Fans of electronic music can treat their ears to a no-cover show this Friday (July 27) at the Great Bear Pub, at 5665 Kingsway Ave.
Vancouver-based duo A.I. Vertigo plays pop, rock and original songs, starting at 9 p.m.
Ian Gregson, originally from England, has been a regular player for some time at the Great Bear Pub with his eight-piece cover band, Mister M. and the All Nighters.
This will be the first show at this venue for his new musical manifestation with Adrian Essiet, originally from Nigeria.
"We have quite diverse background in music," Gregson said. "The covers we do are a bit of soul, a bit of rock, a bit of funk, '60s, '70s, '80s stuff; but we're finding our feet, kind of having fun putting original tunes together."
A.I. Vertigo's original music varies from electronic to progressive rock, Gregson said.
"It's very '80s, Peter Gabriel kind of stuff."
Community fair
It's that time of year again, when North Burnaby celebrates its own.
The 17th annual North Burnaby Community Fair at Kensington Park is set for Aug. 11 this year.
Organizers are expecting about 5,000 people to attend if the weather is good.
The fair features information booths for nonprofits, businesses and politicians, as well as a wide variety of activities and entertainment for all ages.
"It's to show the residents of the community what non-profit organizations and what businesses are available to them within the community, basically," said organizer Ken Ryan from the Burnaby North Community Association, a group for businesses, schools, faith groups and local residents.
For $5, kids can get a wristband for access to the midway rides. There will also be face painting, balloons, a display by local firefighters, a stage with entertainment acts every half-hour, as well as food and beverage stands.
The fair will be held at Kensington Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you are driving from Hastings Street, turn south on Holdom Ave. and then east onto Curtis St.
Admission is free.
The event is sponsored by the Burnaby North Community Association and Volunteer Burnaby, in association with Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.
Ready to write
For aspiring young Burnaby writers, there's no reason to lament cold, cloudy summer days indoors. The fifth annual Junior Authors Short Story Contest is on now.
Youth aged 10 to 17 in B.C. are eligible to enter this contest sponsored by B.C. writer and storyteller, Laura Thomas.
There's also a special incentive category for children aged six to nine.
Last summer, the contest received a record 80 entries from 16 municipalities across the province.
There is no fee to enter, and there are no restrictions on subject matter.
So no excuses kids; keep your minds and your pencils sharp this summer, and let your imaginations run wild.
Entries can be mailed to JA Short Story Contest c/o South Delta Recreation Centre, 1720-56 St., Delta, B.C., V4L 2B1.
The contest deadline is Aug. 31, and winners will be announced in late September.
For more information, contest rules and past winning stories, visit www.laurathomascom munications.com.
Hello, Burnaby
For those of you who've been out of the loop, Burnaby NOW arts star, Julie MacLellan, is off for a year on mat leave.
I'm happy to introduce myself - Marelle Reid - as her fill-in for the next 12 months. I'm looking forward to keeping you up-to-date on the local arts and entertainment scene, and I hope to hear from you with tips, press releases and general opinions.
There's so much to see and do in this city, and I'll do my best to keep these pages filled with the latest happenings.
Have an item for Lively City?
Send it to reporter Marelle Reid at editorial@ burnabynow.com, by fax to 604-444-3460, or mail it to 201A-3430 Brighton Ave., Burnaby, B.C. V5A 3H4.
For more entertainment and arts coverage in Burnaby, go to www.bur nabynow.com.
