According to report on Blackburn News... After being closed to the public for half the year, Sarnia’s Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery and The Lawrence House Centre for the Arts are welcoming back visitors. “Group of Seven: Their Visions revisited 100 Years Later” runs until August 22, 2021 and “Z’otz* Collective” runs until March 7, 2021. Curator Blazek said visitors will be expected to wear a mask or face covering, unless they’re exempt from the city bylaw, and stay home if they’re feeling unwell. The gallery will be operating under new hours, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays. It’ll be closed Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. The gallery has reduced its room capacities and timed-ticket entry is being implemented to ensure physical distancing. Visitors are asked to book their tickets in advance at jnaag.ca The Lawrence House will be open three days a week on Fridays, Saturdays and ...
MoreSUPPORTING HOME GROWN TALENT THAT IS SUPPORTING US Local talented musician Donovan Woods newest album release called 'Without People' is due out in stores like Cheeky Monkey on November 6th. Sarnia raised folk and country singer-songwriter Donovan Woods has released several albums of folk and roots music over the years, including the Juno Award-winning Both Ways. Not only does Donovan write and record his own songs, but many other high profile musicians have recorded his songs including Matt Andersen, Alan Doyle, Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Logan Mize & The Reklaws to name a few. The announcement of a new release from Donovan is exciting to his many fans, but this release does have another purpose. Donovan has put together special indie-retailer exclusives for the vinyl release of his forthcoming album, 'Without People'. The message to fans from Donovan is to consistently remind fans that the spirit of this campaign is to support indie retailers. ...
MoreTourism Sarnia-Lambton has launched a new program to support local accommodations, attractions, restaurants and retail tourism. Including Cheeky Monkey. From Mark Perrin of Tourism Sarnia-Lambton as reported on Blackburn News... “Starting with the accommodations, people visiting Sarnia-Lambton, staying a minimum of two nights, will receive a $50 voucher, three nights $75 in vouchers and 4 nights $100 in vouchers. Those vouchers are in $25 increments that can be spent locally at participating restaurants and retail partners and treated just like cash.” Rewards will also be offered at participating campgrounds. Local residents will also have the chance to be rewarded if they visit TSL’s daily featured attraction, posted on its Facebook and Instagram pages. Over 250 businesses are participating. The full list can be found here: https://www.ontbluecoast.com/discover-sarnia-lambton/ TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 - First voucher worth $10 brought in by regular customer & friend Graham Heal.
MoreFROM IMPERIAL THEATRE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 UPDATE... 💥 We are blown away! Due to the overwhelming response, all our audition slots have filled up already. So when you send in an application to [email protected] we are going to be asking people to do pre-taped auditions to help us see everyone in a timely manner, as this project is on a time crunch. In our response email, we will coordinate with you the best format to film and send, etc. Thank you for your interest in this show! 👽 THURSDAY, AUGUST 2Oth From Imperial Theatre... Greetings, earthlings. We are embarking on a voyage and we want you to join us. For the foreseeable future, Theatre Sarnia and the Imperial Theatre will be unable to perform shows live for patrons in our venue. Though Phase 3 of the reopening of Ontario technically allows up to 50 patrons, it is not financially viable or realistic for our 600 seat venue or ...
MoreThere are right and wrong ways to do everything. What Mike Blackmore did with his two instruments, a set of looping devices and a healthy influx of creative imagination was definitely an illustration of one of the right ways. Technological aids are frequently used to create shortcuts. That’s one of the knocks against them. Another is the reputation they’ve acquired for stripping the music of its warmth. With Mike Blackmore there’s no shortcuts. That, along with the imagination involved, and the fact that everything is put together live, insures the music carries the spontaneity and warmth of something that’s been created on the spot. That’s true of his live shows and of his new release, the CD ‘Coyote’ Songs begin with whichever instrument fits his needs. Mostly, it’s the guitar but the djembe drum takes the fore once in a while. From that point he builds the arrangements in layers. His ...
