Side By Side sings the ’60s — Arts and Leisure
Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, July 14, 2004
The Side By Side choral group will be “Pushin’ ’60s” hits this weekend.
“The thing that makes this concert a little bit special is everyone (in the group) was alive and well in the ’60s and all have memories,” said Karen Rice, director of Side By Side. “Most people are of an age when music determined how they felt.”
The popular Bainbridge group – some of whose members are pushing sixty themselves – performs songs of the era, complete with costumes, stage trappings and a sing-a-long.
Music of the period was tumultuous, “but also had a wonderful, calm side with folk music,” Rice said. “This concert lets both sides come out.”
The concert includes favorites by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Mamas and the Papas, the Beach Boys, Frankie Valle, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul and Mary.
Joining Side By Side for the first time is Seattle-based choral group Essence led by Frank Trujillo, who will conduct the Bainbridge Chorale this fall while music director Anthony Spain is on sabbatical.
A sing-a-long with Trujillo’s instrumental group, “The New Crusty Minstrels,” bring in the audience with familiar folk tunes like “If I Had a Hammer.”
War protest songs like Seeger’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” and an arrangement of Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” woven into another line singing “America the Beautiful” touch a nerve.
“It’s hardest to sing because of the timeliness of them 40 years later,” said Side By Side member Denise Harris. “In the ’60s, we thought we made a difference, but now we’re reliving this – people losing lives like in Vietnam.”
The group had a fun but hard time weeding down a list with suggestions from all the members. Besides piano accompaniment by Evie Stege, the performance will include ukulele and guitar.
“This has just been a kick,” Harris said.
Many of the members come from an acting background having performed at the Bainbridge Performing Arts. For this concert, the costumes run the ’60s spectrum – from conservative chinos to pocket-protector nerd to flower child – with plenty of musical props to set the stage.
“There will be floods of memory that come back as these are performed,” Harris said.
“I hope people walk away feeling young again. It’s going to be groovy.”
Side By Side performs hits of the 1960s at 7:30 p.m. July 16 and 17 at Grace Episcopal Church, 8595 Day Rd. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors/students, available at Dana’s Showhouse or at the door. Information: 842-7005.
– Tina Lieu
East or west, art fest is best
The Bainbridge Island Park and Recreation District hosts the 19th annual Outdoor Music and Art Festival, noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 1 at Waterfront Park.
Plan to spend that Sunday relaxed and entertained by some of the finest artists and top performing groups in the Northwest.
This year’s emcee will be Eddie Jay Williams. Island Music Guild Summer Camp Students kick off the event noon, followed by the Mud Bay Stompers at 1:30 p.m., File Gumbo at 3 p.m., and Pearl Django at 4 p.m.
On display in the Commons will be an exhibition of work by local photographers hosted by the Bainbridge Island Photography Club. Local and regional artists have their work on display throughout the park, including wearable art, jewelry, pottery, hand-crafted guitars, paintings and other fine wares.
Food vendors will be offering a variety of ethnic and traditional cuisine on the park perimeter.
The Bainbridge Island Teen Center will be hosting a hands-on arts and crafts booth near the tennis courts for children ages 4-10, and Tim Lowell offers a garden art workshop to create a beautiful mosaic stepping stone. Don’t miss the paper animation activities with animation expert Wendy Jackson Hall – and keep an eye out for giant puppets!
This free, fun afternoon is sponsored by the park district, BIAHC and the city. Information: 842-2306, ext. 16.
