This Week At A Glance

January 6 - 12, 2014
Aeolian Hall, http://www.aeolianhall.ca/
Jan. 24 Enter The Haggis; Jan. 25 Sarah Smith CD Release Concert; Jan. 26 Blackie & The Rodeo Kings; Feb. 1 Jazz pianist Fred Hersch.
Art Emporium, Boathouse Gallery & Gift Boutique, Pt. Stanley, ON www.artemporium.ca
Featured artists for January/February are: Irold Schmidt, Karen Thyret, June-Anne Reid, Robert Reid, Robin Baratta, Harold Watling, and Randy Bloye. .
The ARTS Project, http://www.artsproject.ca/
Jan. 7-18 Simona Atzori’s Spirit Of A Dancer.
Cronyn CentreSpace for the Arts, www.cronyn.ca
Jan. 18 Broadway Blitz: The Voices of Broadway Show Choir.
Don Wright Faculty of Music, http://www.music.uwo.ca/
Jan. 23-25 Pattison Piano Competition; Jan. 31-Feb. 9 UWOpera presents Rossini's La Cenerentola. Visit website for performers and venues.
Elgin Arts Trail
Visit http://www.elginartstrail.ca
Elm Hurst Inn & Spa, www.elmhurstinn.com
Feb. 14 Crush - The Best of Bon Jovi.
Forest City Gallery, 258 Richmond St., www.forestcitygallery.com
Jan. 10-Feb. 7 still - Marigold Santos, Opening Reception Jan. 10.
Hilton London, http://donaldsdish.ca/the-awards/
Jan. 14 5th Annual DISH Awards.
Hyland Cinema, http://www.hylandcinema.com
London's art and international film house. Visit website for shows and times.
London Music Club, www.londonmusicclub.com
Check website for performers and dates.
Museum London www.museumlondon.ca
Ongoing Art and Historical Exhibitions and Programs. Visit website for details.
Palace Theatre, www.palacetheatre.ca
Mainstage Jan. 23-Feb. 1 London Community Players: You Can't Take it With You.
Perth Arts Connect
Visit perthartsconnect.ca for events and times.
Spriet Family Theatre, www.oktc.ca
Jan. 8-12 Singin' in the Rain.
St. Paul's Cathedral, 472 Richmond St.
Noon Hour Organ Recital Series: Jan. 7 Angus Sinclair with Nic Carlucci, violin.
St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, www.stepac.ca,
519 631-4040
Jan. 4-Feb. 15 Paul Cvetich: Good Love.
Talbot Centre Mall
Noon Hour Music Series: Jan. 8 Kevin Love.
The Westland Gallery, www.westlandgallery.ca
Jan. 7-25 Radek Vazina & Erich Deleeuw.
Wolf Performance Hall, www.jefferyconcerts.com
Jan. 24 Jeffery Concerts: Sharon Wei, viola; Scott St. John, violin; Anita Krause, mezzo-soprano; and Arthur Rowe, piano.
6 St. Patrick Street, Acoustic Spotlight (8pm)
Jan. 8 Roxanne Andrighetti.
For more Music listings, visit our friends at London Music Dot Ca http://www.londonmusic.ca/ and AllStage http://www.allstage.ca/
For Reviews of local theatre productions, visit http://donaldsdish.ca/

I grow younger Come out and celebrate local theatre with The Fifth Annual DISH Awards, January 14th at the London Hilton.

Sharing the love with London singer/songwriter Paul Luftenegger

Details: Written by Nicole Laidler

Like the mythical Phoenix rising from the ashes, Paul Luftenegger used his father’s suicide as an opportunity for emotional, spiritual, and professional rebirth. Now an award-winning singer/songwriter, Luftenegger is ready to launch his debut album, Diamond Light, with a solo concert at Wolf Performance Hall, with ambitions of sharing his musical message of love, peace, and healing to audiences worldwide.

Local painter and photographer share bill at Westland Gallery January 7-25

Details: Written by Richard Young

Westland Gallery kicks off the New Year with an exhibition that features the work of two London artists -- painter Radek Vizina and photographer Erich Deleeuw.

The exhibition runs from January 7 to 25 with the Opening Reception on Friday, January 10 at 7:30pm.

"Radek Vizina's paintings are very classical and figurative, while Erich Deleeuw's photographs document a trip he took to the Baltic," says Westland Gallery's Al Stewart. "Combined, the two artists make for a unique exhibition."

Shut The Front Door to make $3000 donation to SARI Therapeutic Riding at January 10th shows

London's Shut The Front Door Improv opens 2014 with a $3000 donation to local charity SARI Therapeutic Riding at their January 10th shows Wits & Giggles at the London Music Club.

"This is certainly the way we wanted to start 2014. We are so pleased that with the hard work from our performers and the great support from our fans we were able to reach this milestone,” says Shut The Front Door's Artistic Director Brandon Rudd.

Jazz pianist Fred Hersch makes only Canadian appearance at The Aeolian Hall Feb. 1

Critically acclaimed jazz pianist/composer Fred Hersch makes his only Canadian solo appearance in 2014 on Saturday, February 1 at London's historic Aeolian Hall.

Recently nominated for his sixth Grammy Award, Hersch balances his internationally recognized instrumental skills with significant achievements as a composer and bandleader. He also remains an in-demand collaborator with other noted jazz performers.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1955, Fred Hersch began playing the piano at age four and was composing music by age eight and winning national piano competitions starting at the age of ten. He has been awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship, his music has been featured on a wide variety of radio programs including NPR’s Fresh Air, and he has taught at prestigious institutions such as The Juilliard School. Mr. Hersch is currently on the Jazz Studies faculty of The New England Conservatory and at Rutgers University.

The Best of 2013 as selected by The Beat Magazine readers and contributors

What follows is The Best of 2013 as selected by The Beat Magazine readers and contributors. Nominations appear in no particular order. A special thanks to those readers who took the time to participate in compiling this year's list.

Hope you enjoy reading the nominations!

Three Part Series - London and the golden era of pro wrestling

Part I: London and the golden era of pro wrestling

It was a typical raucous, ear-piercing, fun-filled Wednesday night back in September 1957. The venerable old London Arena was shaking to its very foundations from the never-ending chorus of cheers, boos and catcalls from the fans and thuds from the glorious gladiators crashing about in the ring.

The near capacity crowd of close to 3,500 screaming diehard professional wrestling fans, men and women alike, young and old, toddlers and grannies among them, either roared their approval or hurled abuse at the antics of the infamous Soviet brothers, the Kalmikoffs and their opponents, the Brunetti Brothers as they did battle in the centre of the squared circle.

This was nothing-out-of-the-ordinary, just standard fare for the Forest City. London stood out as one of the major centres of this wildly popular form of sports entertainment through the 1950s and into the ‘70s. London and cities like Detroit, Hamilton, Toronto and Buffalo, along with smaller communities like Woodstock and Ingersoll, were the places to be along the famous pro-wrestling circuit of the day.