Hit pause on the Elvis Christmas CD for a night holiday music lovers, and head over to the seventh annual Winter Solstice Concert at the Sooke Harbour House on Dec. 22.
This year’s show, Weaving the Light – a celebration of music and joy – is made up of artists, including Cari Burdett and Sara Marreiros (vocalists), Adrian Dolan (piano, accordion, violin and mandolin), Quin Etheridge-Pedden (violin), Nick Mintenko (bass), Marisa Jackson (dancer) and local singer-songwriter and musician Adam Dobres.
Fresh this year is Dobres, who may be new to the show but is far from a newcomer to Sooke, and always brings a fun and creative approach to his guitar playing and singing.
Another new performance is from Quin Etheridge-Pedden, a young, award-winning violinist, member of Fiddelium and a 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee.
“I love the idea of having a new, young musician in the show. Quin loves to improvise and his commitment and creative approach to playing the violin is alive and full of youthful joy,” said concert promoter and performer Cari Burdett in a press release.
Burdett is a contemporary and classical music instructor in Victoria, and was awarded vocalist of the year at the 2016 Vancouver Island Music Awards. Trained in opera, theatre and dance, her performances have taken her around the world.
Proceeds from this year’s show go towards supporting The Witness Project, which is an art installation created by Sooke artist Carey Newman.
The installation is made up of books, clothing, photographs, and treasured objects found at residential schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures, all woven together to demonstrate the shame of residential schools and symbolize a path to reconciliation.
“I believe that music is a universal language that we can all speak and understand. It touches our hearts and allows us to feel emotions of joy and sorrow in a way that is enhanced and reaches the core of us,” said Burdett.
She said with The Witness project in mind for this year’s show, she chose particular songs that will “bring homage, healing, light and love to our land, our community, and ourselves.
“I wanted to create a concert that is a nourishing place for everyone, regardless of their religion, culture and identity. I created this annual solstice concert to provide a celebration of bringing back the light, and to remember that we each hold the light within ourselves, even on the darkest of days,” said Burdett.
The show begins at 7 p.m., and tickets cost $25 which can be purchased at the door or on eventbrite.ca in advance.
For more information on the Winter Solstice Concert, please go online to cariburdett.com/solstice.