Some virtual music offerings during COVID-19

As I wrote last week, there are signs of optimism and creativity amongst the local music and arts scene in Niagara as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic.  More indications of such creativity and resilience on the part of local artists manifested itself in many of the press releases I received this week, so let's take a look at what's new.

First up, Bravo Niagara! for the Arts actually held an online event this past Thursday I didn't receive word on prior to my blog post last week, but it is still relevant now.  They've introduced Bravo Niagara! AMPLIFIED, a new virtual video recording series designed to bring their family of artists together with local audiences.  The artists involved go beyond the Bravo Niagara! roster that have or will be performing in their inventive concert series locally.

The first project in the series was "We are the World", featuring over 150 artists and students recording remotely from their respective homes.  The concept of course harkens back 35 years to the original iconic We are the World recording written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones.

As Bravo Niagara! notes on their website, the words still ring true today:  "Now more than ever, music has the power to uplift our spirits and give hope for a better day."  How true.

Headlining the performance is superstar Measha Brueggergosman along with Quincy Jones protege Emily Bear and Bakithi Kumalo, who of course performed on the iconic Paul Simon album "Graceland" years ago.  Also appearing are the Laura Secord Secondary School concert choir and the Chorus Niagara Children's Choir.

Now the premiere of this new version took place this past week but you can still watch it on their website, at www.bravoniagara.org.

As mentioned in an earlier post here, Suitcase in Point Theatre is partnering with a wide array of regional and national artists to deliver part one of the reimagined In the Soil (p)Arts Festival, ITS Online!

Of course the original three-day celebration was to take place throughout downtown St. Catharines between June 5th and 7th, but that annual arts and culture festival had to be scrubbed due to COVID-19, so the new online version will be presented throughout the rest of the year online, with Part One premiering this coming Friday May 22nd at 6 pm.

Part One of the reimagined online series will continue until Sunday, June 7th, and will literally feature something for everyone, including music, comedy, dance, aerial, theatre and comedy performances, dance parties, panel discussions, family-friendly arts making workshops, a collage party and more.  And it's all online.  Amazing.

For more details of events coming up in Part One, go to their website, www.inthesoil.on.ca.

If you plan to catch any or all of the events online, In The Soil suggests ordering in from one of your favourite local restaurants to complete the experience and help out our great restauranteurs that make St. Catharines a destination for foodies of all kinds.  Nice touch.

Just yesterday the 2020 TD Niagara Jazz Festival announced their hugely popular local jazz festival has not been cancelled either.  Rather it has also been reimagined into what they term a "Virtually Possible" version of the event, culminating in the ever-popular Summer Mardi Gras event on Saturday, July 18th.

Between now and then, there will be nine virtual "Big Easy-centric Sessions" as they put it, curated and hosted by musician and New Orleans resident Christopher Butcher of Heavy Weights Brass Band fame.  The nine virtual sessions will explore the art, history, food, famous locations and especially the music of New Orleans.  Think of it as a sort of "Mardi Gras 101" that culminates in the big event itself on July 18th.

The first of the nine New Orleans sessions will premiere this coming Tuesday, May 19th from 6 to 7 pm, featuring New Orleans' own "Windex Pete".  You can catch it on the TD Niagara Jazz Festival Facebook and YouTube channels.

In addition to the Mardi Gras event, the Festival will also be live-streaming their weekly "LIVEStream.LOVE.JAZZ series hosted by Juliet Dunn every Friday and Saturday night during this period of self-quarantine, social distancing and beyond.

For more details on all events go to www.niagarajazzfestival.com.

Finally, the #NiagaraPerforms free online concert series launched last month by the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines has announced some new dates.

Tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm local favourites Vox Violins, made up of Beth Bartley and Mark Clifford will perform their lively brand of music drawing from Celtic fiddle tunes, Canadian folk ballads, blues and much more.

The Garden City Comedy Festival kicks off next Thursday, May 21st at 7 pm featuring director David Green performing a live stand-up comedy performance with special guests Thomas Calnan and Fiona O'Brien.

Local musician, songwriter and producer Joe Lapinsky will guide the audience through a wide range of music spanning his varied career, including some new, never-before-heard songs.  That performance takes place next Sunday afternoon, May 24th at 4pm.

Finally, Niagara's premiere choral group Chorus Niagara with Artistic Director Robert Cooper will host a watch party of the recent premiere by Chorus Niagara of "Who We Are" by local composer Glen Rhodes along with "Earth and Fire" from the Elements Suite by Katerina Gimon.  Both were performed and filmed previously in Partridge Hall at the FirstOntario PAC and will be presented Thursday May 28th at 7 pm.

You can check out all the performances on the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre's Facebook and YouTube channels.

That's it for this week.  Keep well and wash your hands, be careful and remain optimistic.  We will get through this together.

Have a great weekend!

May 16th, 2020.