Frosh Week comes to SFU

Lively city column by Dan Hilborn
Published Sept. 4, 2004


They're young and they're heading off to university. But first, they want to have a whole lot of very loud fun.

Simon Fraser University will be getting a little noisier when Vancouver-based hip hop artists Swollen Members and punk rockers Gob play at the Burnaby Mountain campus on Friday, Sept. 17.

"There isn't a whole lot that goes on up here at SFU, so we started up this club to add that aspect to students' lives," said Matt Zahynacz, coordinator of Frosh Fest '04 for the SFU Campus Task Force.

The group has reached an agreement with SFU to fence off the Maggie Benston Field, set up a beer garden and then turn the amplifiers up loud for a full eight hours of music, featuring nine local bands.

Besides the big-name recording artists Swollen Members and Gob, the event will also feature local groups Sweatshop Union, Stabilo Boss, 10 Ways From Sunday, Exit This Side, A Bent Appeal, Kia Kidiri and Doubting Paris.

"In some ways, getting this going has been really difficult because this kind of event is unprecedented," Zahynacz said. "But everyone we talked to, from administration to the student union to police, are all for this.

"They're quite excited to see it happen," said the third year business student who helped start SFUCT last year in an attempt to bring more fun and entertainment to the often-staid campus.

Their first event was last January when SFUCT brought Gob to the campus pub. About 300 people came out for that show, and now Zahynacz is convinced that almost double that number will pay the $15 advance ticket price ($20 at the door, if any are available) to see the day-long outdoor concert. Advance tickets can be purchased at the SFU Highland Pub, SFSS general office and Quad Books.

HEIGHTS THEATRE READY

The busiest little theatre in North Burnaby has announced an ambitious schedule for its upcoming 2004/05 season.

The Heights Performance Theatre is offering up a fine mix of drama, suspense and comedy when it reopens its doors in two weeks.

The first production of the season is Ariel Dorfman's politically charged drama Death and the Maiden, running from Sept. 16 to Oct. 2.

The second show of the season, Dec. 2 to 18, will be Paddy Gillard-Bentley's wonderfully crafted Shaking the Dew From the Lilies, the tale of five women who are accidentally locked in a mall washroom overnight.

Neil Simon's The Odd Couple will run from Feb. 17 to March 5, 2005. This play is the original 'male version' of the story, after the HPC presented female version of the same story last season.

Tennessee Williams' classic The Glass Menagerie will close out the season from April 28 to May 14, 2004.

Seasons tickets to the Heights Performance Theatre are $35 and can be purchased by calling 604-294-4166. Individual show tickets are $10. The Heights Performance Theatre is in the Heights Resource Centre, 250 Willingdon Ave.

SLAM POETRY CHAMPS

Congratulations to Cariboo Hill graduate Barb Adler, who was one of four members of Team Vancouver who gave an admirable showing at the recent U.S. National Poetry Slam in St. Louis, Missouri.

Adler, who was featured on this summer's Canadian all-star slam poetry CD, Dig Your Roots, was joined on the squad by a very high profile crowd of well-known local poets.

Team leader Shane Koyczan earned a seventh-place finish in the individual rankings at the U.S. championships, while Team Vancouver itself wound up in 13th spot overall among the 69 teams and almost 300 individual poets who competed.

Other members of Team Vancouver were hip hop artist C.R. Avery, creator of the Hip Hop Opera, and newcomer Brendan Mcleod, who wrote his first slam poem this spring after moving from Calgary.

JUNIOR FOLK DANCERS

Kudos to 10-year-old Norma Stevenson who overcame her shyness to earn the Most Improved Folk Dancer Award from the Burnaby Junior Folk Dancing Club.

The young woman was initially a little shy about performing on stage, but after some friendly encouragement from instructor Linda Dawson, she was able to conquer her fears and get up on stage.

The junior folk dancers are among the newest artistic clubs for young people in the city and their first public performance was a well-received show at the Confederation Seniors Centre last winter.

The club is preparing for its second season of lessons, which will be held on Wednesday nights. Classes include liturgical dance for six- to 12-year-olds, and then folk dancing lessons for three- to six-year-olds or six- to 12-year-olds. The club also has an introduction class for seniors.

For more information, call Dawson at 604-298-2983.

STRAWBERRIES FOR KATEY

Burnaby's own Katey Wright will be on stage this fall when Touchstone Theatre presents Strawberries in January, a romantic comedy written by Quebecois playwright Evelyne de la Cheneliere.

Described as a "wonderfully witty and unquestionably lovely piece of theatre" by The Calgary Sun, the show runs from Nov. 4 to 13 at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre.

Touchstone will also present Carmen Aguirre's The Trigger from Feb. 3 to 12 as part of the PuSh International Performance Festival 2005.

Tickets to Strawberries in January are only $22 or $18, plus service charges, from TicketMaster, or subscribe to both shows for just $27. Call 604-709-9973 for a brochure or to purchase a subscription.

BRING ON THE SUNSPLASH

Burnaby's favourite reggae band will be on stage with some of the biggest stars of the genre when Sunsplash in the Park comes to Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park today.

Dubfreque, which features Burnaby businessman David Hathaway on guitar and new singer Deanna Teeple, will be the opening act of the day-long event, which features the legendary Toots and the Maytals, Burning Spear and Alpha Ya Ya Diallo.

Sunsplash in the Park starts at 3 p.m., today, Sept. 4, and tickets are $40 through TicketMaster (service charges apply).