Bonnie won't be at festival

Lively City column by Dan Hilborn
Published Apr. 1, 2006


Organizers for the seventh annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival are set to announce their star-studded lineup on April 24, and word on the street is that this year's festival will see a return to a more traditional blues format for the day-long event.

While the exact lineup is still a closely guarded secret, Ian Forsyth, Burnaby's manager of cultural services, confirms the lineup will centre on two of the biggest names in the world of blues - but not Bonnie Raitt, who was one of Mayor Derek Corrigan's top two picks to headline the show.

"Bonnie won't be part of the Blues Festival, but that's not to say she won't be part of something else," Forsyth said. "In her place, we have an equally big female blues star."

While Forsyth is being unusually tight lipped about who will grace the stage, word on the street is that city councillor Nick Volkow and former mayor Doug Drummond, two of the biggest blues fans in the city, are very happy with the two headliners.

Festival tickets are set to go on sale on April 28. Watch for further details, but not nearly as much speculation, at the website www.burnabybluesfestival.com.

RED CARPET FOR BACI

The red carpet will be rolled out in Burnaby next week to celebrate the world premiere of This Ability, a new video documentary shot in production with the National Film Board of Canada.

The documentary, directed by Lorna Boschman of the NFB, is actually six short videos that were produced over the past year by friends and clients of Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion. The end result will be unveiled on Thursday night in a gala celebration held in conjunction with the society's annual general meeting.

"This film is a unique way for people with developmental disabilities to get behind the camera," said Carol Broomhall, manager of communications for BACI. "For the first time we are able to see the world through their eyes and see what they see and how they see."

Chris Tanner, community development coordinator with BACI, said each of the short videos brings its won unique angle to the world of living with a developmental disability.

One film created by a disability advocate is an interview with a former 'student' of the Woodlands Institution in New Westminster that was closed several years ago. In the video, the subject talks about the important value of living in the community and being able to interact with other people.

Two of the videos feature people talking about the importance of doing volunteer work and how it enhances their lives by giving them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

In one "David Suzuki-style" video, the female producer speaks eloquently about the importance of spiders and how necessary they are to the maintenance of our environment and the survival of other creatures.

Another video centres on a young man who talks about the importance of family and his desire to be able to do the same things as other people. "It's kind of deep. He wants the same for himself as other people have," said Tanner.

But Tanner also has a favourite video among the group, and that is a film that focuses on a son's memories of his childhood fishing trips with his father. "The son interviews the father and asks 'Why did you take me?' and the father replies, 'Because you always brought me good luck.' That is a real touching moment."

The six 'producers' will be feted with the full red-carpet treatment including limousine rides and a small social prior to the a.g.m.

And This Ability is not the only film project currently underway within the corridors of the BACI head office on Norland Avenue. Later this month, a group of young people with developmental disabilities will unveil their new video produced with the 'open i' program sponsored by Pacific Cinematheque and the National Film Board. Stayed tuned for more details on that rather inspiring project.

YOUNG PIANISTS CONCERTO

Four students who are members of the Young Pianists Recital Society will be featured when the Clef Society April concerto comes to the Shadbolt Centre for the arts later this month.

The quartet features Jasper Lau, Braedon Lim, Maxwell Ma and Daniel Zhao, all of whom study with Donna Fishwick and are considered among the most outstanding young pianists in the Lower Mainland.

Also on the program will be nine-year-old Tami Lin, the first place winner in her age group at last year's Canadian Music Competitions in Edmonton, 11-year-olds Connor Lim and Daniel Wang, 14-year-old Cristalle Lau, plus B.C. Festival of the Arts and Debut Concert Artist Audition winner Wayne Weng.

Weng, who is currently studying for his bachelor degree at the Eastman School of Music, has the most extensive resume of the afternoon's performers. Originally from Taiwan, he has soloed with the Vancouver and Victoria symphonies and Orchestra Seattle, and has been featured on CBC Radio and King FM. Weng has played in Canada, the U.S., France, England, Belgium, Austria and Egypt, and has performed for the Conference of Governors General and Lieutenant Governors, the Order of St. John conference, and the International Nile Children Song Festivals.

The Young Pianists Recital Society concert is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and no charge to members of the Burnaby Clef Society. The concert is at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 16.