The Yardbirds — not the local lawn-cutting service but the latter-day version of the groundbreaking blues/rock band from the 1960s — are the latest flash from the past to tour through Kamloops.
With drummer/composer Jim McCarty as its sole original member, the band that brought the world three iconic guitarists (Eric Clapton in 1963, Jeff Beck in 1965 and Jimmy Page in 1966) performs at Kamloops Convention Centre on Friday, April 13.
McCarty and Chris Dreja, the band’s original rhythm guitarist, reunited in 1992, the same year The Yardbirds were inducted into the rock hall of fame. They released a new album, Birdland, in 2003, and a live album in 2007. The band’s current lineup includes a younger set of musicians — guitarist Ben King, bassist David Smale and vocalist Andy Mitchell.
Known for their dedication to electric blues, the band had an early chart-topper with For Your Love. That success led Clapton, a blues purist, to leave the group to join John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Clapton recommended Page, who in turn recommended Beck, although Page later joined the group as well before signing onto Led Zeppelin.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. show, $35, are available in advance from Kamloops Live! Box Office or ORA Restaurant Lounge.
Paramount series opens Thursdays
Roman Polanski’s comedy of appalling manners, Carnage, opens Filmtastic, a new series of critically acclaimed films at Paramount Theatre Downtown.
In Carnage, two sets of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight. As the evening progresses, their behaviour deteriorates into chaos.
Running every other Thursday at 7 p.m., the series continues with: David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method, based on a three-way relationship that included Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung (March 1); Into the Abyss, a death-row documentary (March 15); Shame, a drama about two siblings struggling with the destructive effects of their past (March 29); Café de Flore, a love story from Quebec director Jean-Marc Vallée that is nominated for a best picture Genie (April 12); and Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close as a19th-century woman posing as a butler to escape repression (April 26).
The series fills a void left by Kamloops Film Society, which decided not to offer its usual winter film series this season.
Printmaker leads free workshop
Prominent in Bearing Witness, Kamloops Art Gallery’s winter exhibition, printmaking has been used in the fields of art and journalism for disseminating information and recording events.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, Sherri May, president of Kamloops Printmakers Society, leads an adult workshop on fundamentals of the art. A TRU fine arts graduate, May has exhibited her work in B.C. and Ontario. Participation is free.
Interior singer/songwriters share stage
Newly signed to Epic Records, Vernon-born singer/songwriter Andrew Allen performs Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m.,at Kamloops Convention Centre.
Allen has so far had two Top-10 hits in Canada, 2009’s I Wanna Be Your Christmas and 2010’s Loving You Tonight. The latter earned him single of the year at last year’s B.C. Interior Music Awards.
Kamloops’ Evan Wilds and Dan Oig (who grew up in Kamloops) are lined up as special guests. Tickets for the all-ages show, $20, are available in advance from Kamloops Live! Box Office and ORA Restaurant Lounge.
Poet reads to string music
Kamloops poet Barbara Ballé and the string quintet Ordinary People give a reading with musical accompaniment on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 7 p.m., at Kamloops Public Library.
Balle will read from her anthology Life Jingling in My Pockets. The quintet will also play a variety of instrumental pieces by composers including Mozart, Bach, Haydn and Mouret.
Seating for the free event is limited. Seats can be reserved by calling 250-372-5145.
African children’s choir returns
Beautiful Africa: A New Generation is a new program by the touring Watoto Children’s Choir, which performs Wednesday, Feb. 29, 7 p.m. at Gateway City Church, 163 Oriole Rd.
Established in 1994 by Canadians Gary and Mariliyn Skinner, the choir has travelled internationally to represent millions of African children orphaned as a result of war, disease and poverty. Each child in the choir has lost one or both parents. The concerts are free.
Watoto means “the children” in Swahili.
