth MacCormick, and Ken Chisholm. There will be a poetry reading from published poet Jesse Ferguson, and visual on display by Berni Thorneycroft, Mary Beth Gillis, Patricia MacNeil, E. Del Zoppo, and many other local artists.
Also on November 6, The Rankin Family will be at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre for the Sydney leg of their 2010 acoustic tour in promoting their latest album These Are the Moments. Expect reworkings of old favourite hits and new songs from Jimmy, Heather, Cookie, and Raylene. Reserved theatre seating is $47.50, gold seating is priced at $59.50, and tickets are available for purchase at the MTCC Box Office from 10:00am to 6:00pm or by phoning 539-2300. Doors open at 7:00pm, showtime is at 8:00pm.
If you’re thinking ahead to next weekend, Alicia Penney will be gracing coffee-drinkers at Wentworth Perk in a solo performance on Friday, November 12, 6:00pm to 8:00pm. She is known for both her role in local indie/punk band Static in Action, and for intimate solo appearances where her heartfelt songwriting and unmistakable voice stay with you long after the show. Acoustic weeknight performances at Wentworth Perk have worked their way into the must-do local music circuit over the past few months, being used as a stop by many notable musicians on tour. Come for the free cover and good coffee. If you can’t wait an entire week for this show, you can catch Penney at Governor’s Saturday, November 6 at Governor’s, along with fellow singer/songwriters Joe Costello and Marc D. Lange. Cover is $5 and showtime is scheduled for 10:30pm.
