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Entertaiment Briefs

Open Mic night Sundays at Crystal Lounge More songs… The Crystal Lounge is hosting an open mic night every Sunday, start time is 9:30 p.m. Now in its third week, musicians have been turning up for the weekly jam session.
Open Mic night Sundays at Crystal Lounge

More songs… The Crystal Lounge is hosting an open mic night every Sunday, start time is 9:30 p.m. Now in its third week, musicians have been turning up for the weekly jam session. Host Randy Phelan, of Whistler Music, provides the amps and an acoustic plug-in guitar is available for use.

"It’ll take a few weeks for the night to get going," says Phelan.

This past Sunday the music ran the gamut, including an appearance by local ska band Big Up’s saxophonist Carson. He was accompanied by a visiting tourist on banjo, and Phelan on guitar.

Also on offer were a rap-reggae combo with a funky beat on acoustic guitar and bongo. Counting Crowes, and a little Blues Traveler were also thrown into the mix. All are invited to show up and jam.

Pemberton Barn Dance

Hats off… The annual Barn Dance held in Pemberton sold out before 9 p.m. this past Saturday, July 27, as a mile-long row of cars and trucks lined Pemberton Meadows Road outside Copperdome Ranch.

At one point in the evening an enthused fan jumped the stage and took the mic from a bemused Brent Lee, who stood to the side of the stage. To the merriment of the backup band, the audience gave full support to her bluesy, if somewhat scratchy, rendition. Lee quipped, "I like this Pemberton town!" to roars of appreciation.

Police and firefighters were also on hand for the event that gives cowboy hats a good name.

"We even had people coming up from the city for this," said local firefighter Christian Staehli at the gates, which included fencing around the farmhouse and the "improv beer garden."

Volunteer bartenders, four astride, met the re-hydration requirements of dancers going nuts on the floor to the sounds of songs from Van Morrison to "AC/DC meets Johnny Cash."

The barn dance was part of the three-day Wild West Jamboree, organized by Jan Kennett and company.

New database to list Whistler artists

Register your canvas… As part of its mission to develop the arts in Whistler, the Whistler Community Arts Council and the Whistler Public Art Committee are updating their database of local artists. The deadline to register is Aug. 13.

"This artist database is key – without this information we cannot be in communication or keep an accurate inventory of our talent," says WCAC chair John Hewson.

"There are often projects and opportunities for artists that crop up at short notice, so we need to be able to reach them quickly and easily."

Those artists that live and work in the Sea to Sky region can register for the database. Applicants should note whether they have a studio available to visit. For more information contact the WCAC at 604-935-8419 or e-mail: wh-artscouncil@direct.ca. The form is also available at the municipal Web site: www.whistler.ca

New wave punk at Boot Pub on Aug. 11

Rocker and Ramones fan Siobhan Duvall is back from a 10-day tour of the U.S, to rock the Boot Pub on Aug. 11.

Covers include her classic 99 Red Balloons, and Night of the Living Dead by the Misfits.

"I’m working really hard to get the next record together and get a deal in the States, ideally with a good indie label. It’s too hard to make it in Canada," says Duvall, who worked with publicity from Mint Records Toronto.

"I know people on a major record label that are working at Starbucks," says Duvall, who is currently sending demos to her sound producer, Vincent Jones in L.A., for an album due out in April 2003.

Duvall lists Eureka, California and Eugene, Oregon as top towns from the tour, mentioning the helpful assistance in booking gigs from locals she met along the way.

Duvall will also be joining ex-Black Halos punk rocker Billy Hopeless as part of a new band, the Widows, who open for the Misfits at Vancouver’s Commodore on Aug. 19.

Side-splitting at Bill’s

Get the laughter out with comedian Kristeen Von Hagen, who is in Whistler on Aug. 6 for a show at Buffalo Bill’s.

Von Hagen has been in the biz since the age of 19, including TV appearances on CTV’s Comedy Now! which also aired on the Comedy Network. She appears at the Just for Laughs Festival airing on CBC this summer, and has also appeared in the March of Dimes all-women comedy festival.

Von Hagen received two Canadian Comedy Award nominations, for Outstanding New Sketch Troupe and Best Female Stand-up.

Can’t get no you-know-what?

Jumping Jack Flash, the Saskatoon-based Rolling Stones cover band, hit Buffalo Bill’s on Aug. 12 with their mix of covers from the still-going British rockers.

Musical progression

Whistler musician Rob Funk, part of the band Bob Funk, expands the August gig datebook after consistent shows every weekend at the local Second Cup café, where he entertains the tourists and locals catching up over lattes.

The sounds blaring from his outdoor amp have apparently caught the attention of local bookers, as Funk plays Earl’s Bistro on "Margarita Monday" evenings. The four-piece Bob Funk band will be at Moe Joe’s on Wednesdays, starting Aug. 7 and continuing through the month. The band also plays diverse dance stomp ground the Pemberton Hotel on Aug. 10.