The Kinsmen Slowpitch Charity Tournament has proven to be a big hit with the community of Ladysmith.
The eight-team tournament held at Ladysmith’s Aggie Field over the Labour Day weekend raised almost $2,000 for the Transfer Beach playground as well as 700 pounds of food for the local food bank.
The Turbo team won the prize for bringing the most food and the Kinsmen would like to thank all those who took part in the tournament and helped out.
l Crofton is the place to be for those searching for the sounds of jazz this weekend.
Accomplished young Nanaimo guitarist Andrew Janusson explores the art of the guitar jazz trio with Victoria bassist Sean Drabitt and Nanaimo drummer John Lee in Crofton on Sunday.
Janusson, a recent graduate from the jazz program at Vancouver Island University, studied under such Island luminaries as guitarist Pat Coleman and bassist Ken Lister and has performed extensively up and down the Island.
Drabitt, a fixture on Victoria’s jazz scene for almost 25 years, was recently chosen as his hometown’s Jazz Musician of the Year by readers of the weekly Monday Magazine.
Lee, who graduated last year from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, has shared the stage with such international jazz artists as Cyrus Chestnut, Ingrid Jensen, Christine Jensen and Phil Dwyer.
The Crofton series runs from 2 to 5 p.m. each Sunday. Musicians are invited join in a jam session during the last hour.
The Crofton pub is at 1534 Joan Ave., a stone’s throw from the Salt Spring Island ferry terminal. Admission is $10. For information, call 250-324-2245.
l The Savour Cowichan Festival — formerly the Wine and Culinary Festival -— will run Sept. 26 to Oct. 5. Savour Chemainus will be Thursday, Oct. 2, from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Chemainus Theatre. It will include local food and wine, live music and works by local artists. Admission is $5 at the door, and you may stay for the performance of Over the River and Through the Woods, and get the $5 off your ticket price.
l A member of Junkhouse and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will be bringing down the house this month in Ladysmith.
Tom Wilson — the lead in Junkhouse and a member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and Lee Harvey Osmond — will be performing Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Song Shelter in Ladysmith.
Tickets for the show are $20 and can be purchased by calling 250-668-3338 or email info@mmgrp.ca. The Song Shelter is located at 512 Short Close Road.
Wilson will also be performing Sept. 29 at the Duncan Showroom and Sept. 30 at the Dinghy Dock Pub in Nanaimo.
Later in the fall, the Song Shelter will be playing host to an acoustic performance by Tom Hooper and Kevin Kate from the Grapes of Wrath on Nov. 13.
This coming Saturday, local music lover and theatre supporter Brenda Clarke is opening up her home for a night of fun, music and karaoke.
Lena Birtwistle and Ryan McMahon will be performing at the Rocky’s BC Pointe House Concert at 5118 Brenton Page Rd. Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by phone at 250-245-4440 or email at info@mmgrp.ca.
l Salt Spring Island’s legendary Apple Festival returns for 2014 on Sept. 28, highlighting the Island’s incredible range of apple varieties and the dedication of local farmers to growing healthy, organic food close to home.
“After a long, warm growing season, we’re excited to share the fruit of our labour with Apple Festival visitors,” said organizer Harry Burton. “It’s going to be a great day, full of interesting activities and the delicious flavor and aroma of freshly harvested apples.”
With a display of the island’s hundreds of apple varieties at Fulford Hall and numerous farms welcoming visitors for tours, tastings, apple sales and delicious lunch offerings, the festival will again deliver a great experience.
The Sunday festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.SaltSpringAppleFestival.org.