What a Party! 76 Performing Artists, $16,357 for charity.

We had an amazingly fun party Friday December 12 and it was the culmination of a great year for your community event Tintenbar Up Front, where wonderful audiences were treated to performances by 76 different artists, and our charity fund raising reached $16,357. It's a win for the audiences, a win for the performers and a win for our charities.

We began with one of several crowd favourites for the evening, The Fry Babies, a sister duo with superb harmonies, delicate finger picked guitar and much spirited enjoyment of what they do. They performed exquisite versions of  Extreme's "More than words," "A thousand years" by Christina Perry and Paul Kelly's "I still cry for baby Jesus."
Singing a cappella was Melina Wolinski  a vocalist  new to the area.   She started with a spiritual, "Way beyond the blue." Next was a love song, "At Last,"   followed by "What a wonderful world." She returned to a spiritual: "Amazing grace."    Melina's powerful and resonant voice had the audience rapt, and they responded with rapturous applause.
Young vocalist Bailey Southon, a regular to TUF sang a Christmas themed song "Mary did you know?" Then changed the pace completely with Bruno Mars' "Chasing girls."  A third song finished his set. Bailey has fine control of his instrument, from the softest to the most forceful of notes. The light and shade in his performance showed a nuanced understanding of how music moves us.             
The Wayward Nightingales  from the Byron area wowed us for the first time. An original "How does it feel?" demonstrated fine interplay of instruments (Guitar, dobro, banjo and fiddle) and delicious vocal harmonies that would continue for the rest of their set. The second song, a traditional, "Way down south,"  was done with that phrase repeated, with finger click percussion, while the lead voice sang verses over the top. The result was an accomplished musical treat, complete with train whistle type harmonies. The wayward trio completed their set with two originals. "Yellow Long" was about a young woman who rode with Thunderbolt.  "Sleep my child" was a lullaby, a soothing refrain with meaning far beyond children's understanding .
Sam Sabine and Ebony Stibbard concluded the first half of the night with their trademark harmonies, fine guitar and keyboard playing, and a sense of joy in the music. They did "Little hands," "Tears in heaven" by Eric Clapton, and Elvis's "I can't help falling in love with you."
                
Party band, Groove Control  then had the hall bouncing with delighted dancers, who took breaks to socialise on the verandah. Rock and roll was the main fare and it was performed with verve and skill. Thanks Groove Control for a perfect end to a great year for TUF.

There are lots of pics of the evening in the gallery.
We begin next year on February 6, not the usual second Friday. No performers have listed yet, so if you are interested, book a spot.

DON'T FORGET OUR SPECIAL CONCERTS 
WITH TOURING ARTISTS ALL THE WAY FROM CANADA
Please come and support this TUF initiative.
For details about Gordie Tentrees, Wednesday February 25, click here.
For details about The Bombadils, Sunday March 29, click here.

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