Sobeys LIVE @ the Centre Back in Full Force this Winter! 

Live concert series includes: Rose Cousins, Andrew Waite, Letterkenny, Catherine MacLellan, Ian Sherwood, and more!

This month, Confederation Centre of the Arts’ live performance series kicks off a bustling winter calendar of dance, choral music, rock, folk, and more. The complex will stage more than two dozen events between now and early May, hosting these shows between the Mainstage, The Mack, Memorial Hall, and partner venues, St. Paul’s Anglican and Trinity United.

On February 20 at The Mack, the Centre presents East Coast singer-songwriter with a twist, Ben Caplan and his five-piece band. With his unruly mane, intimately booming voice and beguiling charm, Caplan brings a striking presence to the stage. Combining timeless melodies with a contemporary folk feel, the big bearded musician explores subjects with profound understanding, an open heart, and wry, noir humour. Expect a mix of songs from all of his albums, including his latest, Old Stock.

Saxophone quartet PROTEUS come together in Memorial Hall on February 28, delivering a unique and personal repertoire that promises to take the audience on a journey through traditional works, reimagined classical arrangements, and new music with “incredible precision and a great deal of emotion” (Le Voyageur). The group all perform on different sax types and strive to present music from many styles, which highlight the character of the sax and its diverse personas.

March welcomes the return of JUNO-winning Island songwriters, Rose Cousins and Catherine MacLellan, with individual concerts on March 21 and 28, respectably. Cousins’ hometown release show for her new record BRAVADO will take place in the lush setting of the Homburg Theatre, featuring an opening set from John Paul White (the Civil Wars).

While the record itself comes out February 21, Cousins has already dropped two singles; the first, ‘The Benefits of Being Alone’, is thought provoking, upbeat, and poppy with an unforgettable horn section. The second, ‘The Fraud’, is a heart-wrenching ballad that features backing by Atlantic String Machine. The songwriter describes the new album as the sound of a heart trying to open. “It explores the complication of emotion, its irrational tendencies, and its wisdom,” she offers. “It invites us to feel the courage it takes to be vulnerable.”

April promises much more than showers, with dance umbrella and the Choral Music Programme staging three rousing public performances for springtime. Consummate fan favourites, Classic Albums Live also return with tribute to Tom Petty: Damn the Torpedoes. Later in the month, CBC Radio darling Basia Bulat is back to the Mainstage, bringing her national tour to the Island in support of her new album, Are You in Love?, due out March 27.

For a full list of all LIVE @ the Centre concerts and additional theatre bookings from visiting acts like Letterkenny: Live on Tour, Jesse Cook, please visit confederationcentre.com. Confederation Centre wishes to acknowledge the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Government of P.E.I., and the City of Charlottetown for their continued support.

PEI Professional Theatre Network