Advance season tickets are on sale for the 2013 to 2014 season of the Weyburn Concert Series, which includes some pretty big names. Promotion is in full motion for the final concert of the season, which will feature Brad Johner and his sons in a concert fundraiser for the Triple C Centre.
The Weyburn Concert Series board is made up of mostly members from Beta Sigma Phi Nu Master Chapter, which is the group responsible for bringing the concerts to Weyburn.
A municipality's Arts Council is typically in charge of local concert events, but not in Weyburn, where it was first brought about by the Quota International Club of Weyburn and then was passed along to the Beta Sigma Phi group.
"We are quite unique in that it's just a group of women that bring these to Weyburn," noted Beta Sigma Phi Marg Stewart, who is the treasurer for the Weyburn Concert Series. She added that whereas Arts Councils also include visual arts, the Beta group has a clear focus. "We just do the performing arts."
Working with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC), determining which concerts Weyburn gets is largely a matter of budget. OSAC finds up-and-coming acts from all over, and the lesser-known the act is, the more affordable it is to bring it to Saskatchewan.
One can save a fair amount on memberships for the Weyburn Concert Series if they purchase them prior to May 31, when they would go from $92 per person to $118 - for the entire season's worth of concerts. Membership rates offer savings over simple admission, for which advance tickets are $24 per show and $27 at the door.
Stewart explained why the group encourages memberships.
"Because we have sold memberships, we have that secure income," explained Stewart.
Season ticket holding members not only help the series, but they also receive membership perks beyond saving money. For example, if a WCS member misses one concert, their ticket from that show does not go to waste. It can actually be used toward bringing a friend to one of the next concerts.
"It's a way to have a nice audience there for the performers but also to expose people to the different types of concerts," said Stewart.
Canadian Comedian and television star Brent Butt will open the next season on October 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the new Cugnet Centre.
"It is expected to be finished by the fall and he's the first concert of the season," noted Stewart. "That would be a wonderful kick off to next year's concert series and also to have a concert in the new facility." Because the show costs a bit more to bring to Weyburn, the ticket rates are slightly higher. Advance tickets for that show are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
Butt is best known from 'Corner Gas', the Canadian situation comedy about a small town in Saskatchewan, which aired six seasons on CTV from 2004 to 2009, attracting worldwide acclaim. Butt will be doing his stand-up comedy routine, which is a change from the usual musical performances the concert series stages. In the past, however, the series has offered different acts other than strictly musical concerts, such as mimes, acrobats and dancers.
"We just try to bring the performing arts to the community," said Stewart, "and we try to offer a variety."
The fall line-up also includes the young singer/songwriter and accomplished musician, Lizzy Hoyt on November 5 and locally-residing troubadour Jim Reader will be performing on November 22. Next year, Jeffrey Straker will be here February 10, Infinitus on March 17 and Patsy Cline tribute group the InClines will play April 25.
But before any of that can be made possible, a fundraiser to ensure the venue must first take place.
Brad Johner and the Johner Boys will be performing on April 19 at 7:30 p.m. to raise funds for the Triple C Centre. The event will be the last performance of the concert series to be held in the Cafetorium at Weyburn Comprehensive School and the series is hoping to sell out all 600 tickets. Advance tickets for this concert are $30 for adults and $8 for children. Tickets are also available at the door for $35 and $11.
