Entertainment

New Year's Eve in Calgary for :

Golden Chimes

By Mahes PERERA

Sri Lankans now domiciled in Calgary, Canada are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Golden Chimes to relive the Sinhala music of the 70s which they are missing tremendously. The Sri Lanka-Canada Association in Calgary, Alberta, Canada have organised a tour of performances for the Golden Chimes sponsored by Felix Kulasekera of Fillyteria Distribution Ltd. Their first concert titled Musical Memories of Sri Lanka will be held on December 12 at Pantages Playhouse Theatre in Winipeg. This is the first time that a Sri Lankan band is playing and what's more Golden Chimes who will be leaving for Canada on December 9, will be the first Sri Lankan band to perform at a New Year's Eve celebration in Calgary.

Alberta, which will be held at the Black Foot Inn Hotel, Calgary. There will be another concert for the group on January 17 in Calgary and dates in Toronto and Los Angeles. At the New Year's Eve dance Chamila Perera of Cool Jays will also DJ with the music of the Golden Chimes.

Another Trio for the season

Three seasoned and versatile musicians have joined together to form another trio in the industry. They are Pimal, Jagath and Thilak. All three musicians hail from Moratuwa are well-known for their artistry and are committed members of the Moratuwa Arts Forum. Pimal Fernando is the keyboardist/organist/pianist, while Jagath Devapriya is a guitarist/flautist, vocalist and music director. The third member of the Trio is vocalist/guitarist Thilak Perera who like the other two have performed with well-known bands, is a founder member of MAF and plays an active roll in all the activities of the Forum. With the season now upon us the Trio is gearing up to play their contracted dates. MP

Charismatic Chitral

by Mahes PERERA

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He has made a quantum leap forward in his singing career you will agree, if you caught the vibes of his track 'Dream On' aired on radio these days. Charismatic Chitral Somapala has come a long way since we last saw him on our stages singing rock nuggets with sheer commitment and energy. Hailing from a family that is steeped in music, his parents were the icons in Sinhala song P. L. A. Somapala and Chitra, and undoubtedly, were they were living, they would have been proud of Chitral's success in the rock scene in Germany. But humble as he is Chitty, as he is fondly called, says that he and his group Civilization One need to go further along the road and they are working at it.

The group comprises apart from Chitral, bassist Pierre Pelisson, drummer Michael Stein and guitarist Kai Muhlen Bruch.

"We've been doing many concert shows in Germany to promote our album 'Revolution Rising' and the response has been great. Our music can be categorised as melodic hard rock. Here in Sri Lanka we were pretty amazed to see such a large gathering to hear us perform. There were the youth audience as well as the adult audience their response was great and I must say that the show TNL On Stage was professionally organised.

"Most importantly the sound was good and the group felt happy playing" says Chitral when we caught up with him for the usual musicians pow wow.

When the members are not actively rehearsing and composing they are busy teaching music to many young music minded aspiring to be rock stars.

"I teach the bass and most of the young students have a passion for studying the rock bass which is a good sign," comments Pierre Pelisson who went on to say that before their album was released "we had a show at Cheltenham, London. That was our first show outside Germany and the response we got was good." Pierre runs a music studio as well. The drummer Michael Stein is a drum instructor teaching young students during the day. "This is the first time for us in Sri Lanka and we are happy that we were invited to perform here. The response was a pleasant surprise. I had to answer a lot of questions about drumming. It was interesting" expressed Michael.

Unfortunately we were unable to rapport with the guitarist Kai Muhlen Bruch as he was indisposed but according to Chitty he was also on the same wavelength "that the response from the Sri Lankan audience was good."

All members were of the opinion that they want to come back for another performance after their next record is released.

"We've already started on our next album and we are hoping to name it "Calling the Gods" says Chitty with that engaging smile of his.

Any advice to our youth?

"What we heard that day at the competition was good - you have to work hard at the same time when you achieve success don't let it go to your head!"

SOSL Family Christmas Concert

To celebrate the season the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka will stage its Family Christmas Concert on December 14 at the BMICH. The orchestra will be conducted by Manilal Weerakoon.

The programme will include the Gold and silver Waltz by Franz Lehar, the Star Wars Suite of John Williams and Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson.

There will be seasonal favourites for Choir, Orchestra and audience including White Christmas, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and O Come All Ye Faithful.

Rohan de Lanerolle, baritone will be the soloist in `If I Loved You' from Carousel by Richard Rodgers, Love Changes Everything, climaxing with his powerful performance of `The Holy City'.

He will also be the soloist when performing seasonal favourites with the Menaka Singers, Past Choristers of St. Benedict's' College, Colombo and Friends.

This entertaining Christmas concert promises to be a magical evening for music lovers who never tire of listening and enjoying the infectious melodies of the seasonal favourites.

'Any Dream Will Do'

Get into the mood of Christmas when for the first time Trans Asia presents their seasonal concert "Any Dream Will Do" at the King Court today at 7.30 p.m. sharp. The performers are the bands playing at the Hotel daily. There's Misty with the popular entertainer Rajitha, Yohan and Honorine, Classic, BEST. Warren and Rozette, Shayami and Inner Sounds, C&C and Clifford Richards and beautiful renditions of carols will come alive in that memorable way. What's more Trans Asia has Yuletide treats specially for you.

Snow Show 2008

It's the time of the year when children look forward to the Winter Paradise combined with the Snow Show 2008 at the entertainment park Excelworld. The show will be on till January 4 from 6.00 p.m. - 12. m.n. with the shows including a dance competition, singing competition in a snow like ambience. Children and adults will enjoy the creation of snow balls and snow fights.

German rock concert

The Goethe Institut in collaboration with Royal College, Colombo presents the Nulltarif Rock Concert on December 9 at 6.00 p.m. at the Navarangahala. Nulltarif is a young and upcoming rock band from Stuttgart, a quartet who have established themselves in Germany through more than 200 performances. The group comprises Jules - vocals/guitar, Danny - vocals/guitar, Denis - vocals/bass and Tobi - drums.

Entrance is only by passes available at the Geothe Institut.