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Dekker Centre encourages local artists through pre-show performances

Oct 29, 2016 | 8:57 AM

Local artists are in the spotlight at the Dekker Centre, thanks to its concert series pre-show performances.

Dekker Centre board chair Karen Ulmer said the performances, which take place in the atrium before each headlined show, have been a success.

“It’s very pleasant to be in the atrium to listen to nice music or music you wouldn’t normally be exposed to while you enjoy visiting,” she said. “It just gives a little extra attraction if you’re going out to a show at the Dekker Centre.”

Coming up this month, singer-songwriter Jeremy Grey will open for April Verch on Nov. 5 and local band Beer League will open for the Ray Charles Tribute Orchestra on Nov. 19.

Ulmer said because of the Rawlinson grant the centre received in 2015, all the artists are able to be paid.

“We do pay these musicians just as we pay the musicians in the showcase, because so often artists are expected to donate their time or do it just for exposure and at some point that’s not fair,” she said.

Ulmer said since the pre-show performances started, several artists featured have been hired for other shows after, so she thinks the exposure is expanding opportunities for artists in the Battlefords.

 

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae.