Happenings / People

Band Fiesta

The versatile St. Joseph's College Western band will stage Band Fiesta at the Sports Complex of the College on Saturday, September 30 at 3.00 pm. The members of the band comprising 28 have been rehearsing with a great deal of dedication, says the teacher-in-charge Shanthi Heethawaka Arachchi, since a presentation of such a nature is taking place after about sixteen years. The college band is made up of five trumpets, two tenor saxes, three altos and of course the percussion members.

All music arrangements are by Ranjith Navaratne, a multi-instrumentalist who has been their instructor from 1990, and music lovers could look forward to a delightful afternoon of music from young talent.

Tunes like Blue Danube, Spanish Eyes, We Are The World, will among others, feature in the programme for the afternoon. St. Joseph's has invited other schools to participate and nine school bands will be on stage to enthrall you. The bands are from St. Peter's College, St. Sebastians', Moratuwa, Our Lady of Victories, Moratuwa, Loyala College, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Colombo, St. Paul's Girls School Milagiriya, St. Benedict's College and Holy Family Convent Colombo. There will be variety items and soloists will be backed by the respective school bands.

It is an adventurous task, but the boys of St. Joseph's College Band who were runners-up in the All Island School Band Competition 2006, are working hard towards the success of the Band Fiesta with the support of the Past Band members and the blessings of their Rector Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe and the priest in charge Fr. Sudath.

MP

Folk-rock nostalgia

by Mahes Perera

Of the numbers who turned up for Lobo's concert I wonder how many went home happy with the music they heard. There was a section of the audience who undoubtedly knew his songs, were familiar with the lyrics. They enjoyed his style of singing even though they had to stay late in the night to hear the encore.

Lobo became popular in Sri Lanka when SLBC aired almost all his hits, long before the private stations were born, and his popularity as was evident that evening has stood the test of time.

Although Lobo is semi-retired from a hyper active music scene in America, yet the charismatic folk rock legend, now in his 60s' enthralled the audience, starting off his concert with his opener 'Rings' taken from his covers album 'Just A Singer'.

With his long time guitarist friend Billy Aerts (they've been together, as Lobo remarked for the past 40 years) and with a backing band comprising young musicians - guitarist, bassist, keyboardist and drummer (his son) Lobo launched into most of his popular hits proving that he hadn't lost his style despite the passing of years.

In an era when folk rock icons like Carole King, Joan Baez, Don McLean, and Ralph McTell were upsetting many a global chart, Lobo was on the scene too with his soft rock songs. The first half of the concert though slightly strained in presentation eased up when Lobo moved into 'Lost in Love', 'Don't Expect me to Be Your Friend' threw in 'Standing at the End of the Line' and had the audience enjoying themselves, when he decided to sing 'Stoney' which was well received with the audience clapping and joining in the chorus.

Billy Aerts took it one step further when he announced it was karaoke time and went down to the audience with the FM mike to pick out a few eager singers. There were many including Sohan Weerasinghe, and all had a good time. Not to be left out was Carole Kings 'Will You Still Love me Tomorrow.'

An impressive break was the section when the duo Lobo and Billy harmonized, with only their acoustic guitars backing them with songs like 'Universal Soldier' 'In the Shelter of Your Eyes' - the Don William song which he sang specially for a young scribe - 'My First time', 'Lovers Moon' and the big hit that came from Tim Hardin - 'Reason to Believe.'

Lobo asked for requests and when the response for 'Me and You and a Dog named Boo' was shouted out Lobo replied 'Did you really think I wasn't going to play that song?' Let's wait for the band to come out' and when the band did, it was to give the song a pulsating, toe-tapping rhythm and the audience lapped it up singing along with Lobo.

For variety there were covers like 'Yellow River' 'Who'll Stop The Rain' before he moved into his gold hit 'I'd Love You To Want me' and brought the house down with his sign off the poignant 'How Can I Tell Her' which had everyone elated and singing lustily. It was a night for folk-rock lovers.

'Super Pink' sing-a-long

A Golden Jubilee celebration with a difference will be the one staged by the Private Security in Sri Lanka, when they present a Sing-a-long on Friday September 29 at the Banquet Hall of the BMICH from 7.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m.

Super Pink 'N' Purple, a current specialist of Sing-a-long sessions will be the host band and will carry the audience to great heights with evergreens and perennial favourites that all ages have loved, not only to hear but to sing along with, plus the right quantum of Sinhala pops to add that homely touch.

To make the evening replete, Ronnie Leitch and Mariazelle Goonetilleke will sing exclusive sessions. The verbal wizadry of the emcee Vijaya Corea will add further attraction to the evening.

The organisers will be having hawkers street style food stalls within easy reach. Free entrance for children under 12 accompanied by the parents, is a bonus. All proceeds will go towards the construction of an academy which will pursue efforts to professionalise industrial security.