The Canadian Big Band on stage Saturday evening, September 17, at Unifor Main Assembly Hall.
Hub Staff
It was a weekend of music and dance as the 22nd annual Canadian Big Band Celebration (CBBC) hit Saugeen Shores, kicking off with Friday Night Jazz, September 16.
Theatre mingled with melodies and dance moves at the Southampton Town Hall as PASS (Performing Arts of Saugeen Shores) set the scene for a 1940s casino dance hall with Jody Robbins, performing as Kay Hunter, delivered such songs as Blue Skies and Love Is Here to Stay, accompanied by the Dance Pavilion Trio.
A variety of performances Friday evening - held in both Southampton and Port Elgin - saw something for everyone from mainstream Jazz to traditional Jazz to some more unusual performances. Koopa Troop, a five-piece Jazz ensemble, dressed in Nintendo-themed costumes covered classic video game soundtracks at the Royal Canadian Legion in Southampton while the Port Elgin Legion played host to the Howlin’ Dog Vintage Jazz Band, performing Jazz of a more traditional variety.
Friday Night Jazz passports were made available allowing bearers to access all venues for one entry fee. In addition to the Legions, settings also included Duffy’s Famous Fish & Chips, Outlaw Brew Co. and the Walker House in Southampton; and The Wismer House, Queen’s Bar & Grill and The Woodpecker Restaurant in Port Elgin. The S.S. Trolley was back on the road transporting attendees between the two downtowns.
Entertainment continued Saturday with The Big Event at the Unifor Main Assembly Hall in Port Elgin. Afternoon entertainment saw The Lulu's Band - accompanied by Men in Black Brass - playing a variety of classics from the 1950s to the 1980s with Elvis impersonator, Peter Irwin also making an appearance bringing classics such as Jailhouse Rock, Sweet Caroline and Suspicious Minds to the attentative audience. Saturday evening saw the Canadian Big Band fill the stage with local vocalist Ethan Salmon and Port Elgin native Rebecca Binnendyk singing old standards such as It's Only a Paper Moon and The Way You Look Tonight.
The weekend came to a close on Sunday at the Unifor Main Assembly Hall with a Sunday Jazz Brunch featuring food prepared by Unifor's Executive Chef, Paul Johnston and entertainment from New Orleans Dixieland-style Jazz band, The Midnight Ramblers.
CBBC Organizing Committee member, Debbie Bell said that dancing had been really popular over the weekend and it was interesting to see how many people now were dancing, adding that two area dance clubs, the Sauble Beach Dance Club and the Port Elgin Dance Club are popular for ballroom dancing.
“[On Friday evening] we only had one that was a true old fashioned dance, the Port Elgin Legion,” said Bell, adding that the venue sold out of their tickets. “I had to get them more tickets.”
Bell said that Unifor also saw a dance floor full of people on both the Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening shows.
Sunday's Brunch was also another popular event, said Bell. “[We] pretty much sold out at the brunch, which has never happened before,” she said.
Overall, Bell said ticket sales for the weekend had gone “really well” and that there had been a nice variety of music. “We’re having interest from the young people too, which is always great,” she added.
Elvis impersonator, Peter Irwin, accompanied by the The Lulu's Band and Men in Black Brass, sings Suspicious Minds at the 22nd annual Canadian Big Band Celebration.
Rebecca Binnendyk performing It's Only a Paper Moon, accompanied by the Canadian Big Band.
In a 1940s scene at the Southampton Town Hall, Jody Robbins, playing the part of Kay Hunter, accompanied by The Dance Pavilion Trio, sings songs of that era.
Local crooner, Ethan Salmon sang some old classics, accompanied by the Canadian Big Band, Saturday evening.
For more pictures, see Snapshots: a special CBBC edition
