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  5. Up close and personal with Jimmy Rankin plus concerts, festivals and events
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The Rankin Family reunites

First time in nine years

The award-winning Cape Breton musical group The Rankin Family will once again share the stage. They embark on a cross-Canada tour this January, hitting 22 cities including stops at Centre 200 in Sydney on Friday, February 9, and the Halifax Metro Centre on Saturday, February 10.

Although Raylene and Jimmy (whose own album is due out next year) have pursued solo music careers and the three sisters occasionally perform together, the siblings, Raylene, Jimmy, Cookie, and Heather, all came together recently in Nashville. They worked on new material for their upcoming tour along with recording songs for their new album Rankin Family Reunion to be released in 2007. Sadly missed on tour will be the late John Morris Rankin who died tragically in a car accident in 2000. His daughter Molly, who has contributed her singing and songwriting talents to the project, will join the group on the road. The Rankin’s have earned 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four SOCAN Awards and three Canadian Country Music Awards.

Also appearing at the Halifax Metro Centre are The Barenaked Ladies. Their 18-date cross-Canada tour brings the Toronto-based band to Nova Scotia on February 24. The alternative-pop group has been performing memorable hits together for 15 years with their friendly and satirical style. It’s a show that’s guaranteed to be fun and enjoyable for everyone. Their newest album, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, was released in September 2006.

You may not have agreed with all he had to say on “American Idol” but Simon Cowell did right when hand-selecting, after a search around the world, the four members of supergroup Il Divo. The singers—one each from the United States, France, Switzerland and Spain—combine opera and pop to bring their classical training to romantic, popular songs (think Bryan Adams’ “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman” or the Nilsson original “Without You”). In just two years the powerhouse quartet has sold over 13 million albums and earned over 100 gold and platinum awards around the world.

In 2006, they wrapped an 86-date sold-out world tour, which was followed by an invitation to tour with Barbra Streisand through the fall of 2006. On April 7, Il Divo will take the stage at the Halifax Metro Centre as their world tour sweeps into Nova Scotia. Don’t miss out on the chance to take in this global musical sensation who are already at the top and continue to rise.


In theatres

Neptune Theatre continues with another sensational season. The Love List, written by talented Maritime writer Norm Foster, runs January 16 to February 11. The Price, by Pulitzer Prize and multiple Tony-Award winning Arthur Miller, plays from February 27 to March 25. The theatre will close its season with a tale as old as time…an adaptation of the academy-award winning Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. The show runs April 10 to May 27 and includes the memorable music from the movie that will have you singing in your seat.

Eastern Front Theatre will be presenting “Singalong Jubilee—The East Coast Sound Celebration” a musical tribute to one of Canada’s best-loved television shows. “Singalong Jubilee” introduced dozens of singers and songwriters, such as Anne Murray, Shirley Eikhard and Ken Tobia, and launched their international careers. This musical revue shares behind-the-scenes stories of the original show and features many favourite songs, celebrating the legacy of East Coast music and musicians. The performance at Alderney Landing Theatre runs March 7 to 25.

The Eastern Front Theatre will also co-present, along with The Nova Scotia Mass Choir, Share The Dream, the fifth annual musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Share The Dream celebrates King’s message through music, and the connection between his vision and Nova Scotia’s local history. This year’s event features the celebrated African-Nova Scotian artists and activists Four the Moment whose powerful songs recollect the struggles, dreams, and pride of Black Nova Scotians’ history and experience. Previous sold-out performances have moved the event to a bigger venue this year to meet the demand for tickets. Take in the show one night only, January 20, at The Rebecca Cohn, and enjoy a music-filled evening with a message.

Grammy for Gordie?

Writer, producer, performer and Cape Breton native Gordie Sampson’s song-writing talents have earned him a high honour. Not one, but two Grammy nominations for song of the year and best country song for the hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel” sung by American Idol Carrie Underwood. Sampson collaborated on the song with co-writers Brett James and Hillary Lindsey. His nomination is up against the likes of Mary J. Blige, the Dixie Chicks, Corrine Bailey Rae, James Blunt and Alan Jackson. Tune into the 2006 Grammy Awards show on February 11, 2007 to see how our own Gordie Sampson!