Hot a cappella, brilliant tenor, champion fiddlers, acrobat clowning, and rocking cello quartet, in lineup for 65th BCA series
Well into its sixth decade, the Border Concert Association announces the concerts for the 2009-10 season, all to be performed on the Backus stage as they have been since the association’s inception.
The BCA Board of Directors reports that the five selections made for the concert season are some of the finest artists offered by Allied Concert Services, the agency that scouts and books talent throughout the region.
Allied reports that the five a cappella artists of the group “Home Free,” who will open BCA’s lineup on Oct. 11, deliver a performance that showcases a “new, animated and electrifying experience that leaves audiences breathless.”
Home Free has gained a reputation for its extraordinary vocal percussionist as well as pushing the boundaries of a cappella music. With extensive theatrical and musical training, the group performs a mix of pop, classical and techno music.
On Oct. 30, the tenor who has been deemed “God’s canary” as well as was named “Minnesota’s Master Male Vocalist” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, will sing in Borderland. Robinson has performed with Aretha Franklin, nine-time Grammy Award winner Andrae Crouch, Bobby McFerrin, Kenny Loggins and Barry Manilow to name a few. Among many impressive venues, Robinson was a featured vocalist with pianist Lorie Line with a subsequent appearance across the U.S. on PBS. Robinson kicked off his recent tour with an appearance at Carnegie Hall. Reviews across the nation, such as “glorious,” “a volcanic talent,” and “a soaring presence,” have poured in, reports Allied.
Robinson and his pianist will take to the stage with a program of spirituals, gospel and pop songs.
The next concert in the series will be in the spring on March 7 and is intended to delight families. It will bring natural clown Jamie Adkins of Circus INcognitus to Backus. The one-man show involves juggling, acrobatics, the unbalanced ladders, a slack line routine and a unicycle.
“Though Mr. Adkins’ best routines draw OOHs and AHs, he is just as successful at drawing laughs,” writes the New York Times. The Daily Gazette reports that Adkins has made juggling and clowning more interesting to watch through the power of personality and grace.
On March 21, the Canadian Fitzgerald family band, “Everything Fitz,” will feature its high-energy fiddling and percussive step dancing. With roots in the old-time fiddle tradition, the show combines a variety of musical styles — from Celtic, bluegrass, and western swing to novelty tunes and choreographed step dance routines.
Fitz’s four young musicians are all champion fiddlers who provide intricate harmonies as well as solo improvisations on fiddle and mandolin. Their parents provide accompaniment on piano and bass guitar.
Everything Fitz has toured all over Canada and the United States.
The Rastrelli Cello Quartet will perform on April 17. One review of the cello virtuosos exclaimed “These four musicians could sound like a classical symphony one moment and play ragtime, jazz, klezmer or even a polka the next.” The Nantucket Arts Council proclaimed them “One of the best we ever presented in our series.”
The quartet was formed in Germany by Russians who shared a desire to prove that any style of music can be played on the cello. Their repertoire consists entirely of transcriptions not intended to be performed on the cello.
The BCA board announces a reduction in ticket prices for students, now $10 (in U.S. funds, and $15 in Canadian funds) for the entire season. Encouraging young people to experience fine musical performances remains an important mission of the BCA.
Season ticket prices for adults is $45 in U.S. funds, and $50 in Canadian. Family season tickets for parent(s) and dependent children are $95 in U.S. funds, and $105 in Canadian funds.
Tickets are available at City Drug, SuperValu, Border State Bank and the Backus Office in International Falls. In Fort Frances, they are for sale at Betty’s and the Fort Frances Museum. Tickets are also available in Devlin, Emo and Rainy River. Ticket sales are also handled by the BCA Board of Directors.
All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Fund-raising suppers held before the concerts by Citizens for Backus/AB, and sponsored by local businesses, will be advertised prior to each concert.
The board reminds the public that flyers of the BCA concert schedule and information were inserted in The Daily Journal on Wednesday. “You’re invited to enjoy an extraordinary season of world-class performances,” the flyer welcomes.
The cost average of these world-class performances is $9 per concert for adults, and $2 a show for students.
