Folka Voca Choir Gig History 2011

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Starting in the spring of 2009, it was decided that every six weeks or so we would replace the regular rehearsal with a performance rehearsal at a worthy venue such as an assisted living facility. Because these performance rehearsals will be at the regular rehearsal time on the regular rehearsal day, we hope to have an effectively full turnout.

Julie Fletcher kindly agreed to undertake the task of organizing these gigs. If you have any ideas for a possible booking, please feel free to contact Julie. When you do, please provide her with a name and a telephone number for the appropriate contact person, as well as the identity and address of the possible venue.

Note: it has to be the regular rehearsal timing, or reasonably close to it – starting at 7 p.m. if possible. Also, although we will perform for free if push comes to shove, we would much prefer that the venue contribute a small honorarium from their entertainment budget. The choir does not make a profit, and all monies go to defraying the expenses that the Ottawa Folklore Centre incurs to keep us going. If the event is a fundraiser, we always require an honorarium.

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Index of 2011 Historical Gigs

Wednesday, March 9^th is Ash Wednesday, and the Sunnyside church is unavalable,
but instead we have a gig at the Rockcliffe Retirement Residence at 7:00 p.m.
You should aim to arrive by 6:30, in time to warm up and start singing in their dining room by 7:00.
( This gig has been cancelled. )

Wednesday, March 30^th: we have a gig at the Colonel By Retirement Residence
at 43 Aylmer Avenue (near the church) at 6:45
We should arrive no later than 6:30, in time to warm up and start singing by 6:45.

Sunday, May 15^th: will be our annual concert at the Sunnyside Wesleyan church at 7:00 p.m.
We should arrive no later than 6:30, in time to warm up and start the concert at 7:00.

Wednesday, May 18^th: we have a gig at Landmark Court, 140 Darlington Private, at 7:00 p.m.
We should arrive no later than 6:30, in time to warm up and start singing at 7:00.

There is a possibility that we will be performing at the Ottawa Folk Festival (August 25^th to 28^th), but the festival is under new management and it remains to be seen whether we will be included.

Wednesday, October 12^th we have a gig at the Rockcliffe Retirement Residence at 7:30 p.m.
You should aim to arrive by 7:00, in time to warm up (in a separate room to be provided for us)
and then start performing in their dining room at 7:30.

Sunday, November 13^th we have been invited to sing at the Ottawa Folklore Centre’s 35^th Anniversary Concert, to be performed in the Mayfair Cinerma.
Here are the details as known to date.

Wednesday, November 23^rd we have a gig at New Edinburgh Square,
420 MacKay Street, starting at 6:30 p.m. and singing for 45 minutes.

We have our regular Christmas gig at Camilla Gardens
coming up on Wednesday 14^th of December.

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March 9^th at the Rockcliffe
Retirement Residence

This gig has been cancelled.

Wednesday, March 9^th is Ash Wednesday, and the Sunnyside church is unavalable,
but instead we have a gig at the Rockcliffe Retirement Residence.

We should arrive no later than 6:30, in time to warm up
and start singing in their dining room by 7:00.

The Rockcliffe Retirement Residence location is 100 Island Lodge Road, Ottawa.

Lee says that we’ll go straight to the pub after the performance;
the church is being used by its members (for Ash Wednesday).

Here is the song list for this performance:

1. Both Sides Now
2. Last Train to Clarksville
3. La Isla Bonita
4. Ain’t No Sunshine
5. Drive My Car
6. Crystal
7. Time After Time
8. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
9. Sisters of Mercy
10. Mamma Mia
11. Calling All Angels

Please take the time to put your music in order before the gig.

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March 30^th at the Colonel By
Retirement Residence

Wednesday, March 30^th: we have a gig at the Colonel By Retirement Residence.

We should arrive no later than 6:30, in time to warm up and start singing by 6:45.

The Colonel By Retirement Residence location is 43 Aylmer Avenue, Ottawa,
just up (north on) Grosvenor Avenue from the church.
Park as usual and walk.

Here is the song list for our performance,
please make sure that you have your music in order.

1. Both Sides Now
2. Last Train to Clarksville
3. La Isla Bonita
4. Ain’t No Sunshine
5. Drive My Car
6. Crystal
7. Time After Time
8. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
9. Sisters of Mercy
10. Calling All Angels

After the performance we will head to the church for the rest of our regular rehearsal.

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May 15^th Annual Concert
at the Sunnyside Wesleyan Church

Sunday, May 15^th: we will sing our annual concert
at the Sunnyside Wesleyan Church (our regular rehearsal venue).

Lee writes, “As many of you know, since the choir began in 2004, our concert profits have gone to the Ottawa Humane Society. Every year we have been able to donate over $2,000. The best thing about this annual donation is that the OHS can include the funds in their budget, knowing we are committed. This year, I’m hoping we can up the amount to $2,500; this will put Folka Voca on the donor wall of the new facility.”
“I think it’s amazing that we can help our community, just by having a ball!”
“I’ll get tickets and posters soon.”
“Your Fearless Leader”

Please check the notes for performances section for details pertaining to singing at one of our concerts. Dress will be regular concert dress: in Lee’s words,
“Wear black bottoms and a bright solid colour on top. Lots of bling, Girls!”

“The concert will start at 7 p.m.; please arrive at the Wesleyan no later than 6. Bring water.”

“Go downstairs when you arrive; bring everything.
Make sure your scores are in a nice binder and in order.”

Lee adds, “Hi All; I wanted to remind everyone that you must refrain from whispering in between songs; even if only a few of you are whispering, the sound will carry and will be very distracting for both the audience and our MC.”

“The concert begins at 7.00 and will run as follows:”

SET ONE: “Intro with mostly Don and a little bit of me;
Don Westwood is our Fabulous host again this year (and every year, I hope!)”

Sunday Folk Class
The Water is Wide – E
Will Ye Go Lassie – D#
Fire and Rain – C

Polly, Esther, and the Groove Thang
Disco Inferno - Eb,
Boogie Oogie Oogie – D#m

Folka Voca

1. La Isla Bonita – C#m
2. Rock the Boat – G
3. Sisters of Mercy – B
4. Last Train to Clarksville – G#
5. Time After Time – D
6. Papa Was A Rolling Stone – Bm

Intermission

SET TWO: Attendance awards, presentation of dog wheelchairs to the Humane Society.

Polly, Esther, and the Groove Thang
Billie Jean – Am
Never Can Say Goodbye – Cm

Los Suenos
Copacabana – Dm
Donde Estas Yolanda – Em

Folka Voca

1. Drive My Car – G
2. Tainted Love – G
3. Fields of Gold – F
4. Mamma Mia – D
5. Calling All Angels – Fm

“Don has invited us all over to his house afterwards for a party; 66 Hopewell Avenue. Please bring either drinks or snack-y things. Bring your significant (what about insignificant? ... hahaha) other.”

After the concert on Sunday 15^thLee had this to say, “Hi All; what a night! That was amazing. I heard such great feedback from so many people; Arthur (owner of the OFC) hugged me and said it was an incredible concert! How wonderful that he has pledged to meet the $2,500 goal if we are a little bit short. Thanks to all for your preparedness, for selling tickets (!), and for being so bang on last night. Thanks too for the flowers and the gift certificates to two of the top 10 in Ottawa; Mike is just as thrilled as I am!”

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May 18^th Gig at Landmark Court

Wednesday, May 18^th: we have a gig at Landmark Court, 140 Darlington Private, at 7:00 p.m.
We should arrive no later than 6:30, in time to warm up and start singing at 7:00.

The Landmark Court is out by the Hunt Club and the airport: Map and Directions.

The gig will start at 7 p.m.; please show up no later than 6:30 p.m. to give us time to warm up.

Dress will be solid coloured tops and dark bottoms, with dark shoes – no jeans.
Please check the notes for performances section for details
pertaining to singing at one of our performances.

Here is the set list for the gig:

1. Both Sides Now
2. La Isla Bonita
3. Last Train to Clarksville
4. Sisters of Mercy
5. Drive My Car
6. Will You Go Lassie (Don, Julie, Charlotte, Lee)
   [In the end this song was omitted]
7. Time After Time
8. Fields of Gold
9. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
10. Calling All Angels

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October 12^th at the Rockcliffe
Retirement Residence

Wednesday, October 12^th we have a gig at the Rockcliffe Retirement Residence.
This is a re-scheduling from Wednesday, September 14^th.

We should arrive no later than 7:00, in time to warm up (in a separate room that they will make available for us) and start singing in their dining room by 7:30.
This is later than our more usual starting time because it is after their supper
and it will take time to clear up and rearrange the dining room us to perform.

The Rockcliffe Retirement Residence location is 100 Island Lodge Road, Ottawa.

