encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour stops in Cobourg and Peterborough, a hilarious Girls Nite Out at Market Hall, SONG’s NextGen SoundStage at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre for young musicians, the 21st Peterborough Reframe Film Festival, a tribute to the music of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and Carole King, and the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s staging of John Patrick Stanley’s Tony Award-nominated Outside Mullingar.
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival’s finest come to Cobourg and Peterborough
VIDEO: 2024-25 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour – North America
I’m not a winter person. Truth be known, I get cold opening the fridge. But many are lovers of all things snow and sub-zero temperatures. I don’t get it but, as I hunker down with Netflix and one too many coffees, I respect that choice.
That said, I’m OK with experiencing the natural splendour of the season from the warm comfort of a theatre seat. To that end, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour fits the bill nicely.
The tour comes to Cobourg’s Concert Hall at Victoria Hall on Wednesday (January 15), presented by Port Hope’s Olympus Burger, and then to Peterborough’s Showplace Performance Centre from January 16 to 18, presented by Wild Rock Outfitters.
Each fall, the Banff Centre in Alberta is home to the international film competition and presentation of films and documentaries about mountain culture, extreme sports, adventure and exploration, and the like. Following the festival, award winners and audience favourites are selected from the some 400 entered for screenings at venues around the globe.
While snowy and barren vistas abound, skiing, kayaking, climbing and biking enthusiasts will find much to like here. No, it’s not the same as being there but it’s as close as most will get. No lost on anyone should be the amount of production work required to film in such remote locations. That in itself is worthy of our admiration.
Tickets to the 7 p.m. screening in Cobourg cost $26 plus service fees and are available at tickets.cobourg.ca or by calling 855-372-2210.
For the 7 p.m. screenings at Showplace Performance Centre, a different selection of films will be presented each evening. Tickets are $28 for general admission seating for each evening, with a portion of ticket proceeds to benefit the Wild Rock ComPassion Project. Tickets are available at wildrock.net/products/banff-mountain-film-festival-tickets.
Girls just want to have fun, and will, January 16 at Market Hall
VIDEO: “Girls Nite Out” 2023
If it seems Peterborough has solidified its place as Ontario’s home of all things improv comedy, there’s a reason for that. It indeed has, thanks in no small way to the continued efforts of Linda Kash and her associates with both klusterfork and her Peterborough Academy of Performing Arts.
Kash is one funny lady, no question, but she can’t lay claim to that attribute on her own. There are others that similarly gifted and, on January 16 at Market Hall, she’ll join four equally entertaining friends for Girls Nite Out, an evening of improv.
The showcase of female comedy features Elvira Kurt, Jennine Profeta, Diana Frances, and Karen Parker who are billed as “some of the greatest Canadian performers … who were available tonight.”
We’re into January. Sunshine is all too rare and the Christmas giving bills are arriving. If there was ever a time deserving of a hearty laugh, this is that time. This quartet, joined by Kash as their special guest, promises very good medicine for the soul. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show cost $39 at markethall.org.
The next generation of Northumberland musicians take to the Capitol stage in Port Hope on January 17
VIDEO: “Music Changes Lives” – Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG)
If you’d like to cheer on the next generation of musicians in Northumberland County, you’ll have a chance during SONG’s NextGen SoundStage at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on Friday (January 17).
Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG) provides free music education for children and youth in Northumberland County. Along with after-school music programs, the non-profit organization also offers opportunities for young musicians to hone their talents through public performances.
With sponsorship by Ganaraska Financial Credit Union, SONG’s NextGen SoundStage will see young musicians take to the stage at the 100-seat Sculthorpe Theatre at the Capitol from 7 to 8 p.m. For the performers, there will be a sound check and pre-show rehearsal, with access to the green room, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are pay what you can, with a suggested price starting at $10.
Young people wishing to perform can register in advance, with performance slots given in the order registrations are received. Performers are asked to bring their own instruments.
To register as a performer or to purchase tickets for the performance, visit capitoltheatre.com/events/songs-nextgen-soundstage/.
Screen gems aplenty at the 21st annual ReFrame Film Festival
VIDEO: ReFrame Film Festival 2025 Trailers
In a city that has seen much change, and not always for the better, Peterborough has been blessed with cherished decades-long continuity in the form of longstanding arts organizations and related events.
The Peterborough Theatre Guild, St. James Players, Peterborough Folk Festival, and Peterborough Musicfest come to mind quickly, but another that deserves equal billing and our respect is the ReFrame Film Festival that, for a 21st year, will screen thought-provoking and inspiring documentary films from January 23 to 26 at both Showplace and Market Hall.
Festival creative director Eryn Lidster, with the support and guidance of executive director Kait Dueck, has again pulled together a lineup of more than 50 films that speak directly to the festival’s vision of building socially active, engaged community audiences through the curated presentation of documentary film and media art.
