Edmonton singer-songwriter Brett Kissel is pouring on the country heat and was the music story of 2013. His debut single Started With a Song became a top-five radio hit and the video track sat at No. 1 on the CMT video charts for three weeks.
In 2014 he was nominated for two Juno nominations and five Edmonton Music Award nominations including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year.
Kissel is opening for The Young Guns Tour Wednesday night at Cook County Saloon, but with all the media hype behind his nominations, it’s a sure bet the emerging star will be the hottest item on the ticket.
Cook County Saloon is at 8010 Gateway Blvd. Call 780-432-2665.
Mardi Gras hits the streets on Tuesday, March 4. In anticipation of the event Vinok Worldance unleashes the true spirit of New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Chateau Louis Hotel and Conference Centre.
The acclaimed Vinok Worldance performers will turn up the sizzle with choreography that salutes the Big Easy’s cultural diversity. Elizabeth MacInnis, singing a blend of alt country, blues and pop, is this year’s special guest star.
But nothing says Nawlins quite like a buffet of spicy jambalaya, hearty po’ boy sandwiches, rich gumbo and countless seafood plates.
Guests are encouraged to dress in costume. Anyone wanting to unleash his or her creative side is asked to decorate a bra. Celebrity hosts will judge all bras based on artistic appeal, creativity and a connection to the Mardi Gras theme.
Prizes are awarded to the top three Mardi Bras. All bras will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for the Bras Across the Bridge project. Vinok will also donate $10 for every bra entered in the contest.
The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 plus tax and are available at Chateau Louis Hotel or in advance at mardigras.vinok.ca.
Telling stories and making people laugh is what Barbara North does best. Her latest project is Creating Romance debuting on Valentine’s Day at the Metterra Hotel.
The award-winning stand-up comedienne, best known for Sex and the Panties, CBC’s Army Brats and CTV’s A Total Write-Off, is taking a light-hearted jab at the follies of romance.
Joining the former St. Albert resident is author-musician Mark Kozub performing sax and spoken word on the ups, downs and in-betweens of love.
“It’s going to be a unique and memorable night for couples and singles – sax and sex – well, OK, not sex but relationship comedy,” laughed North.
Tickets for a buffet supper and entertainment are $52.50. Call 780-420-1757 or purchase online at www.tixonthesquare.ca.
Some romances are all about poignant mystery. Forget Me Not playing at Fort Edmonton Park’s Capitol Theatre Feb. 14 to 16 begins with two lovers caught in the chaos of the Second World War.
It’s the story of singer Andrea House, who at age 16, finds a mysterious stack of old postcards hidden in her grandmother’s house. The love letters were addressed to her grandfather from a beautiful French woman named Denise.
His wife of 40 years is shocked when he has a stroke and starts calling her Denise.
Heartbroken at the thought that another woman was part of his past, she continues to care for him through their final days together.
Featured artists are singer-songwriter Andrea House, guitarist Chris Smith, pianist Eric Mortimer, pedal steel player Bob Blair and ESO member Scott Whetham.
Show, dinner and overnight packages are available at www.fortedmontonpark.ca/events/forget-me-not/.
