Uncovered: The Secret Spaces Concert Series
Maybe, Jeffery Straker muses, it was a subconscious thing.
About four years ago, the high-energy Saskatchewan singer- song writer performer found himself in Toronto, watching an opera being performed in — of all places — an old whiskey distillery.
Unorthodox, bu t it worked.
“It was all about two worlds colliding — that weren’t supposed to!” he enthuses over the phone.
So maybe it was this that got Straker, a proud “local history nerd,” thinking about the places in which he usually performs, and whether there are different ones to which he could go.
There were — and the result is his Secret Spaces Concert Series, which starts later this month and will take Straker’s Saskatchewan fans to places they never dreamt.
• It starts April 22 at Prince Albert’s historic Keyhole Castle, the famous 99-year-old house big enough to have a ballroom and grand piano (for Straker’s performance) and a formal dining room (in which noted local chef Jenni Willems will prepare a gourmet meal). Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by phoning (306) 749-2529 or emailing newground@sasktel.net;
• Next comes an April 28 evening fundraiser (in partnership with Camp Fyrefly) at Regina’s elegant Westminster United Church. Located on 13th Avenue, this church has been a municipal heritage site since 1998. Tickets are $30 admission/$ 10 for students, youth and unemployed. They can be purchased at Cobb Swanson Music (also on 13th Avenue), the U of R Pride Centre (in the university’s Riddell Centre), AIDS programs South Saskatchewan or by emailing campfyreflysask@hotmail.ca;
• On May 19, Straker heads to the replica fort in Fort Qu’appelle for an evening show within its walls. This show is aimed at raising awareness and funds for the fort and its historical collection, and for local arts scholarships program. It will be staged as a cabaret: tables, mingling, appetizers, wine-tasting and live music. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling Jill Radwanski at 306-3323033;
• From there, Straker goes underground — literally. His June 19 show will be in Miss Fanny’s Club, a replica speakeasy in the The Tunnels of Moose Jaw. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance through Java Express (23 Main Street N.) or by calling 306-653-5282; • Straker ends the series June 20 at Kutawa Anglican Church in his hometown of Punnichy, which Straker describes as “having a lot of fascinating local history”. This concert is intended to raise awareness and funds for local historical properties including the museum/house remembering renowned artist Ernest Luthi and other landmarks around the 120-year-old church, like a pioneer-era office for sending telegrams — the Internet of its day.
Details of all shows in the Secret Spaces Series are at www.jeffstraker.com.
Incidentally, initial response to his search for secret spaces in which to perform was so good that if this year’s tour works well, Straker said, “we might do another series next year.”
wchabun@leaderpost.com