For four hours, starting early on Saturday afternoon, Mark Burchell and Andrea Nolan listened to a steady stream of would-be performers at the Tec-We-Gwill Women’s Institute Hall in Newton Robinson.
It was an open audition for the upcoming South Simcoe Talent Concert, taking place at the hall on Nov. 9, and local singers, musicians, dancers, and storytellers came out, hoping to be able to share their talent with the community.
The adjudicators were faced with a tough job.
Not that there was any difficulty in filling all the time slots for the talent show. “I think the issue is too many performers,” said Burchill. “It’s a big list!” So far, about 20 acts have been approved - including pianists, singers, an all-girl band, guitarists, and a belly dancer.
The South Simcoe Talent Concert takes place Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Admission is only $10 - free for children under 16. Contact Burchill at 705-458-8964 or [email protected] to RSVP. Note: The first Talent Concert, held back in April, sold out!
The calendar is filled with upcoming concerts and special events, this month and into November:
Farmer Thinking. The Tec-We-Gwill Women’s Institute presents author and playwright Dan Needles, in Farmer Thinking. Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m., at the Tec-We-Gwill W.I. Hall in Newton Robinson, 4380 Line 10 BWG. Meet and Greet with Dan Needles to follow. Tickets are only $15 each, $10 for Tec-We-Gwill WI members, and are available from Bonnie, 705-458-4555 or Diana, 705-435-6427, or email [email protected].
Benefit Concert for the Food Bank. About 30 young students from two local piano schools, including The Piano Music Studio, will perform a benefit concert for the Helping Hand Food Bank at St. John’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m. Each student is donating $10 and a bag of non-perishable food; some of the funds will be going to the Ontario Music Teachers’ Association to support scholarships. Admission is by donation to the food bank.
Bluegrass Gospel. Rhyme ‘n Reason bluegrass band will be Pickin’ and Grinnin’ at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 484 Water St. in Newmarket, on Sat., Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for an evening of bluegrass gospel music, in advance or at the door. Call 905-895-5512 or 905-836-3006 for tickets.
Showcase of Music. The Simcoe County Concert Band performs on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Collier St. United Church in Barrie. By Freewill donation. Families, friends and the community are invited to come out for a showcase of music.
A Cappella York Sings Out. A Cappella York Barbershop Chorus, with special guests Shenanigans and Evening Tide, perform at Trinity Anglican Church, 62 Church St. in Bradford, on October 27 at 2 p.m. Refreshments to follow. Tickets are only $20 each; contact Sheryl MacPhail at 905-775-3134.
A Musical Journey with Buddy Holly. The Bond Head Lions present a Musical Journey with Buddy Holly (Ken Blyth and his band) on Sat., October 26 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Bond Head Community Hall. Tickets are $20 for a night of great music. To reserve, call 905-775-5634, 705-458-4511 or 905-775-6144.
Sgt. Wilson’s Air Force Show, the vintage sounds of the ‘40s and ‘50s. Not a tribute band, but a recreation of the music and times of Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, Doris Day, Frankie Laine and more, Sgt. Wilson’s Air Force Show returns to the Danube Seniors Leisure Centre, 715 Simcoe Road, on Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 each, available at the Centre, or call 905-775-0612.
South Simcoe Talent Concert, hosted by the Tec-We-Gwill Women’s Institute, at the Tec-We Gwill WI (Newton Robinson) hall, Line 10 in Newton Robinson on Sat., Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. A great evening of entertainment by local singers, dancers, musicians, poets, and more. Tickets $10; call 705-458-8964.
When the Autumn Moon is Bright, by John Palla opens the 2019-2020 season at South Simcoe Theatre in Cookstown. On stage at the Old Town Hall Theatre, 1 Hamilton St., from Nov. 7 to 24, with performances at 8 p.m. on Thurs., Fri. and Sat., and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sun. A hilarious mash-up of old monster movies, for the whole family. Single tickets $20, or purchase a Season Subscription for all three shows - including the comedy Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn , and the musical The Secret Garden by Marsha Norman - for only $51, until Nov. 7. For tickets call the box office, 705-458-4432.
The Travelling Mabels. The final show in the IACHC concert series at the Lakeshore Branch of the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library takes place November 18 – a performance by The Travelling Mabels, a folk/country group from Alberta, voted ACMA Group of the Year in 2011. Tickets $30, on line or at the door. Doors at the Lakeshore Library, 967 Innisfil Beach Rd., open at 7 p.m.
