Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

"Music for the season and all time". Allison Crowe brings Tidings to Victoria with a concert in the Conservatory of Music's acoustic gem, Wood Hall (907 Pandora). On Saturday, December 8, at 8 p.m., the exciting vocalist and pianist, together with special guests, Lena Birtwistle and Billie Woods, makes music to warm body and soul. Tidings will also bring aid to Artemis Place, a provider of life skills and academics for girls. Tidings stirs together traditional Christmas carols and holiday favourites with Crowe's organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. "The Yuletide find of the year," says The Record. "Be prepared to be amazed," says Christmasreviews.com. "Allison Crowe is a stunningly talented performer." The 26-year-old musician has just returned to Canada from the UK where she was a sensation at the John Lennon Northern Lights Festival. In Scotland, at the three-day event recently crowned the UK's "Best New Festival", her audience included members of John Lennon's family alongside the Queen's Master of Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. The Scotsman reports: "Canadian angel Allison Crowe gave one of the weekend's most magical moments". Earning a standing ovation, "Her rendition of Lennon's 'In My Life' (almost literally) brought the house down." The singer-songwriters who open the Tidings concert at Wood Hall, are, both, passionate in pursuing their goals. Ladysmith-based musician, Lena Birtwistle has committed to the Leadership BC program for 9 months - at the end of which her team gives birth to a community project. "Laugh, Cry... Live for it!" is Lena's motto. A love for entertaining is revealed through her exuberant acoustic balladry. Creating folk-rock, tinged with hues of country - and humour, she cites such inspirations as Eva Cassidy, Fleetwood Mac, The Dixie Chicks, Steve Poltz, and The Barenaked Ladies. Salt Spring Island musician and photographer Billie Woods, who's toured Europe twice with Allison Crowe, performs songs inspired by life in our northern coastal forest, and infused with the warmth and vitality of the sambas, bossa novas and other cultural rhythms of Brazil. Radiating her joyous nature, in English and Portuguese Billie's vocals and classical guitar make for all-seasons good times. From the December 8th show, $5 of each concert ticket and each CD sold goes to Artemis Place. Artemis Place, at home in downtown Victoria, provides integrated life skills and academics for girls age 14 to 19 who have not been successful in a traditional school setting. Artemis Place is a non-profit and registered charity that allow girls to complete their high school education in an all-girl setting. This comfortable setting provides individual counselling, life skills and an academic coach to help each girl address the barriers which have held her back from achieving her personal and academic goals.