Dance parties, CD releases and World Premiers, oh my!

I have been a bad, bad blogger lately. I have been pondering possible reasons and I’ve decided to go with the “I’ve just been too busy with symphony and other shows” excuse. Hope that works for everyone. You may also have noticed that since the site redesign, we have no events calendar. I assure you we are working on this and it should be up and running before the Summer. To make up for my lack of participation and the missing calendar, I thought I’d take this opportunity to fill you in on some great musical events coming up this weekend.

Remember how exciting it was to attend a Much Music video dance party back in highschool? Well, Modern Fuel is bringing it back – with a bar! This Friday night the gallery is putting on an All Request Video Dance Party by projecting music videos (via YouTube) on their walls. The fun begins at 9pm at 21A Queen Street. $5 at the door, members get in for free. Parties at Modern Fuel always prove to be a good time so get your dancing shoes on and I’ll see you there!

Once you’ve recovered from dancing all night, head over to NEXT Church (89 Colborne St.) for the release of Kyra and Tully‘s three song single, Far Away. The show is all-ages and family friendly and will also feature performances by Me Man Jack and Lia Dawson of The Lady Racers. Opening the show will be a screening of new works by Lenny Epstein and the Apple Crisp Music Video Club, including the premiere of the music video for Kyra and Tully’s ‘Far Away’. The show will run from 2pm-4pm. Tickets at the door are $5 for adults and kids are free. The new CD will be available for purchase for $5.

Saturday night you have two opportunities to bust a move and raise money for worthy causes at the same time. St. Paul’s School is having a licensed dance and silent auction featuring Filet of Soul, a great local funky dance band. Funds raised will go towards a new playground for both the students of St. Paul and children in the neighbourhood who spend hours playing there in the evenings, weekends and through the summer. A chance to hear this great band is reason enough to attend. 7:30pm ’til midnight. $20 per person.

If the blues are more up your alley, come raise funds for the Children’s Aid Society at their annual Night in Blue, an evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing featuring blues artist Erin McCallum. The event will take place at Davies Hall at St. Lawrence College. You can find out more and purchase tickets here.

Whew, it’s already been a busy weekend but we still have Sunday! Have a nice, late breakfast and then to The Grand Theatre at 2:30pm for The Kingston Symphony‘s final concert of the season, Classic and Contemporary. The symphony will join forces with the Kingston Choral Society to present Faure’s gorgeous Requiem followed by the world premier John Burge’s Symphony No. 2. Dr. Burge, head of the Queen’s School of Music, recently won his first Juno for best classical composition of 2008 for his piece Flanders Fields Reflections. This concert should prove to be a hot ticket, get yours now.  I should also point out that you can now follow the Kingston Symphony on Twitter.

So, did you get all that? I know, it’s a lot to take in and I’m merely scratching the surface of the many musical events going on in Kingston. You can be sure as the Summer approaches and patios open, more and more great shows will be hitting the bars and theatres. Keep checking back as I keep you posted on events including the The Homegrown Music Festival, The Beat Beethoven Run, The Wolfe Island Music Festival and The Skeleton Park Music Festival.

Special thanks and credit to phil h for the posted image.