MoreBAND MEMBERS: Missy Burgess Dwayne Cloes Wulf Von Waldow The recording on the disc captures their live performances to a tee. Their musical choices and their arrangements of them serves up a series of juicy nuggets that sound rich without being uncluttered. Edits within the songs themselves were kept to a minimum to preserve the energy in the performances. The sound, thanks to the mix Dwayne had set up, is pristine and captures the whole rather than just the best bits. This got more than just the show. It got the whole room and it’s there for anyone who wants to appreciate the experience. Track selections of material include ’Basket Of Blues’, ‘Don’t Go To Cincinnati’, ‘Blue Dog Man’ and ‘If I Fell In Love Again’, all original songs by Missy. Covers including ‘Pilgrim’ by Steve Earle, which was sung by Missy and Otis Blackwell’s ‘Fever’, which were performed by Dwayne featured arrangements that allowed ...
MoreDue to the Covid -19 situation, the makers of music & movies are suffering financial hardships despite our government's efforts to provide benefits which are temporary. Many of them earn their living from touring and playing their music in various venues, which they can not do for the foreseeable future. A little known factor also impacting their income is that downloads or streaming music pays pennies compared to the money they earn when a REAL CD or vinyl record is purchased. Some may indeed have jobs besides the arts, but they are perhaps not able to work at them currently either. Knowing in our hearts & souls, how much joy is derived from listening to music or watching movies we felt we had to do something to help out our amazing and diverse local talent. Therefore, we have decided that we at Cheeky Monkey will Pay It Forward/Back by paying the tax on sales of local talent CD's. So ...
MorePOSTED MARCH 3rd - Every Saturday, Paul Knapp will be hosting an open jam from 2-6 at Dempsey Bar. Meat raffle begins at 3pm. Buy a bev and receive a ticket for the meat!! All jammers are welcome. Drink specials as well as the kitchen will be open. Come out have some fun. POSTED JANUARY 9th - The Sarnia Legion has a Jam Session every third Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Come by and listen or bring your instrument and or voice and join in . Posted Feb. 20 - temporarily not hosting Open Stage while renovations are going in the Turret Room. POSTED MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH - Open Stage resumes for the New Year at The Lawrence House Centre for the Arts - in the Turret Room upstairs. Happens on the 2nd Monday of the month and again next Monday, the 3rd Monday, with host Gregger Botting: Admission is free. Musicians, poets, storytellers, ...
MoreReleased on CD February 14, 2022 As posted on Eli Martin's Facebook page... Thank you to Gary Webb, aka Gary 17, and Toronto Moon Magazine for reviewing our latest album, "Planning My Exit Strategy." Another dose of Marinol unlikely to pacify you | TorontoMoon.ca 200204Tu | Shows for Tuesday, February 04, 2022 February 4, 2022 Tonight’s performance by Marinol Nation songwriter Eli Martin at Linsmore Tavern will probably be his last. Because the Sarnia-based Hard Rock and Power Pop tunesmith is “Plannnig My Exit Strategy” he tells us on the title track of his fifth new album, officially being released March 7 but now available at the gig tonight. Fortunately despite a personal history of struggles with serious medical conditions, as we told you four years ago in reviewing his third Field Of Dreams album, it appears that the “exit strategy” being referred to isn’t the one people employ for final planning. Instead, happily, it turns out ...
MoreBeer Store Money Warms A Cold February First Friday At The Cheeky Monkey by Brian Hay Cold or not Sarnia’s downtown was still the place to be — the events hosted by local merchants guaranteed that. At the Cheeky Monkey the musical offering was good (as always) because Roland and MaryAnne know their stuff. More on that subject in a bit. Beer Store Money, the band featured for the evening, is an ensemble that has a lot to recommend them. Singer/guitarist Khrystopher Luther-Heath is strong on both guitar and lead vocal. His playing combines subtle lead ornamentation with a solid rhythmic foundation and his singing is never less than fiery. Melissa Miller is a phenomenal vocalist. In addition to having a great mezzo/alto timbre she makes good use of expressive shadings and has exceptional control over her pitch. The pair also harmonize well, which is always a plus. Marcus Moyneur is an acrobatic drummer ...
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