As we spring into the month of April, Longevity John is not fooling around as he brings another amazing lineup of talent to the Duncan Showroom stage.
•••
On April 2, the fun and talent gets underway at 5:30 p.m. with the Eugene and Billie Show, where Eugene Smith and his co-host Bill Levity provide great music and stage banter along with interviews and more music from their invited guests. Admission is by donation to be a part of the live studio audience. Eugene and Bill will be bringing their brand of entertainment back to the stage on April 16, and 30.Stick around and showcase your own talents with the Showroom’s Dress Rehearsal Tuesday. All professionals, part-time musicians and amateurs can bring their best to this open mic night. The fee is $5 for all who wish to participate and performances will be live streamed to both YouTube and Facebook. Three more Dress Rehearsal Tuesdays are scheduled for later this month on April 9, 16, and 23.
•••
On April 4, Katrina Kadoski’s tale of west coast heroine Cougar Annie returns to the Showroom at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this event are $25.
•••
On April 6, enjoy the musical stylings of mother and son Joelle Rabu and Nico Rhodes. Rabu who is a two-time Jessie Award winner and Juno nominee and has received critical acclaim for her portrayal of the iconic French singer Edith Piaf who she was exposed to during her French upbringing. Rabu, who sings in several languages, has starred in numerous theatre productions, performed for royalty and even made guest appearances with major symphony orchestras across Canada and the U.S. She will be joined by her son Nico Rhodes. Gosia Hagen whose voice has been compared to velvet will be a special guest, and if that’s not enough to celebrate, throw a special birthday in the mix. Rabu turns 66 on the 6th. Tickets are $30.
•••
On April 7, come out to experience the sounds of Poland jazz singer Gosia Hagen at 3 p.m. who will be accompanied by Brad Shipley and Scott Arkell. Hagen has a history of entertaining the masses at concerts, recitals, festivals, and on cruise ships. A personal referral by Joelle Rabu, get jazzed up at the Showroom for only $25.
•••
On April 8, at 7:30 p.m. Sky Slinger Clearwater takes the Showroom stage — all great things come in threes and this is no exception. Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Michaela Slinger embarks on a small B.C. tour with L.A.-based singer-songwriters Lucy Clearwater and Zoe Sky Jordan with the Showroom being one of the lucky stops. Longevity John describes the evening as a songwriters’ in the round kinda feel — tickets are a suggested donation of $20.
•••
Most people get sung to on their birthdays, but Leenie Beenie (Bennett) prefers to sing for others on hers. Come and see her and some of her musical friends take the stage on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. for the Leenie Beenie Birthday Bash. Admission is by donation.
•••
On April 12 at 7:30 p.m. throw your hands in the air, and wave them like you just don’t care for a fine evening of island hip hop with performers Abyss, Wes Pz, QB Mac, Reflectionz, Swivel, Half Breed and DJ Mitts. Tickets are $20.
•••
On April 14, at 3 p.m., the Konsorados bring their latest music to the Showroom stage. This husband and wife team will surely delight audience members and keep them riveted with their roots folk genre as they showcase the sounds of guitar, percussion and banjo blended with piano. Tickets are $25.
“Listening to Donna and Bill Konsorado is the musical equivalent of dark chocolate and red wine. So delicious…” says Gillian Butler.
•••
On April 15, Shaela Miller graces the Showroom stage at 7:30 p.m. with music from her new album After the Masquerade that was released on March 22. Her new album puts a fresh face on her body of country music. She has been called a profound storyteller and Plastic Mag calls her new album a binary of country and new wave that sees the two contrasting styles collide in dazzling fashion. Tickets are $25.
•••
On April 18 at 7:30 p.m., come watch history in the making as Budapest born and Montreal-based kora player and singer-songwriter Sophie Lukacs brings her trio to the Duncan Showroom for the first time. Lukacs will be accompanied by Laszlo Koos on cello and Noel Mpiaza on percussion. Lukacs is the granddaughter of Eva Fahidi, a prominent writer and dancer who survived the Holocaust, and with whom she sang her first Hungarian folk songs. Her 2023 LP Bamako was nominated in the Global Roots Album of the Year category at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Tickets are $25.
•••
On April 19, at 7:30 p.m., multi-instrumentalist folk artist Bronwyn Claire Asha invites music lovers to join her as she weaves together theatre, traditional Celtic folk ballads and storytelling accompanied by fiddle and guitar. Asha began her training in classical violin at the tender age of four and completed Royal Conservatory diplomas while singing folk ballads and playing rousing fiddle tunes since her early childhood. She has toured internationally as the front-woman of the high-energy Celtic folk group Knacker’s Yard, and released her debut solo album, The Maiden’s Lament in December 2022. Tickets are $25.
•••
On April 20 at 7:30 p.m., Victoria’s Clover Point Drifters, who have been playing together for 25 years, bring their brand of bluegrass to the Showroom stage. A $20 donation is the suggested admission.
•••
On April 25 at 7:30 p.m., get wowed by gifted girl power with the Leading Ladies Little Big Band. Hailing from Vancouver this 10-piece all girl big band led by Casey Thomas-Burns has been making waves on the island. Tickets are $25.
•••
Great music takes flight on April 25 with Row of Crowz. Known around the valley as the go to fun dance band. This all ages concert will also be live stream so little ones can also experience cool classic contemporary music. Tickets are $20.
•••
On April 28 at 2 p.m., head to Island Story Tellers Present. Attendees will be treated to the ancient art of tale telling with the Island Storytellers who include Victoria’s Storytellers’ Guild, Nanaimo’s The Around Town Tellers, and the Mid-Island Storytellers, based out of Qualicum Beach and Parksville. There will be two 45 minute sets with a short break in between. A donation of $15 to $20 is suggested
At 7:30 p.m., great music is full steam ahead with Big Train. Lonnie Gloss and Daniel Morel team up to perform some great original songs and turn up the heat on harmonica. Tickets are $20
.•••
The Duncan Showroom is located in the heart of downtown Duncan at 131 Station St. Tickets for all shows and events can be purchased in person or by visiting showroomproductions.ca