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Homegrown Coffee House returns for Robbie Burns Day

Homegrown Coffee House music evening returns.

A Homegrown Coffee House music evening. At last! Jeannie, wearing her Scottish sash in honour of it being Robbie Burns Day, was the friendly and cheerful MC.

First came Emilio Regina, a very relaxed singer and easy keyboard player. A Song for You, by Willie Nelson, Ray Charles and Leon Russell led off. (“I been too many places in my life and time…) Then Supertramp’s 1977 song Downstream and Bob Dylan’s 1997 Make You Feel My Love. (“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do….”) A very pleasant beginning.

Twelve year old Allyia Pickering, in Kimberley since 2022, unaccompanied, was next with four songs. Fingers Crossed by Lauren Spencer-Smith, Lost Boy by Ruth B. (of Edmonton), Like My Father (“I need a man who loves me like my father loves my mom….” and Jersey On The Wall by Canadian country artist Tenille Townes. She was a confident and strong singer with a very good range.

Another twelve year old singer, Jade Carroll, along with Arne Sahlen on piano keyboard, sang and played a keyboard duet with Arne. The Prayer, Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver, Chiapaneca - a Mexican folk song arranged by trumpeter Rafael Mendez and an Irish folk song When The Sun Says Goodbye To The Mountain. Her singing was pleasant and enjoyable.

Next the audience was treated to the always fine jazz trio Randi Marchi and Shinobu Murata on trumpets and Tim Plait on keyboard. Their last tune “was picked up in Mexico”; it had a fantastic driving beat and a unique rhythm not usually heard in Kimberley.

Intermission had the traditional delicious treats and soft beverages and friendly conversation in the Gallery.

John Gerlitz, who grew up in Kimberley, followed. He played guitar and sang “ ... a bunch of tunes. I don’t know who wrote them, but probably no one would know of them anyway”. All three had the audience laughing. First was "T'aint No Use”, with lots of picking. Then “... another story about love not working out”. He finished with Lost Again, a funny and long list of “wrong moves”. The audience enjoyed him.

Evangeline Kianna moved to Kimberley from Calgary in 2021; she’ll be graduating from Selkirk in June. (Or was it last June?) She gave us some lovely vocals, accompanied by instrumentals from her laptop. Vienna, one of Billy Joel’s favourite songs first: “You can get what you want or you can just get old.” Then Olivia Newton-John’s Hopelessly Devoted to You (“Guess mine is not the first heart broken”. She finished her set with a very fine Amy Winehouse song.

Next came Jon Bisset, sporting a Robby Robertson T-shirt. He’s been in Kimberley 20 years. First was an Emmylou Harris song from The Last Waltz, Goin’ to California. Following that was one of his own songs, written about an old friend 20 years ago. The audience was invited to “jump in on the chorus - Tears they will subside”. Jon spoke a bit about all the wonderful musicians in the East Kootenays. His final song was Wonder Where the Lions Are.

Van and Shelah Redecopp (Sheva) were the last fine act of the evening. First was Michelle (ma belle Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble), clearly picked out on Van’s guitar while he sang the words and Shelah “ooo’ed along; she also played her violin, which rendered the melody very fully.

An old song followed, by Bruce Channel (and covered by Anne Murray), Hey Baby! Will You Be My Girl? Then a new song (2017) by Tyler Childers “Hold Me Close My Dear, Sing your whispering song, Softly in my ear”. They ended their set and the evening with a personal song written by Van, I Love to Sing, about a large summer outdoor party; it felt like we were there.

A typical yet unique Kimberley concert. As Allyia’s mom said “We have a beautiful and talented (music) community.” What an amazing range of songs, singers and well played instruments. Another fabulous Homegrown evening at Centre 64.

Written for the Bulletin by John Allen.