Around Cape Ann
Award-winning singer and songwriter Emily Elbert will bring her soulful, jazzy folk music to Rockport on Saturday, Jan. 30. The all-ages show at Old Sloop Coffeehouse will begin at 7:30 p.m., with Andrew McGarrah opening.
Elbert will be performing new songs that will be on her second CD — to be released this spring. She'll also perform her acoustic versions of rock classics by Michael Jackson, The Allman Brothers, and Jimi Hendrix, along with covers from artists such as Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and John Mayer.
At 21, Elbert has performed more than 300 shows, from Alaska to Memphis, Texas to New York, and Scotland to Puerto Rico and Peru. The native Texan lives in Boston where she is a junior at Berklee College of Music and maintains an active touring schedule. Boston's WUMB radio selected her as Best New Artist of the Year in 2008. Last summer, Falcon Ridge Festival in New York chose Elbert for its annual Emerging Artist Showcase. In November, she traveled to Scotland as a winner of the Burnsong International Songwriting Contest, where she participated in a week-long songwriters' retreat and played for Parliament and the BBC.
Elbert is quickly growing in the national spotlight. Her lifelong passion for music from around the world, and distinctive combination of jazz, folk, soul, blues, and pop creates a sound that engages the hearts, minds, and ears of listeners around the globe. She blends a hip musical perspective with an in-depth knowledge of classic songs to create unique vocal and guitar arrangements.
She won Berklee College of Music's Performing Songwriter Contest in the summer of 2006.
Andrew McGarrah is an even younger singer and songwriter who is a senior at Pingree School in Hamilton. He grew up listening to artists such as Cat Stevens, Peter Paul and Mary, and Simon and Garfunkel, and he includes folk, rock and reggae among his musical influences.
The suggested contribution for this concert is $10 for adults and $5 for those younger than 18 or older than 65, with a maximum of $20 for families. Visit oldsloopcoffeehouse.org for more information. Call 978-546-3551 or send e-mail to reservations@oldsloopcoffeehouse.org for reservations. The event is held at First Congregational Church at 12 School St. in downtown Rockport.
One World Coffeehouse features folk artist
Bill Staines will perform at One World Coffee House at First Universalist Church 59 Main St. in Essex. on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m.
Singing mostly his own songs, Staines is one of the most popular and durable singers on the folk music scene today, performing nearly 200 concerts a year and driving more than 65,000 miles annually. He weaves gentle wit and humor into his performances and one reviewer wrote, "He has a sense of timing to match the best stand-up comic."
His music is a slice of Americana, reflecting with the same ease Staines' feelings about the prairie people of the Midwest or the adventurers of the Yukon, the on-the-road truckers, or everyday workers that make up this land.
"His gentle lilting voice, spacious melodies and common-chord lyrics give his songs a homespun grace that often belies his mastery of the folk form," New England Folk Almanac said. "He is such a pure pleasure too, people forget to notice how damn good at the job of singer-songwriter he really is."
Suggested donation is $15. For reservations call 978-325-3252.
Encore showing of 'The Pregancy Pact'
If you missed it this weekend, you have another chance to see the movie many in Gloucester have been talking about this week.
The cable channel Lifetime will air an encore showing of its original movie, "The Pregnancy Pact" tonight at 7. Inspired by a true story, the film explores the costs of teen pregnancy set against the backdrop of the infamous alleged 2008 "pregnancy pact" in Gloucester.
In its first four airings on Saturday and Sunday, 23.3 million viewiers watched the movie, according to Lifetime, which was the highest-rated and most watched ad-supported cable network in prime time for the weekend.
The premiere of "The Pregnancy Pact" became the No. 1 rated movie on ad-supported cable among women 18 to 34 since 1998, women 18 to 49 since 2006, as well as adults 18 to 34 since 2004, Lifetime said. It was also the most watched Original Movie premiere for the network ever among women 18 to 34, women 18 to 49, adults 18 to 34 and adults 18 to 49. In addition, of the 214 Lifetime Original Movies, the film now ranks as the fourth highest rated movie among women 18 to 49 in Lifetime's history. Online, "The Pregnancy Pact" also significantly increased traffic to the network's official Web site, myLifetime.com, which generated more than 3.8 million page views over the weekend, the second most trafficked weekend in the site's history.
Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winner Camryn Manheim, Nancy Travis, Golden Globe-nominee Thora Birch and Madisen Beaty star.
Fairy tale landscape of Cape Ann
Local Colors Artists' Cooperative is presenting a new collection of large acrylic paintings by Lawrence Martin-Bittman.
The paintings reflect Martin-Bittman's continuing love affair with the fairy tale environment of Cape Ann, its residents and visitors, aacording to the gallery. With a strong sense of color he looks at the daily confrontations between people and the ocean while humanizing the drama behind a screen of humor, it said.
The exhibition is open to the public at 121 Main St., Gloucester, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 20. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information is available by calling 978-283-3996 or visiting www.local-colors.org
Acting classes for young people
Gloucester Stage Company will hold a winter session of Youth Acting Workshops for children ages 6 to 17. The six-week workshop, taught by award-winning actress Heidi Dallin, will be held Saturdays beginning Feb. 13. Each class is two hours per week and students are divided in classes according to age.
This professional training program encourages students to discover and nurture their creative potential. Gloucester Stage's Youth Acting Workshops help students build self confidence and develop communication skills to use in their daily life as well as give them the opportunity to learn about the skills necessary for professional theater. The workshops include an introduction to theater basics such as theater games, improvisation, movement, vocal and physical expression, character preparation, scene study and storytelling as well as writing, public speaking and confidence building training.
All classes are held at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St., Gloucester. Class size is limited and registration is on a first-come basis. For class times, further information and to register, call 978-283-6688.
Art Haven hosts Buoy Auction, Art Show
The handpainted buoys that adorned the lobster trap Christmas tree this year are soon to become collectibles.
Any community member who wants a chance at owning one of works of art is welcome to join Art Haven, state Sen. Bruce Tarr and the children who painted the buoys at Cruiseport Gloucester on Friday, Jan. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. for the Second Annual Art Haven Buoy Auction and Art Show. This year, the programming has expanded a bit to include buoys painted by local artists from The Hive Cape Ann. Similar to last year, everyone is welcome to enjoy appetizers donated by local restaurants and check out the artwork created by Art Haven students throughout the year.
Admission to the event is $10 for adults, $5 with a student ID, and free for children 12 and younger.
Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend
Mark your calendars for the Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend being held Feb. 5, 6, and 7 at the Elks in Gloucester.
Cape Ann is known to birdwatchers worldwide for its exciting concentrations of winter seabirds, and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, working with Massachusetts Audubon, has planned a weekend filled with a variety of events for all levels of birders. Last year, 65 different species of birds were spotted over the course of the weekend!
Expert guides will lead field trips to Cape Ann hot spots so all participants will see as many species as possible. The full schedule of events is posted on the Chamber's Web site and includes — for hearty souls — a boat trip aboard the 7 Seas Privateer.
The demonstration and exhibitor venue at the Elks is open to the public and a guide will be on hand to introduce everyone to the sport of birding. For more information on becoming a sponsor or exhibitor, go to http://www.capeannchamber.com/birdingweekend.
Valentine dance to benefit symphony
Cape Ann Symphony will host a fund-raising dance, My Swinging Valentine, on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Cruiseport Gloucester, 6 Rowe Square, Gloucester.
The Soft Touch Dance Band will entertain with some golden oldies from the Swing Era and beyond perfect for dancing and listening. This 18-piece band specializes in music from the Big Band era as well as many modern favorites. Light hors d'oeuvres and desserts will be served and a cash bar will be available.
"This is an event to have fun and kick up your heels as well as to support a regional treasure right here on Cape Ann, our very own Cape Ann Symphony," said Elizabeth Frere Jones, chairman of Cape Ann Symphony's Celebrations Committee.
Tickets are $30 per person in advance and $35 at the door; 18 and younger are $20. E-mail CASCelebrations@yahoo.com, or call 978-283-6750 for tickets and more information.
Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-283-7000, ext. 3445, or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com. Items should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event.
