Oh Canada kicks off the 2017-18 Osoyoos Concert Series with a performance on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at the Osoyoos Baptist Church. (Contributed photo)
A musical celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations will kick off the 2017-18 Osoyoos Concert Series.
A special performance by the travelling group ‘Oh Canada’ will kick of this year’s concert series.
The opening concert will be held at Osoyoos Baptist Church on Tuesday, Sept. 26 as the Osoyoos Community Theatre at Osoyoos Secondary School is undergoing renovations.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing as this group was put together specifically to perform during Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations,” said Pat Philpott, secretary with the Osoyoos Concert Series. “Their entire repertoire during the concert will cover nothing but Canadian music, including tributes to legends like Stompin’ Tom Connors, Celine Dion, Shania Twain and so much more.”
The creator of this special production is Leisa Way, an internationally acclaimed Canadian songbird.
Way began her career starring as the iconic Anne in Anne of Green Gables at the Confederation Centre, Canada’s National Memorial to the Fathers of Confederation.
How fitting it is to carry on her singing in the year of our 150th birthday and to create such a tribute to all Canadian singers, said Philpott.
Way has enjoyed great success with other concerts, including Sweet Dreams, one of the finest Patsy Cline shows to hit the stage.
Way will showcase her musical versatility by singing everything from Twain’s biggest hits to channeling the classics of Anne Murray and Joni Mitchell.
A special highlight of the concert will see Way team up with her band to sing Rita MacNeil and The Men of the Deeps’ mining anthem, Working Man.
During the show, the many costume changes are stunning.
Way will be accompanied in this show with the Wayward Wind Band, talented multi-instrumentalists in their own right.
Toes will tap to classic fiddle tunes and hands will clap to a rock medley and collective breaths will be held as the group sings a beautiful rendition of the late Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.
This show has a patriotic feel, but that alone would not completely capture the audience, said Philpott.
It is the songs and music and the terrific presentation and variety that will inspire and bring memories of these wonderful eras in Canadian musical history, she said.
The Osoyoos Concert Series has been entertaining local audiences for more than 20 years and local music fans will hopefully continue purchasing tickets to support the concerts for the upcoming season, said Philpott.
“We’ve been very fortunate over the years to bring some top-notch talent to town and we hope it continues,” she said.
Tickets for the upcoming show are available at Mills Office Products in Osoyoos and Sundance Video in Oliver.
Tickets are $23 in advance or $25 at the door. Students can purchase tickets for $15.
Tickets for all four concerts can be purchased for $80.
The Sept. 26 concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.
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