OKANAGAN GUITAR FESTIVAL BRING THE STRINGS TO KELOWNA

The Okanagan Guitar festival happens in Kelowna July 6 – 9. This is the brainchild of Vancouver Concert Society chair Alec Pearson, who has vacationed in Kelowna since childhood and has a passion for the area as well as the beloved instrument itself.

Currently, Pearson serves as sessional instructor of guitar at the University of British Columbia. He also holds the degree “Máster en Interpretación de Guitarra Clasica” from the Universitat d’Alacant in Alicante, Spain, where he studied with an array of the best living guitarists in the world to include; David Russell, Pepe Romero, Manuel Barrueco, Roberto Aussel, Paul Galbraith and Fabio Zanon.

If you google “the best 25 guitarists in the world” these names are on that impressive, dead or alive, list. I also found it interesting that included on the list are four women, and amongst those females a Canadian! Liona Boyd, aptly named “The First Lady of the Guitar” and a Five-time Juno Award winner to prove it!

“Music is really best when it’s working to bring people together” says Pearson, when I asked him a few questions about what we are to expect at this 2nd annual festival. He continues to say, “This year the number of registered participants has doubled and my goal for this festival is to take advantage of local businesses and make it about the city, as much as it is about the guitar.”

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The festival pre-opening day is next July 5, at the Okanagan Regional Library, 1380 Ellis St., with a special introduction to the classical guitar and a chance to meet the Okanagan Guitar Festival faculty. Alan Rinehart, Tatoul Hadjian and Alec Pearson will give an intro to the guitar.

The history of the guitar will be discussed and the music. Thursday or Day One of the festival, join in on some fun with the Open Mic, Meet and Greet held at The Market at Quails’ Gate Winery, 3303 Boucherie Rd. from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. Guests are invited to play the guitar for fellow music lovers or just enjoy and listen.

This event is free and open to the public to attend. There will be beverages and food for purchase and for those interested, you are urged to kindly register in advance.

Workshops and masterclasses will be held at UBCO Arts Rooms and evening concerts at The Cathedral Church of

St. Michael and All Angels, located at 608 Sutherland Ave.

This year the headline recital happening on July 8 features Luis Medina and Daniel Bolshoy.

Visit the website for registration, more information, concert times and signup at: okanaganguitar.com

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Taylor Van Zant is a singer songwriter who writes about his pocket of life, his cat, his child, his wife etc. charming and melodic music on this acoustic guitar.

He will be performing Friday at Angel Share Roof Top Restaurant at Crown and Thieves Winery, 3887C Brown Rd., West Kelowna from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Reservations are required, so book your table at crownthieves.com/pages/ angel-share

I will also be performing downstairs inside the speakeasy club the night before, June 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. with my Prohibition Party Trio. Ticketsare available through: eventbrite.ca/e/theprohibition-party-featuring-the-annajacyszyn-trio-tickets-519244573497

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Tomorrow is opening night for Crossing Creek Community Theatre as it presents “The Snow White Variety Show” at Kalala Organic Estate Winery, 3361 Glencoe Rd., West Kelowna.

This farcical mad-dash and fastchanging play sets the record straight on Snow White’s happily-ever-after, performed by a local cast of volunteer thespians who are open to be silly and have no fear of the stage and its antics.

Tickets are $30 to enter and food is available through advance orders at: kalala.ca/events/outdoor-theatre-bycrossing-creek-community-theatre

To purchase tickets you can e-transfer at 250-808-2051 or purchase online at app.ticketowl.io

Please remember to bring your own chair – there will be some available at front of house if needed.

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Canada Day is this Saturday and the Okanagan is packed with events to celebrate with our fellow Canadians!

Festivals Kelowna has a Canada Day takeover of Waterfront Park and Prospera Place on Saturday with activities starting at 11 a.m. and running until the fireworks display that begins at 10 p.m.

Attractions will include live music on three outdoor stages across multiple genres, food and beverage trucks, more than 25 different drop-in activities and games at the Kids Zone, with Park n’ Play inflatables, a chick-hatching and holding station, and photos with a real life mermaid, getting up close and personal with snakes and lizards courtesy of the “Reptile Queen,” and tons of hands-on craft stations.

A complete schedule of activities with times and locations can be found online at festivalskelowna.com by following the link to the Canada Day page.

Penticton hosts its celebrations at Gyro Park, 55 Main St. and its Ribfest, hosted at Skaha Park, Parkview St.

Vernon promises a community-based celebration of “our town, citizens, and heritage” in Polson Park, 2600

Highway 6. Due to fire danger, fireworks were determined to not be possible this year for Vernon.

Happy Canada Day. May we all be proud Canadians and show our kindness through positivity and social grace towards each other.