Entertainment

Concert to launch children's library

by Mahes Perera

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When the question was posed to the children and elders in the village of Vellaveli in Eastern Batticaloa as to what is the biggest need in their village today, the answer was "A Library".

And so four groups of musicians are getting together to present a concert at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on March 16 to raise funds for this as staged by the non profit Organisation Country Music Foundation.

This concert termed Country Roads XVI and the ensuing proceeds will go towards bettering the lives of fourteen thousand children in Vellaveli who will see their dreams turn into a reality with the gift of a new library. The CMF is working with the Periyaporativupattu Pradesha Development Rehabilitation Organisation and Save the Children UK.

The bands who have come forward to help this worthy cause are the young group Anno Domini, the veteran Cosmic Rays, the Country Revival Band and ofcourse the German Mavericks Band who never fail to give unstinted support.

This time according to the Country Music Foundation the spotlight will fall on the country singer Astrid Brooke from London who has held audiences enthraled with her strong hypnotic voice.

Anno Domini is well-known for their blues, folk, country and rock music and is led by Shehan Perera - guitar/vocals, Senaka Pereira - drums/percussion/vocals, Timal Jayamanne - bass/vocals, Ashan de Silva - guitar/vocals .

"We enjoy playing country. We've grown up with this type of music. We performed last year as well and found it interesting.

We are playing for a cause and that makes it a commitment for us" says Shehan, whose performance will be country and folk a la Eagles.Cosmic Rays the veteran band has been on the scene for a long time primarily as a C&W band led by Tyronne Pieris.

But now the band has expanded their repertoire to take in pop and dance music which has turned out to be rewarding for the band.

The Country Revival Band even though not regular in performances, come together for occasions such as this.

Juri on vocals and Feizel on guitar and vocals enjoy playing for a cause and this time the band will be augumented by Ranjith on banjo and vocals and Hamilton on pedal steel guitar and vocals.

Ofcourse the Mavericks with Dirk and his band of merry men will be the main attraction, with singer Astrid Brooke the country glitz who has held audiences captive with her vocal artistry.

Reality Check - a fund raiser

The musically inclined youth of today have magnanimously come forward to help children with learning and physical disabilities.

As such they are staging a charity concert Reality Check which will be on the boards on Saturday March 8 at the British School Auditorium. The proceeds will go towards donating scholarships to the children with the disabilities. The young musicians are working with Team MBM. The participants will be the contemporary Magic Box Mixup, Hollow Point Halo, Power Cut Circus and SAM.

Magic Box Mixup won the people's choice award at the TNL Onstage Competition two years and have released a CD. The group is now working on another.

Hollow Point Halo is led by Ranil Goonewardena who is well known as an up and coming sound engineer.Sean Amarasekera leads Power Cut Circus, the group that won the best original award at the TNL Onstage in 2006 while SAM were finalists at last year's TNL Ontage competition.

The concert which will feature original music by the groups as well as other popular, soft alternative and contemporary rock music. Young adults and older enthusiasts have shown a keen interest and support for the concert.

Bonjour Cinema 2008

Cinema today is a much acclaimed art and Bonjour Cinema 2008 a joint cultural event, and a film festival organised by the Consulate of Belgium, the High Commission of Canada, the Embassies of France, Romania and Switzerland in association with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board will be held from Friday March 14 to Monday March 17 at the BMICH Cinema Hall. Entrance is free.

The aim of this Festival by the French Speaking Countries is to offer the Sri Lankan moviegoers a collection of films that represent the richness and diversity of the cinema industries of these countries.

Prior to the date of the screening of the films workshops on film criticism will be held on March 10, 11, 12, 13 conducted by Jean Phillipe Tesse a French critic from Cashiers du Cinema. The workshops, which are open (no fee) to all those interested in acquiring further knowledge in the art of the cinema and to film makers.

On the last day of the screening (March 17) there will be a discussion by the film critic Jean Philippe Tesse on the subject 'French Cinema: between heritages and new generations.

The other sponsors of Bonjour Cinema 2008 are BMICH, Trans Asia and MTV.

MP

The films with English subtitles that will be screened are:-

Friday March 14 - 4.30 pm - Beautiful Memories (France) - 7.00 pm - 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days (Romania) - adultsonly

Saturday March 15 - 4.30 pm - Bon cop, Bad cop (Canada) - 7.00 pm - My Brothers is getting married(Switzerland)

Sunday March 16 - 2.00 pm - The Paper will be Blue (Romania) - 4.30 pm - The barbarian invasions (Canada) - 7.00 pm - The Ceremony (France)

Monday March 17 - 4.30 pm - Daybreak (France) 7.00 pm - Ultranova (Belgium)