Cello Everybody: 2023 kicks of with laughs and licks around the Gorge
This Week in Gorge Entertainment
By Jim Drake
Big Britches theater announces 2023 Season
The 2023 live theater season for Big Britches Productions kicks off on Friday, Jan. 27, with “Ripcord.” Critics say David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Ripcord” is “an entertaining story of two elderly women thrown together by a comic cosmic force, possessed of a wicked sense of humor.” Directed by Joe Garoutte. Performances at The Bingen Theater, Bingen, Wash. Tickets and Season Passes on sale at:
https://www.bigbritches.org/season-tickets
2023 Big Britches Season
Jan-Feb - Ripcord
Aug. - Bob, A Life in Five Acts
Oct. - The Rocky Horror Show
Dec. - Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol
Dancing with the Gorge Stars returns
Six local Gorge "stars" will compete for your votes at the Dancing with the Gorge Stars fundraiser event for the Mid Columbia Community Concert Association on Friday, Jan. 13, at The Dalles High School, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets at:
https://www.midcolumbiacommunityconcerts.org/events/dancing-with-the-gorge-stars
About The Event
Mid-Columbia Community Concert Association is proud to bring back, by popular demand, the ninth annual Dancing With The Gorge Stars competition. Six local Gorge "stars" will compete for your votes at this mid-winter fundraiser for MCCCA. Like the reality TV dance show, our contestants learn a dance routine prior to show time.
Click on this image to expand.
Click on this image to expand it.
But in this show, the competitors are our friends and neighbors from the Gorge area. Paired with a professional dancer from the Utah Ballroom Dance Co., they have one week to learn and perfect their routines before performing on stage before a live audience. Video highlights of the rehearsals are shown during the event to showcase how far each contestant has come in just one week.
This year’s contestants include a teacher, a barber, a banker, an administrator, a vintner, and an entrepreneur. To learn more about each contestant find us on Facebook or visit www.mccca.info.
An entertaining panel of three local judges will score each couple after their individual performance. During intermission, the audience casts their votes which are combined with the judge’s scores and tallied to determine who wins the beautiful mirror ball trophy. The second half of the show is a spectacular performance of the Utah Ballroom Dance Co. with a professional showcase featuring a variety of highly choreographed and technical dancing.
Tickets are available from any contestant, at Klindt’s Booksellers, Lines of Designs, or online at www.mccca.info. They will also be available at the door for $30.
Karaoke Night at Solera
On Friday, Jan. 6, Solera Brewery in Parkdale welcomes live music with Karaoke Night. Music starts around 6 p.m. Minors welcome until 8 p.m.
‘Kalos’ brings Celtic Roots music Jan. 13
Kalos will play Celtic Roots music at the Ruins on Jan. 13. Photo by Winsome Bye
The Ruins in Hood River presents Celtic Roots music trio Kalos on Friday, Jan. 13. Critics say “Kalos creates music that is compelling enough to transcend boundaries and appeal to music lovers of all stripes.” The band is touring in support of new album “Headland.” Tickets available at https://www.tickettomato.com/event/7851 or at the door.
About the Artist
Kalos features Ryan McKasson (fiddle, viola, vocals), Eric McDonald (guitar, mandolin, lead vocals), and Jeremiah McLane (accordion, piano, vocals). All three are long-standing touring artists who, as part of their development, learned from masters of traditional music (Ryan with Alasdair Fraser, Eric with John McGann, Jeremiah with Jimmy Keane). Their individual artistry springs from these strong traditional roots.
While much of Kalos' material is rooted in traditional forms, this does not limit the trio’s scope and collective imagination is the primary expression in its music.
Kalos’ new album, Headland, (set for release in Spring 2023) does not shy away from anything in favor of a certain direction. Rather, it is a body of music that, even if sometimes in the abstract, creates an emotional narrative. The name Headland, which refers to a point where land meets sea, is representative of the exploratory space Kalos seeks in its arrangements and live performances.
All of the various elements at play gather together into a collective mood, creating an environment of Kalos’ design and a memorable live music experience. As a critic for the UK’s Folkwords wrote: “There’s a certain spontaneity at work as the three musicians alternately contest and duel, combine and coalesce to bring their talents together.”
“Fare Thee Well”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch2qGZoxOO4
“Fanny Vanille/The Kerry Polska”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1REEyFr2Rw
Sean Jordan comedy show at Granada
The Granada Theater in The Dalles presents a comedy show with Sean Jordan, Tory Ward and Dylan Jenkins on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. Stand-up comedian and podcaster Sean Jordan hit the comedy charts with his iTunes album “The Buck Starts Here,” in 2019 and has performed at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, High Plains Comedy Fest and Sketch Fest.
