Barry Coulter
The summer is a busy time for the Fisher Peak Performing Artists Society (FPPAS). The Society's summer kicked off with hosting the Sam Steele Days entertainment in Rotary Park, and this weekend approaching, FFPAS is running the Canada Day entertainment for the first time, also in Rotary Park, Friday, July 1.
Celebrants of the 149th anniversary of Confederation can look forward to almost seven hours of live music provided by local performers.
• From 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Neve , Parsons & Hamilton will take the stage. NP&H is a fresh three-piece band comprised of veteran local musicians that concentrates on the British Invasion and on the rock and roll classics of the 1960s.
• 4:50 to 5:10 p.m. features Mismatched Socks, a young local family band with a bluegrass and country feel.
• Holly and Jon, a dynamic father and daughter blues duo from the Slocan Valley, perform from 5:15 to 7 p.m.
• The Twilight Trio follows, 7:05 to 7:25 p.m. The Twilight Trio is a new local three-piece act presenting great harmonies in their rendition of the classics.
• One of Cranbrook's most dynamic bands — the Mile High Club — will be performing Rock classics from the past five decades from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m.
• Local troubadour Dave Prinn takes the stage at 9:20 to 9:40 p.m. Prinn offers his own material as well as as putting his own twist on well know alternative folk and blues classics.
The Fisher Peak Performing Artists Society, founded two years ago by a group of local performing artists, is definitely an organization by the people, for the people.
"We're getting bigger every year," said Randy Tapp, FPPAS Secretary.
The Society's main goal is to promote the performing arts in the Cranbrook area — whether it be music, spoken word, dance or theatre — through exposure and through partnerships with like-minded groups.
FPPAS is building alliances with the Key City Theatre, the City of Cranbrook and Columbia Basin Trust, and is active finding in events and venues for local performing artists, as well as helping performers get the compensation they deserve.
FPPAS is currently in the midst of a membership and sponsorship drive, inviting people and organizations to become part of Cranbrook's active and vibrant performing arts scene, with all the perquisites that accompany membership.
"It's important to our survival as a society that people come to support us as members," said Society President James Neve. "The more we keep in touch with the community the more support we get."
Members can even get access to some paid positions at various events, Neve said, and acquire some skills in areas like technical support, stage set-up and event management.
Following Canada Day, FPPAS will add a festival atmosphere to downtown Cranbrook for the summer. The popular Summer Sounds concert series will be back, as well as Dancing in the Park. This year, the two features are being combined into one, taking place every Saturday in Rotary Park starting July 9.
And FFPAS's plans for the second annual Winter Ale Concert Series — a partnership with the Key City Theatre — are already in the planning stages.
Canada Day festivities in Rotary Park begin at 3 p.m., Friday, July 1.
Memberships for the Fisher Peak Performing Artists Society are available at Lotus Books in Cranbrook, from Society members, or at FPPAS events.
Memberships are $10 per person, $25 per family. Members also get discounts on merchandise and paid shows, but the, real value is knowing that you are helping Cranbrook made a bigger impact on the arts scene in the East Kootenay, said Neve.