New fall season kicks off at deCoste arts centre

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The deCoste Performing Arts Centre in Pictou has announced its fall season, with a variety of events taking place over the next four months.

Kicking off the new season Friday was Hat Fitz & Cara, a folk duo from Australia. Keppoch: The Last Wake is on stage Sunday for a 2 p.m. performance, followed by Canada, It’s Complicated, a satirical revue written by Mary Walsh, on Tuesday.

The Red Dirt Skinners, a British duo who have won blues and country music awards, will make their deCoste debut on Sept.22.

October showcases the variety the venue is known for, from a Tommy Makem tribute show on Oct. 7 to bluegrass performer Claire Lynch on Oct. 10, followed by Rumours, The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show on Oct. 11. The Swinging Bells will present two school shows on Oct. 11, as well.

Joel and Bill Plaskett will be at the Centre on Oct. 14, and Lunch at Allen’s, featuring Murray McLauchlan, Cindy Church, Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas, returns Oct. 20.

A show that revisits the Helen Creighton song collection and features Mary Jane Lamond will be on stage Oct. 21, while Lenny Gallant’s theatrical presentation Searching for Abegweit plays Oct. 26. Dave Gunning and J.P. Cormier will perform Oct. 28, and the month finishes with the Bouey-Doucet Duo on piano and violin on Oct. 29.

Buffy Sainte-Marie will perform Nov. 2 as part of the Canada 150 performance series, followed by Oh Canada, We Sing for Thee on Nov. 3 with Leisa Way and the Wayward Wind.

Frank Mills returns on Nov. 5, and Soldiers of Song, telling the story of the Dumbells, is on stage Nov. 6. Rose Cousins performs Nov. 9, and Breabach & Old Man Luedecke will share the stage Nov. 13.

Lullaby: Inside the Halifax Explosion, an Eastern Front Theatre presentation, is on stage Nov. 15, followed by a classical show Wayne Weng on piano Nov. 16. Menopause The Musical hits the stage Nov. 24, and the Mud Bay Jugglers will weave theatre, dance and physical comedy Nov. 27.

Seasonal shows begin Dec. 1 with Cadence, an ensemble from Toronto singing holiday favourites. Momentary Lapse, A Pink Floyd tribute is on stage Dec. 2, followed by Le Trio Barbeque Christmas on Dec. 7. The Celtic Christmas Show features a matinee performance on Dec. 10, followed by Quartette Christmas on Dec. 11. Tis the Season 11, starring Bette MacDonald and Maynard Morrison, is in for Dec. 14 and 15, followed by Celtic Holidays with Ashley MacIsaac on Dec. 19.

Tickets for all events are on sale at the deCoste Centre box office (902-485-8848 or 1-800-3535338) and at decostecentre.ca.