Music Beat
To paraphrase a classic song, Thursday night was a wonderful night to fall in love — with a beautiful girl singing pretty 
melodies.
Toronto singer-songwriter Jill Barber and her band enraptured a good sized crowd of approximately 250 paid ticketholders at the Southminster Church, Dec. 2 who were gathered to raise money for Womanspace.
“The numbers were very good. We definitely broke even and made some money for Womanspace,” said organizer Mike Spencer of the Geomatic Attic who sponsored this show — the third such event they have held over the past years to raise money and awareness for community groups in need.
“But more importantly, we were able to create awareness about that organization,” he continued adding Womanspace has held several fundraisers over the past few months, so he was glad to help out.
“They were aware their federal financing was cut, so this awareness will help them get back on the list for the next budget when they see all of the community support behind them. So this will do nothing but good for them,” Spencer said.
Barber was cute and cuddly and joked Geomatic Attic organizer Mike Spencer wanted to call her “Canada’s sweetheart.” Or she wanted to be called Canada’s Sweetheart — I missed the initial exchange.
Either way she’s got my vote. She combined elements of a cuter and more innocent Madonna, Marilyn Monroe and Peggy Lee while singing a solid set of breathy ballads, lots of lovely lullabies and mesmerizing melodies, which had me nodding off in places, but no less impressed with her gorgeous voice.
She chatted engagingly with the appreciative audience about being able to spend time with them and told stories about following her heart after various men from Halifax to Toronto and marrying one she met home in Toronto, which broke the hearts of many of the guys in the audience falling in love with her.
Then she asked the audience if she would mind playing them a set of love songs.
The McGill Music and Arts School presents their dinner theatre presentation of a Christmas Carol at 260 McGill Blvd. West (the Maranatha Church). Doors open at 6 p.m.
Christmastime. It’s fun to get back and do that again. So we’re excited about it ,” said lead singer Brad Rempel, who along with his brothers Bryan and Curtis, play their first headlining concert in Lethbridge, Dec. 10 at the Victory Church, which will include familiar Christmas songs, songs from the CD and maybe some new songs which may appear on their next CD.
