April Verch is a virtuoso fiddler, playing everything from bluegrass to Brazilian, to Celtic, from Canadian folk songs to poignant contemporary ballads, all with unbelievable energy and precision. She is an accomplished cmposer, a prolific recording artist, a vocalist with stark, direct intensity, and to top it all off, a champoin stepdancer. April walks onto the stage with a presence that is charming, humorous, and full of boundless enthusiasm, then picks up her fiddle and reveals otherwordly talent and unbelievable versatility. Her musicianship is beyond impressive, and when she combines speedy fiddle playing with some of the fastest moving feet you have ever seen, backed by bass, banjo, and guitar, you'll be bouncing in your seat!
Maya Soleil
offers Afro- World Fusion music and dance with influences that range from
western and southern African to funk and jazz. Costume vocalists and dancers
charm the audience with lyrics in several African languages and English, with
colorful and lively traditional dances. Add fiery improvised solos on saxophone
and keyboards with a solid underpinning of bass and world percussion including
balfon (wooden xylophone) and mbira (thumb piano), plus djembe and talking
drums, and youve got a thrilling multicultural experience! The ensembles
members represent
Zimbabwe,
Guinea,
Ghana,
Jamaica, and the
US,
and have traveled the world spreading warmth and sharing their unique blend of
cultures and music!
Members of
Maya Soleil have toured the world, performing and recording with many of the
greats in African music and dance, including Obo Addy (
Ghana, Dumi Maraire (
Zimbabwe,
I.K. Dairo (
Nigeria), Kanda
Bongo Man (
Congo), and the
national dance companies of
Ghana
and
Guinea.
Ketchikan is
priveledged to have these world-renowned performers in our northern state!
Dont miss
this multi-media extravaganza performance on Saturday, September 26th,
7:30pm. Stay tuned for info on the drum circle before the show!!!
It's the Arts Council's FIRST Torch Nights Special Event of the Season!
Ray-Jen Cajun
Saturday, September 12
7:30pm at the Ted Ferry Civic Center
Live Music, Dancing, No-Host Bar
Plus a FREE dance class at TFCC at 6:00pm!
Tickets $20 at the Door, $15 with your Torch Nights Season Tickets
Ray-Jen
Cajun is a Homer-based Cajun and Zydeco dance band that has been performing in
Alaska and in festivals throughout
Canada for over
10 years. The band blends the sounds of southwest
Louisiana with accordions, double fiddles,
driving rhythm and sweet vocals to produce their own spicy mix of music
guaranteed to make you dance all night!
Not
only is a full night of fun, Louisianna-style, you can also brush up on your
two-step and your waltzes before the show starts. Join us for a free dance
class with the band from 6-7 pm!