Saskatchewan Express named Danny Balkwill as its new Artistic Director in January. Danny, an alumnus of the touring musical revue, is an accomplished and energetic performer with an impressive resume of performing credits from the past two decades. Carol Gay Bell’s final show as outgoing Artistic Director will be the 2017 summer production and tour, Oh! Canada, a tribute to Canada’s 150th birthday (www.saskatchewanexpress.com).
Telemiracle 41 will take place March 4-5 at TCU Place, Saskatoon, and will be broadcast live on all CTV Saskatchewan stations.This year’s talent includes 60 acts who bring energy and enthusiasm, with local cast members Chris Henderson, The Hunter Brothers, Brad Johner & The Johner Boys, Donny Parenteau, Jeffery Straker, and Jill Straker. See www.telemiracle.com for the schedule.
Rawk EntertainmenT GROUP had a busy second half in 2016 helping produce aspects of the Canadian Country Music Awards Week in London ON and the Western Canadian Music Awards/BreakOut West in Regina. Co-founder Derek Bachman was posthumously honoured with the 2016 Kevin Walters Industry Builder Award at the WCMAs, and Rawk Entertainment Group won the Impact in Live Music Award at the same event. Chris Tessmer, formerly of Surreal Productions, joined the Rawk team full-time in November. The new year has been equally busy for the Regina-based company as they were hired as the official talent buyer for O’Brians Event Centre in Saskatoon, complementing their existing work as the official talent buyer and production managers for Casinos Regina and Moose Jaw. Producer of the annual Beer Bacon Bands festival, #BBB2017 saw nearly 3000 people through the Conexus Arts Centre over two nights at the end of January. Work also continues in preparation for the 2017 Canadian Country Music Awards Week in Saskatoon this September (www.rawkentertainment.com).
The Bull’s Eye search for emerging indigenous musical talent, presented by imagineNATIVE with support from Slaight Music, announced it winner on October 22 during imagineNATIVE’s annual music showcase THE BEAT, held in Toronto. Congrats to semi-finalists Teagan Littlechief (Top 5) and X a n d r a h (Top 10), www.imagine
native.org/bulls-eye-2016.
Capitol Staging and Production Solutions Inc., a Regina-based mobile stage rental company that operates from Ontario to British Columbia, has a busy 2017 season ahead as Canada celebrates its 150th birthday, and other organizations finalize their outdoor festivals and events. Dates are booking up fast! (contact@capitolstaging.ca).
