Singer-songwriter Deborah Holland has a deep catalogue of six solo albums to draw from when she takes the stage Saturday, Dec. 11 at High Beam Dreams in Gibsons. U.S.-born and raised, Holland is now a Coast resident and had an impressive musical pedigree even before her solo career, having composed and sung on two albums in the band Animal Logic, with drummer Stewart Copeland and bassist Stanley Clarke. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Tickets at eventbrite.ca.
Outdoor concerts
Also, at High Beam Dreams, on Friday, Dec. 10, celebrate Christmas cheer with students of Serena Eades Academy of Music at an outdoor concert, also featuring a “vintage laser light” show. Admission by donation, with proceeds to the food bank. Songs start at 6 p.m.
The Sunshine Coast Youth Choir and The Wild Women perform a collection of Songs of Winter while strolling through lower Gibsons on Saturday, Dec. 11. Director Varya Rubin said the choir plans to end up at 5 p.m. in front of Molly’s Reach for more seasonal tunes.
The Nutcracker
The first of the Coast’s two Nutcracker productions stages its production Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Dec. 10, 11 and 12 at Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt, with two performances each day. “Familiar favourites alongside exciting surprises, and new costume, set, and scenery designs.” Tickets at Waldorf Ballet’s website. The second production, by the Sunshine Coast Youth Dance Association, runs at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, Dec. 17 to 20, and is sold out already!
Youth art show
These are the last few days you’ll have a chance to see the 2021 Young Artists Awards and Exhibition and the 2021 Banner Project at the Sunshine Coast Arts Council’s Doris Crowston Gallery in Sechelt. The show closes Sunday. The exhibition features work by artists aged five to 18 across the Coast in a wide array of media. The Banner Project brings together elementary schools across the Coast. This year, the theme is “Imagined Creatures.”
Crafts and lights
The Pender Harbour Community Club is hosting A Merry Christmas Faire, Saturday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Community Hall.
In Sechelt, it’s the Festival of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 11: Kids’ make-and-take crafts at Trail Bay Mall, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; the Light the Lights ceremony at 5 p.m. at Rockwood Lodge; capped off with the Festival of Lights parade on Cowrie St. starting at 5:45 p.m.
More live music
Joe Stanton plays Batch 44 in Sechelt on Friday Dec. 10, starting at 7 p.m.
Pulling Strings has Yuletide ukes at Gibsons Public Market, Saturday, Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m., it’s The Billy Hillpicker Band at Roberts Creek Legion.
The Peter Van Trio is the featured band at the Pender Harbour Legion’s Live Music Sundays in Madeira Park on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m.
Jazz night
It’s Jazz Night on Thursdays at Roberts Creek Legion. On Dec. 16, you can catch Karen Graves on sax and flute, with guitarist Dave Sikula, and James Meger on bass. Dinner served from 5 p.m., music starts at 7. Tickets at rclegionevents.com.