For tickets visit www.granadatheatrethedalles.com
Live Music Mondays at Everybody’s Brewing
Live Music Mondays at Everybody’s Brewing in White Salmon showcases the best in local and regional bands. Music is 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 9, Rishell Graves (Soulful Keyboard Pop, Rock)
Jan. 23, Forrest VanTuyl (Acoustic Country-Folk)
Jan. 30, Al Hare (Guitarist, Singer-songwriter)
‘Poker Night for Luis’ at Bargeway
Bargeway Pub in The Dalles presents Poker Night for Luis on Saturday, Jan. 14, starting at 6 p.m. This fundraising event for Bargeway employee Luis Flores includes a silent auction. Call Steve at 541-980-7106 for buy-in information and registration.
Sense of Place returns Jan. 11
Jessica Hudec, Loretta Duke, Dr. Brian Harvey
The Sense of Place lectures return to the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River on Wednesday, Jan. 11, with “Wildfire in the Gorge: The Good, the Bad, and Lessons from Eagle Creek,” presented by Jessica Hudec, Loretta Duke and Dr. Brian Harvey. In 2017, the Eagle Creek fire ripped through over 48,000 acres in the Columbia River Gorge. It was the largest fire in the Gorge in the past century. Five years later, what can we learn from this historic event? Tickets at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sense-of-place-season-13-tickets-396034308277
Live Music at Zim’s
Zim’s Brau Haus in The Dalles presents live local music.
Friday, Jan. 6, Rich and Blonde, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 7, Got Your Six Veteran Band, 7 p.m.
Trivia Night at Thunder Island
Trivia Night with Scott Anderson returns to Thunder Island Brewing in Cascade Locks on Thursday, Jan. 5, starting at 6 p.m. Please bring a phone with the ability to scan QR codes. Trivia players should email reservations to rosie@thunderislandbrewing.com
Whodunnit Mystery Book Club at TD Library
“The Death of Mrs. Westaway,” is the January book for the Whodunnit Mystery Book Club (adults 19+), which meets on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 5 p.m. Tap Dancing Basics Class (Jan-April) starts on Friday, Jan. 6, at 3:30 p.m. All materials are provided.
LOR Watch Party at HR Library
The Lord of the Rings Watch Parties are scheduled to start on Friday, Jan. 13, at 4 p.m. at the Hood River Library. The Trilogy continues on Jan. 20 and Jan. 27.
Chamber Music at Riverside
The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association presents “Chamber Music in the Afternoon” at Riverside Church in Hood River on Sunday, Jan. 22, starting at 2 p.m. Expect “relaxing, intimate and inspiring soloists and small groups.”
JT Thomas at 64oz. Taphouse
JT Thomas
On Wednesday, Jan. 4, Hood River’s 64oz Taphouse welcomes guitarist JT Thomas for an evening of “soul burning blues music to get you movin’ and a-groovin’.” JT will be accompanied by Calen Uhlig on bass. Music starts at 7 p.m. $5 cover.
The Hood River Show returns
The Hood River Comedy Show returns to the Hood River Elks on Friday Jan. 13, with Seattle comedians Monica Nevi and Mary Lou Gamba, promising that Friday the 13th will be a day to remember. The Hood River Show is hosted by Bo Jones. Tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/the-hood-river-show-tickets-498997233157
‘Story Telling’ at Bingen Theater
Comedian-storyteller Jon Bennett returns to the Bingen Theater on Friday, Jan. 6, starting at 7:30 p.m. to host a Story Telling show, featuring new and experienced storytellers that have participated in Bennett’s instructional workshop. Tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/story-telling-at-the-bingen-tickets-499341613207?aff=erelexpmlt
‘Illuminated Cello’ show at Bingen Theater
The Performing Arts Initiative invites you to Illuminated Cello at the Bingen Theater on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m. “Showcasing internationally renowned musician Chrissy Lancaster and his dynamic electro-acoustic cello brilliance, along with Lightwave Lightshow's visual artist John Hardham, this creative collaboration will take you on a kinetic adventure that will leave you awestruck by the magic of music and light.” Expect surprise guest artists to add to the show.
Tickets at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/illuminated-cello-tickets-484068009447?aff=erelexpmlt
‘Red Yarn’ at Trout Lake Hall
Folksongs and puppetry come alive with Red Yarn at Trout Lake Hall on Saturday, Jan. 7. The show is free for kids.
Trout Lake Hall in Trout Lake, Washington is bringing live music back to the Historic building’s stage.
Saturday, Jan. 7, it’s a free kids show with Red Yarn. “Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson) is a Texas-born, Oregon-based family performer who weaves folksongs and puppetry into high-energy shows for all ages. With his engaging performances, lush folk-rock recordings, and playful music videos, this red-bearded bard reinvigorates American folklore for younger generations.” Doors open 3 p.m.; Show at 4 p.m. For more info visit: https://www.troutlakehall.com/
Live music at Working Hands Beer
Working Hands Beer in Hood River presents live music, trivia nights and more.
Saturday, Jan. 7, Brigid’s Crossing (Irish/Folk/Pop), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 8, Open Mic hosted by Tim Decker, 6 p.m.
