The Calgary-based Alberta Ballet provides a fitting climax to its 50th anniversary season with the world premiere of a new portrait ballet.
Artistic director Jean Grand-MaĂ®tre has choreographed Our Canada, featuring the music of folk legend Gordon Lightfoot, a singer-songwriter who, according to Kris Kristofferson “created some of the most beautiful and lasting music of our time.”
Eccentric yet down to earth, the highly decorated Lightfoot crafted some of our country’s most iconic songs. It is impossible to calculate his impact on listeners, other artists and the industry as a whole except to know he has somehow defined the Canadian soul.
Grand-MaĂ®tre borrows Lightfoot’s classic chart-toppers such as Sundown, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, If You Could Read My Mind and Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald and creates visual poetry.
Performances run May 12 and 13 at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets start at $33. Visit albertaballet50.com.
Amie Weymes & the Atta Boys are making their debut appearance at O’Maille’s Irish Pub May 12 and 13 for two nights of acoustic Celtic and rock music.
New owner Ravinder Rawat is eager to reintroduce an authentic Celtic atmosphere in the Irish pub and he is highlighting music from the East Coast and the old country.
The acoustic trio featuring Weymes (singer), Jayme Fritz (lead guitarist) and Paul Roberts (percussion) has planned several sets with old favourites such as The Night that Paddy Murphy Died, Galway Girl and Dirty Old Town.
“It’s very rewarding and it gives us a warm feeling to sing music from home. For people who are homesick, it can be a lively and cheerful night,” Weymes said.
The first set starts at 9 p.m. O’Maille’s is at 398 St. Albert Trail.
