The Evergreen Club is once again hosting their sixth annual Sonshine Club Lunch Program country music fundraiser, “Best Country Music Jam Ever,” June 5 at the Filberg Centre.
It promises just that - to be the best ever!
Glen Hiebert, ‘the golden fiddle of the Comox Valley,’ will open the afternoon show along with fine musicians and vocalists Ed Medford (guitar and fiddle), Doris Weislein, ‘the Kitty Wells of the Comox Valley’ (vocals), Rodney McMillan (piano and vocals), Ray Ledoux (bass), and others.
Another new addition to the show is a “Country Women” section with local talent: local music teacher and featured artist Jacqueline Lambeth, June Munro, “the Comox Valley’s Version of Roy Orbison;” Heather Sprout, our own Patsy Cline; the singing sisters Heather Rapin and Maureen Faust, Holly Davidson, and 10-year-old Emma Casavant, who made her debut in last year’s concert. Miriam Piikkila makes her return as Cousin Minnie Pearl of Opry fame.
“We have a very hot lineup, headlined by the Jess Lee Western Swing Combo,” said event organizer Ken MacLeod. “Lee is a goldmine of traditional country with a Merle Haggard-sounding voice and a band that features, in addition to Lee, four outstanding instrumentalists, Bob Grant on drums, Lorne Jones of Campbell River on lead guitar, Marvin Tompkins of Yellowknife also on lead guitar, and Gerry Lemoine of Black Creek on rhythm guitar.”
All of the band members have been recently treating Saturday afternoon crowds at the Courtenay Legion to an overwhelming, masterful performance. Lee will include a tribute to the recently-departed Merle Haggard as part of his act.
Jess Lee has some pretty impressive credentials as a country singer, including three Juno nominations, eight BC Country Music Association awards, and induction into the BC Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
Proceeds of the show go to the Courtenay Sonshine Club Lunch Program, which feeds up to 200 people, Monday-Friday, at St. George’s United Church on Fitzgerald Avenue.
The cost of the show is $10. Tickets are available at the Florence Filberg Centre office, 411 Anderton Ave., Courtenay (250-338-1000). The show starts at 2 p.m. (doors open at 1 p.m.) on Sunday, June 5.
Get your tickets early as the show usually sells out. Tickets may also available at the door.