Organizers with the oldest francophone festival in Coquitlam last week announced the lineup for this year's party. Among the musicians performing at the 23rd annual Festival du Bois, which takes place March 3 and 4 at Mackin Park, are Le Vent du Nord, Bon Débarras, Ligue du Bonheur, Juan Sebastian Larobina, Qristina & Quinn Bachand, TANGA and Guillaume Arsenault.
For the full schedule, visit www.festivaldubois.ca or call 604-515-7070 for more information.
TEAPOTS, SPACE
Place des Arts' first Family Day of the new year will focus on teapots, outer space and altered books - three topics also presented in artwork displayed at the Coquitlam facility this month.
The event runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and will include drop-in workshops and activities like hand-painted ceramic tiles (to reflect the clay exhibition by Kwai Sang Wong); 3D space ships (to reflect Karin Vengshoel's space exhibition); origami using pages from old books (to reflect Rachael Ashe's altered book exhibit).
As well, the Van Gogh Cafe will be open to serve light refreshments. Admission is by donation; however, reservations are recommended. Call 604-664-1636. For more information, visit www.placedesarts.ca.
GO ONLINE
Teen and young adult singers from the Tri-Cities are being asked to audition in the second annual Variety's Got Talent competition.
The contest is open to musicians aged 13 to 29, who have until Jan. 15 to submit their tapes online through www.varietysgottalent.ca. Entries should be two- to three-minutes long, with candidates singing acappella or with an acoustic guitar.
The 10 finalists will be chosen after a performance on Feb. 3.
New for this year's event is the People's Choice category where the public can view the top 20 audition tapes on YouTube between Jan. 23 and 27 and vote for their favourite; the highest vote-getter will also win a spot in the finals at the River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond.
The winner will receive a Tom Lee Rising Star Package and appear on the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon on Feb. 11 and 12.
SUDDEN DEATH
Port Coquitlam's Second Storey Theatre will host a grand re-opening this month with a new format called Sudden Death Improv, said owner and artistic director Graham Myers.
Sudden Death Improv will run Friday and Saturday nights, starting Jan. 27. The show starts at 8 p.m. at 201-2550 Shaughnessy St., above Dairy Queen. Also new for the company is drop-in improv workshops, which run Sunday mornings.
The cost is $5 per session. For more information, visit www.secondstoreytheatre.com.
FV FEST
The deadline is approaching for musicians wanting to enter into this year's Kiwanis Fraser Valley International Music Festival.
The 13th annual event, which takes place from April 16 to May 24 in Langley, offers classes for students of piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, voice, guitar and harp. Sessions and workshops for composers, chamber ensembles, choirs, orchestras, jazz bands, concert bands and vocal jazz ensembles are also available.
Last year, nearly 6,100 participants, including more than 150 choirs, orchestras and bands from Metro Vancouver, B.C., Alberta and Washington State took part.
Entries should be submitted by Feb. 3. For the 2012 syllabus and other information, visit www.kfv.ca or call 778-868-0426.
jwarren@tricitynews.com
