(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Performing Arts

Dekker Centre excited to announce new season

Jun 19, 2023 | 1:12 PM

The Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts in North Battleford is gearing up for a bright new season of diverse talent ahead.

Starting the line-up, Back to Black: The Passion of Amy Winehouse runs Sept. 21. That’s followed by Bear Grease Oct. 1, Abba Revisited Oct. 13, Music of the Night: the Concert Tour music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Oct. 19, alternative country, folk, roots band Diyet and the Love Soldiers Nov. 3, Middle Raged Nov. 15, Rock band Finger Eleven Nov. 28, the Ennis Sisters: Christmas Dec. 2, and country singer Jess Moskaluke: Winter Wonderland Dec. 13. Then, the new year will feature the brass quintet Buzz Brass Jan. 23, Doc Walker, Michelle Wright and Jason McCoy together on their Great Canadian Road Trip tour Feb. 27, Andrew Collins Trio Feb. 29, Piano Heist March 21, Mr. Snotsense’s World of Fun March 23, The Genius of the Gentle Giant: A Tribute to Don Williams April 5, blues-roots duo Kinjo and Young April 19, Flamenco Borealis May 3.

General Manager Kali Weber said the two biggest shows will be musicians Doc Walker, Michelle Wright and Jason McCoy performing together in a triple bill concert, as well as Canadian rockers Finger Eleven.

She’s also looking forward to some theatre shows in the line up – Middle Raged, a sketch comedy piece featuring two alumni members from This Hour Has 22 Minutes and The Second City improv troupe, as well as Bear Grease, an Indigenous take of the original 1970s musical Grease.

Weber is also excited about the Ennis Sisters returning, with some east coast Celtic music.

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Saskatchewan country-pop crossover artist Jess Moskaluke is also among the highlights in the roster.

Weber mentioned Back to Black: The Passion of Amy Winehouse features acclaimed Saskatchewan artist Heidi Munro.

“She’ll bring a full six-piece band with her, which will be quite exciting,” Weber said. “It’s a tribute show to [Winehouse’s] music.

This show was originally scheduled for 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic.

“We’re glad to be able to bring it back for the 2023-24 season,” Weber said.

She notes the aim in selecting shows is to provide a wide range of entertainment.

“We receive funding from different agencies, like the Government of Canada and Sask Arts, for presenting a diverse line-up of shows,” Weber said. “So, we always think of shows, not just music but theatre, dance, allusion or things that are different [such as] magic, more of those interactive pieces.”

She added it’s also a priority to ensure all people are represented in the line-up, including Indigenous people, people of color, and female artists.

“Those are things we always pay attention to,” Weber said.

Organizers also focus on making sure the line-up is spread out evenly, to cover the September to May season.

Weber said the Dekker Centre also wants to make sure there is a range of ticket prices available for different acts.

“I think it’s important to try to keep things as affordable as we can,” she said. “Of course, bigger shows like the Great Canadian Road Trip and Finger Eleven are a higher price point because you’re dealing with a full band. These are all things I work through to create a season. Sometimes when the community sees it, I’ve been working on some of those shows for 12 to 18 months. It’s a nice treat to launch it for this community, and it shows in ticket sales. So, that’s great.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow