A quick run through some of the events happening this week in the world of art, music and film.
Monday
Monday Night Film Series: And The Birds Rained Down
The latest from Louise Archambault (Film Circuit favourite Gabrielle), adapted from the acclaimed novel by Jocelyne Saucier, is an elegiac and charming meditation on the possibilities of living outside modernity.
As the film opens, we meet three hermits living in cabins in the Quebec countryside, miles from civilization. Tom (Rémy Girard, The Barbarian Invasions, Incendies), Charlie (Gilbert Sicotte, The Salesman), and Ted (Kenneth Welsh, Wet Bum, Adoration) fled society years ago, and have eked out a back-to-the-land existence, selling pot to the closest locals with help from local hotelier Stephen (Éric Robidoux, Love in the Time of Civil War).
But their lifestyle is increasingly endangered by nature, infirmity, and age. Ted collapses from a heart attack. Photographer and researcher Ange-Aimee (Eve Landry) threatens to disrupt their lives when she starts looking for survivors of a catastrophic blaze that happened decades ago, most notably Ted, whose actions during the fire have assumed heroic stature.
And the Birds Rained Down is a tribute to the need to live independently and on one’s own terms – and to those courageous enough to pursue this. (It’s also a cry for respect for people and their choices, regardless of age.) Driven by an astonishing cast boasting some of Quebec’s most esteemed performers – including Andrée Lachapelle, whose career stretches back to 1954 – the film features one of the most beautiful musical moments of the year, when Girard’s ailing musician Tom, coaxed into performing at a nearby club, delivers a soulful and heartbreaking rendition of one of Tom Waits’ best tunes.
And The Birds Rianed Down | Monday Night Film Series | Tilley Hall, Room 102, UNB Campus | February 3, 2020 – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Open Mic Night at The Capital. Dylan Ward hosts this weekly event at The Capital. If you are a duo, or a band, stop by and try out a new tune in front of a very encouraging crowd. 9 p.m. No cover.
Laurent Bourque & Ben Caplan in Concert at Wilmot United Church. Shivering Songs present Halifax singer Ben Caplan with special guest Laurent Bourque at Wilmot United Church. 8 p.m.
Wednesday
MusicUNB presents Free Noon-Hour Concert at Memorial Hall. Featured artists include Stephen Peacock (guitar) and Gerry Van Wart (guitar). This concert will feature a sampling of newly-published works for the infinitely varied textures of music for two guitars, including Boomerang and Nuit blanche by Thierry Tisserand, Contrition by Zach Jones, and the image-driven Water Music by Carlo Domeniconi. You’ll also hear exciting new compositions and arrangements in a number of popular styles by the performers themselves. No tickets are required.
Screening of TRACE at Gallery on Queen. Cinema Politica Fredericton, Gallery on Queen, the NB Media Co-op, and the UNB International Development Students’ Association invite all to a film screening of TRACE with directors Raluca Bejan and Ioan Cocan. Public accounts on the 2015 European refugee crisis covered the issue through an individualizing gaze placed on the refugee subject. The refugee in suffering, an experience witnessed by us all, as a spectacle, from the distance: Images of crowded tents, boats carrying overflowing numbers of people, children dying on Mediterranean shores. Trace turns the gaze outwards, scrutinizing the “space” of the crisis in which people seek refuge. Trace is an independent documentary project by Raluca Bejan and Iam Cocan, filmed in 2017 in the Greek islands of Lesvos, Samos and Chios; in Athens, Greece; Oxford, United Kingdom; and Toronto, Canada. 7 p.m.
Soupfest: A Food Competition with Impact. Liberty Utilities NB presents “Soupfest: A Food Competition with Impact.” After a successful inaugural event in 2019, the now annual soup competition will be at The Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market in Downtown Fredericton on Wednesday February 26, and will see restaurants from all around the city competing for the coveted “Best Soup in Central NB” trophy. Smack dab in the middle winter, attendees will get to warm up and with many different great soups and vote on their favourites. The restaurants will be pulling out all of the stops and stepping up to the plate (bowl?) to deliver their best soups, so you really don’t want to miss this. Along with the public voting, there will also be a special Critics Choice Award and a couple of other fun categories too. Everyone’s a winner. All proceeds go directly into the United Way Community Fund, which focuses on our impact areas of Strong and Healthy Communities, Poverty, Helping Kids, and more. Big thanks and HIGH5s for all participating restaurants, as this event could not happen without their generous s(o)upport. 11-2 p.m.
An Evening With The Hypochondriacs at Wilser’s Room. Catch a rare and intimate, midweek performance by The Hypochondriacs. 8 p.m.
Wax Wednesday at the Tipsy Muse Cafe. Join host Rob Pinnock and guests as they share and discuss their favourite albums. This week guests are Fredericton hip hop O.G. Shiggy Sean One and Raynemaker Productions’ Tim Rayne. 7 p.m.
Thursday
Hot Topics: Where to Belong? at Milda’s Café. An engaging forum to discuss the root causes of the many refugee crises the world faces today and solutions which could be undertaken to solve them. We are privileged to have both Raluca Bejean and Ioan Cocan take part in this event. This event is open to the public, but we ask that you register for a free ticket as space is limited and we will only accept those who have tickets to the event. 6:30 p.m.
Pop-Up Art Exhibit by the Thursday Night Art Class at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Join us for a one-night exhibit featuring the artwork of the students from the Thursday night art class. Their recent work has been inspired by Canadian artist David Milne’s proclivity to portray the essence of places that are important to him. The artwork in this exhibition conveys a sense of a particular place that is important to each individual artist. Come to enjoy the artwork and celebrate the creativity of each artist. The event will take place in the RBC Room on the lower level, right by the cafe. Family and friends are welcome. 7-9 p.m.
Atlantic Ballet presents Amadeus at The Playhouse. A gripping work exploring envy, greed, and isolation. The glorious music of Mozart and Salieri is interwoven with a spell-binding plot and largerthan-life characters. This riveting story traces the life of Mozart and examines his isolation by a society that accepts the musical works but not the composer. Amadeus, like the music which inspired its choreographer, is finely balanced and beautifully paced. It touches on some of Igor Dobrovolskiy’s recurring themes: isolation, envy, and the solitary life of the outsider. Mr. Dobrovolskiy stretches out time and motion as if carefully measuring the moments left in Mozart’s short life. Narrative and choreography present a subtle dialectic of endless movement which begins with the relentless tick, tick, tick of the metronome and ends with the soundless rushing of the sands of time. 7:30 p.m.
Snak The Ripper at Klub Khrome. BC rapper Snak the Ripper visits Fredericton for a show with locals Ceeb Dread, Ben Fresh and Staks. Doors at 9 p.m.
Friday
The Irish Rovers’ Wasn’t That a Party! at The Playhouse. Over the last 55 years, Ireland has felt the impact of The Irish Rovers long career of bringing Ireland and Irish music to the rest of the world. Guaranteed to be a toe-tapping, hand-clapping, sing-along night of good cheer you are not going to want to miss this momentous event! 7:30 p.m.
The Tipsy Muse Café presents Michelle Morriosn. Michelle Morrison is a maritime soul-folk musician, drawing inspiration from all walks of life. Michelle’s music incorporates influences from many genres including traditional folk, jazz, rock & roll, blues and bluegrass. Even though she is young she has been performing for years, both in bands and as a solo musician. 7 p.m.
Retro Night at The Phoenix. Music of the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s. Retro video game setup! Drink specials. 11 p.m.
It’s Going Down for Real ft. DJ Neuroseance at The Capital Complex. It’s going to be a Glam, Trap, Funk, Punk, Goth, Oldschool Rap, Hip Hop, Disco party. 10 p.m.
Saturday
Spearhead Theatre to Launch and Play Reading at Odell Park Lodge. After a successful inaugural season featuring John Pielmeier’s Agnes of God, a karaoke fundraiser, and the 1st Annual SHT Show, Spearhead Theatre is excited to announce their upcoming 2020 season at the launch party. The 2020 launch party will feature a reading of Greg Everett’s OXBOW, the third instalment in the BVRNTLAND series. Guests can enjoy the night’s festivities with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages, courtesy of Picaroons Brewing Company and York County Cider. All beverages are included in the ticket price, and are available while supplies last. 6-8:30 p.m.
O’Me Nerves Comedy Presents: Cards Against Humanity Showdown at Grimross Brewing Co. You’ve played the game…now come see how comedians play it! Join us as we test the boundaries of humanity with a night of comedy, laughter, and some great craft beer. This is a 100% fundraiser for mental health. Your ticket price stays in Fredericton to help provide free mental health programs to those in need who can otherwise not access services. 7 p.m.
FM Berlin + Matt Steele + Keegan Dobbelsteyn at The Capital. FM Berlin and Matt Steele and The Corvette Sunset’s Winter Marches On Tour arrives at The Capital on February 29th. Joining us is special guest Keegan Dobbelsteyn. This February, beat the cold with some hot pop rock and roll! 8 p.m.
Crosscut Reloaded at Wilser’s Room. Leap Into March! There is one extra day in 2020 to enjoy great music with Crosscut Reloaded. 8 p.m.
The Tipsy Muse Talent Show. An exciting night of special musical performances, unexpected surprises, songs by students, and fun. Admission is by donation and proceeds will go towards funding music programs in our local schools. 7 p.m.
Celebrating Ned Bear at Gallery on Queen. Ned Bear was an exceptional artist and we want to honour his legacy with an upcoming show that celebrates his life and his work. His works were truly unique and this will be an opportunity to recognize an important artist from our community.
Novichok + SpineSplitter + Mangler at The Maniac Mansion. Halifax heavy metal heavyweights Novichok are coming to the Manic Mansion feb 29th with death bringers Spinesplitter and the return of sussex doom platoon Mangler! Doors at 9. $10.
Fortune of Wolves Book Launch at Westminster Books. Come celebrate the launch of the published play Fortune of Wolves by Ryan Griffith. Fortune of Wolves was first produced by Theatre New Brunswick in Fredericton in 2017. It’s an exciting piece of work that had actors rolling dice every night to determine the direction of the play, meaning no two nights were the same. Now fans can read the entire fascinating story. 1-2:30 p.m.
Exhibition Openings at Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Two new exhibits open this week at the BAG. Enjoy the exhibits: Emily Carr: Fresh Seeing – French Modernism and the West Coast and Munnings – The War Years. 4-6 p.m.
Sunday
In the Footsteps of Emily Carr: An illustrated talk at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. To prepare for the exhibition Emily Carr – Fresh Seeing, Kathryn Bridge travelled to France in 2018. Because many of Carr’s French paintings are not identified by place, Bridge’s quest was to find specific locations for the landscapes and street scenes painted in Crecy-en-Brie in 1910 and in Brittany in 1911. Through detective work, archival research and a lot of walking and exploration she was able to find several of the spots where Carr painted and accurately identify the towns and vistas depicted. This work has enabled a more accurate chronology and mapping of Carr’s travels. Photographs taken reveal the scenes today and give us an opportunity to vicariously see France through Carr’s eyes. 3-4 p.m.
This Week in Fredericton was created with notes from the Fredericton Arts Alliance‘s weekly newsletter as well as Music Runs Through It‘s weekly Fredericton music update. We encourage you to visit both these valuable community resources for more detailed information on these and other events happening This Week in Fredericton.