Each film in this year’s lineup is grouped into one of six categories: “Close to Home,” “Film Forward,” “Rooted and Rising,” “Reel Embodiment,” “Place and Identity,” and “Evening Features.”
Of note, an increasingly popular virtual option is available for film buffs who can’t get to a live screening for whatever reason, or who prefer to watch films from the comfort of their own home. That’s available from January 27 to February 2, with the virtual option available to everyone across Canada.
The festival kicks off with an opening night event at Showplace Performance Centre on Thursday, January 23, which includes a pre-show catered reception, live performances, a screening of the documentary Red Fever, and a Q&A with the filmmakers.
For film details, screening dates and times, opening night tickets, festival passes and tickets to individual films, visit reframefilmfestival.ca.
Classic Troubadours Live makes it way to Cobourg’s Concert Hall at Victoria Hall
VIDEO: Classic Troubadours Promo
On a landscape brimming with tribute acts, Jacob Moon has left a formidable footprint in a hurry.
Just back in fall 2023, the award-winning singer-songwriter put together an ensemble that pays tribute to the music of some the most notable music artists of recent times. In a relatively short time, Moon, joined by Alex Whorms, Ashley St. Pierre, Selena Evangeline, Rob Brown, and Mark McIntyre, has taken Classic Troubadours Live to sold-out theatres across Ontario.
The talented quintet will now headline January 24 at Cobourg’s Concert Hall at Victoria Hall, performing the music of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and Carole King. There’s certainly no shortage of great material to choose from there.
This show is just one the group’s tributes, with others covering the music of Sting, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson and The Band, Sheryl Crow, and Stevie Nicks.
There are very good tribute bands — Dwayne Gretzky, for example is very familiar to Peterborough music fans — and there are those of the mediocre variety. In a short period of time, Classic Troubadours Live has clearly established itself as being among the former, with the key being that each member brings very big talent to the mix. Moon, for example, has recorded 12 solo albums over 25 years, while Whorms has released two CDs, and bassist McIntyre has played with David Wilcox, Danny Michel and Dean Brody.
Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. show cost $50 and are available at tickets.cobourg.ca or by calling 855-372-2210.
The Peterborough Theatre Guild brings us to rural Ireland with “Outside Mullingar”
VIDEO: “Outside Mullingar” promo
As the new year dawns, the Peterborough Theatre Guild embarks on the second half of its 2024-25 season, presenting Outside Mullingar from January 24 to February 8 at the Guild Hall in Peterborough’s East City.
Directed by Guild veteran Jerry Allen, John Patrick Stanley’s play is set in the Midlands of Ireland and centres around neighbouring farmers Anthony Reilly and Rosemary Muldoon, who has been romantically interested in Anthony her entire life. However, the introverted subject of her affection is unaware of his neighbour’s feelings and, on top of that, doesn’t like farming.
When Anthony’s father threatens to disinherit his son and leave the farm to his nephew, Rosemary intervenes, finding herself smack dab in the middle of a land feud and family eccentricities, all while fighting against time and mortality in hopes of her long-held dream of love.
Stanley’s play enjoyed a short Broadway run in 2014, receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Play. Stanley later wrote and directed a film adaptation of his play. Titled Wild Mountain Thyme, it starred Emily Blunt. Of note, Stanley also wrote the screenplay for Moonstruck, which won him a 1988 Academy Award. The themes of Outside Mullingar are similar, but with a distinctly Gaelic twist.
Performance dates for Outside Mullingar are January 24 and 25, January 30 to February 1, and February 6 to 8 at 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on January 26 and February 2. Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $20 for students and are available at www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com.
Encore
- As 2024 neared its conclusion, we were reminded that the simplest of gestures mean the most. It’s no secret that Rick Young of Rick ‘n’ Gailie fame has been dealing with health challenges for some time, the latest manifestation of which has resulted in his not being able to perform as part of the duo’s longstanding residency at the Black Horse in downtown Peterborough. Paul Clark, who plays percussion with Rick ‘n’ Gailie, took it upon himself to ask fans and friends of Rick’s to send “get well” video messages to him, which he compiled into a video and sent to Rick to lift his spirits. According to Gailie, Rick was overwhelmed by the show of support — the best medicine as he makes his way back. This is just another reminder of what it is I love most about this city’s music community and those who support it. Well done indeed, Paul.
- High on my list of things to look forward to in 2025 is the pending release of the very catchy “One More Time,” featuring vocals and guitar by Tami J. Wilde. Written by Clint Brown and Tammy Carslake and produced by James McKenty, the track features Nicholas Campbell on electric guitar and Dylan Ireland on drums. Tami has teased us with a snippet of her new song on Facebook. Check it out and try to tell me it’s not a fun tune worthy of any playlist. A great vocal, crisp instrumentation, and McKenty at the mixing board — that’s a can’t miss recipe for something special.