Here is the song list for this performance:

1. Both Sides Now
2. La Isla Bonita
3. Drive My Car
4. You’re All I Need (to Get By)
5. Fields of Gold
6. Close Your Eyes
7. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
8. Time After Time
9. Calling All Angels

Please take the time to put your music in order before the gig.

Because of the comparatively late start to this gig, we’ll be adjourning
to the Barley Mow immediately after the performance.

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November 13^th at the Mayfair Cinema

Coming Up: Sunday, November 13^th we have been invited to sing at the Ottawa Folklore Centre’s 35^th Anniversary Concert, to be performed in the Mayfair Cinema.

Here is what Lee has to say about details: “Hi Fab Ones; the OFC has finally given me an answer, yay! We have 6 minutes to fill at Sunday’s concert.”

“If you are a newbie, and want to participate, talk to me Wednesday.”

“This Wednesday we’ll go over the following songs; two will be chosen at the end of the evening.”

1. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
2. La Isla Bonita
3. Close Your Eyes
4. This Land Is Your Land
5. You’re All I Need

“Please go over your mp3s!”

“Please email me if you CANNOT make it to the gig or to this rehearsal; if I don’t hear from you, I will assume you are coming both Wednesday and Sunday.”

“The show may be sold out; the OFC has informed me that if there are empty seats, we are welcome to fill them after we have sung, but if the tickets are all sold, there won’t be room for us to watch the show. This means that you will have to buy a ticket to guarantee a seat.

We will sing these two songs, in this order:
Close Your Eyes and
La Isla Bonita
We will meet for a vocal warm-up at the Wesleyan; Lee will be there at 6.
We will go over the two songs one more time, and head over to the Mayfair at about 6:45.
The show starts at 7 sharp!
Please have your music ready and in order.
Remember, bright solid colour on top, jeans on bottom.
Girls, lots of bling! Gents, practice your dance moves... oh yeah...
No scents, please.

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November 23^rd at New Edinburgh Square

We have a gig at the New Edinburgh Square, 420 MacKay Street,
on Wednesday November 23^rd, at 6:30 p.m.
They’d like us to sing for 45 minutes.

The performance is scheduled to start at 6:30, so the absolute latest time to be in the building
is 6:15 p.m. Please ensure that your transport arrangement leaves you enough time to reach
New Edinburgh and find a parking spot before then.
If driving from the Wesleyan church, a departure around 5:45 p.m. is indicated.

Here is the set list for the performance;
Please ensure that you have your music or cheat sheets organized in advance:

1. Both Sides Now
2. La Isla Bonita
3. Drive My Car
4. You’re All I Need (to Get By)
5. Fields of Gold
6. Close Your Eyes
7. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
8. Time After Time
9. Calling All Angels

Lee has added Fields of Gold to the mix, so please study your MP3s.

Here are Lee’s final instructions: “Hello Fab Ones;”

“I forgot about Fields of Gold! Please have a listen to the mp3 a few times before next Wednesday; I’d like to add it to the set list. Check the website for details on when and where; it’s an early gig, so be there by 6:15 at the LATEST.”

“Newbies, if you know most of the songs, join us and lip-sync the ones you don’t know; if you are still shaky on your parts, please meet us at the church at 8 for the second half of rehearsal.”

“Thanks!”

Dress will be regular concert dress (no jeans) with no perfume or scent.

We will return to the church for the second half of the rehearsal, around 8 p.m.

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December 14^th at Camilla Gardens

Wednesday December 14^th, 7 p.m. we have our regular Christmas carol gig
at the Camilla Gardens Retirement Residence, 1119 Bathgate Drive,
Gloucester, ON K1J 9N4. Aim to be there for no later than 6:45 p.m.

Folks, there is a seniors home in the east end, Camilla Gardens, that loves to have us perform for them. These are seniors without family; it means a lot to them that we’re coming. It’s very casual.

Parking is extremely limited, so Lee suggests as many folks as possible car-pool over there.
If there is someone who can’t get a ride, let Lee know
and she’ll see what she can do to make it happen.

Here is a map to the Camilla Gardens Retirement Residence: Google map ( PDF )

Dress is casual.

Before the carols we will be singing this short set of our songs.
Please have your music in order for the performance.

1. Close Your Eyes
2. Last Train to Clarksville
3. La Isla Bonita
4. Drive My Car
5. Time After Time

Lee has now produced a cleaned up version of the Christmas Carol lyrics in the order
that we are going to sing them, so do check the resources page for this new version.
If you can, take the time to print an extra copy for a resident to use at the sing-along.

After the gig, we will be returning to the church
for a regular second half rehearsal.