There’s no lack of musical talent in Chilliwack, and on Feb. 18 you can experience it for yourself at The Centre Rocks VII.
Join local musicians as they showcase both their original work and a few well-known hits in an intimate cabaret-style setting at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre’s Rotary Hall Studio Theatre.
The Centre Rocks is an initiative created to help local emerging musicians gain exposure with a venue to perform at in their own community.
“Every performer will get a 20-minute set,” says Chilliwack singer-songwriter and event organizer, Lakeisha Hewitt. “Everyone will be able to sing roughly four songs, so they can get a pretty decent amount of their music out there.”
Christa Keats will be starting the night out, and her stunning voice will leave the crowd mesmerized. She’ll be followed by Sarah Keats and Joshua Keats — coincidentally, her siblings.
“Christa and Sarah both have very angelic calm and soothing voices, and Josh has been playing guitar for a long time,” said Hewitt. “I’ve known them for a couple years and they’ve always been playing.”
Joseph Richter and Cole Prpich, more commonly known as The Great Atlas, will follow. The indie rock group, which consists of Richter’s violin and Prpich’s guitar and vocals, will be performing their own original songs.
Local up-and-coming guitarist Joseph de Montigny will be making his breakthrough debut performance that night.
“He’s always been playing, but he’s recently gotten more into it,” said Hewitt. “His main stuff is Blink 182, but he’s going to bring out some acoustic, alternative type music for this show.”
Zakk Davis of Chilliwack band Poison Corn and pianist Kurtis Hall will also be teaming up to perform a mix of covers and their own songs.
And of course, Lakeisha Hewitt will be performing as well. The local singer-songwriter is known for her unique covers, but has an impressive original repertoire as well.
Hewitt performed in a previous installment of the Centre Rocks, and has now taken on the reigns to plan the event this time around. With provincial support in the form of a grant, the series is able to provide compensation to everyone involved, from the organizers, to the photographers.
“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “The best part was having the chance to perform on stage, but actually getting paid for your gig, which a lot of performers are trying to do. It gives them that encouragement to keep going.”
Hewitt noted that she’s excited to be performing in the Chilliwack Cultural Centre’s Rotary Hall Studio Theatre again.
The Centre Rocks VII is on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets $10 and can be purchased at the Centre Box Office, online at chilliwackculturalcentre.ca, or by calling 604-391-SHOW(7469).