By Lynda Shadbolt
Published Jan. 22 2019
If I was asked to sit around a table with a group of people and debate what would be the most fun thing to do on a Saturday night in winter in Haliburton County I would definitely argue hands down that everyone should listen to great music and maybe even dance. In the “dead” of winter we all benefit from being inspired to feel fully alive and vibrant and perhaps even a sense of shared bliss or joy. And dancing would warm everyone up on a cold night!
When people come together and dance (and listen to music) something really magical happens. People connect in ways beyond words and stories.
Barbara Ehrenreich wrote a book called Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy and in it she writes about the power of group festivities such as dance and the joy that comes from them. Her book traces the history of community movement from prehistoric times. She talks about why we all benefit from moving in this way together. Personally I have always loved to dance and be in the community of collective joy that happens on the floor.
Sue Shikaze thinks the same way and so as part of her volunteer job with the Haliburton County Folk Society she decided to invite the Julian Taylor Band to come and perform and host a dance on Saturday Feb. 9 in Haliburton at the Legion. She asked them because they are really high energy and a lot of fun.
Wendell Ferguson who has performed here with Betty and the Bobs taught at the Haliburton School of Art + Design and performed in Head Lake Park for the Tuesday night summer performances says that the Julian Taylor Band is the best band to see right now in Toronto. But thanks to Sue and the folk society we don’t have to drive to the city pay for parking or stay overnight.
The band is coming to us! There will be five people and they play rhythm and blues hard rock thoughtful folk songs and even a little hip hop. It is an amalgamation of musical styles. It will be so much fun to just go and listen as well as dance.
Sue will be interviewing Julian Taylor on her afternoon radio show Northern Air which airs on 100.9 Canoe FM this Saturday Jan. 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. Nick Russell and Benton Brown are the opening act for the band. They are born and raised Haliburtonians who are friends fathers and husbands and play great music together. The whole evening is planned to be uplifting and inspiring and fun.
Here are all the details. You can buy tickets online at haliburtonfolk.com. The performance/dance is on Feb. 9. Doors open at 7 and music starts at 7:30.
The evening is being held at the Royal Canadian Legion Br 129 719 Mountain Street. There will be chairs for those who want to sit and listen and a dance floor for those who are ready to move. A cash bar will be available. For more information about Julian Taylor you can check www.juliantaylorband.com. Hope to dance with you!
