Culture: Jolly Good Fun

The Sheepdogs | BCBusiness
The Sheepdogs have recently signed with Atlantic Records, taken home three Juno awards and partnered with Patrick Carney to produce their latest record.

New ’dogs and a couple of ways to spice up old holiday tricks.

Live Music // The Sheepdogs

Last summer, a group of unknown rockers from Saskatoon beat 15 other bands in a competition to be the first unsigned band ever to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. Since gracing the magazine’s August 2011 issue, The Sheepdogs have been riding a tidal wave (or whatever the prairie equivalent is) of success, signing with Atlantic Records, taking home three Juno awards and partnering with rock demi-god Patrick Carney of The Black Keys to produce their latest, self-titled record. Two performances this month may be your last chance to hear the band’s easy-going, 1970s-influenced, harmonic sound in an intimate setting. (Commodore Ballroom, December 19 & 20. ticketmaster.ca)

Event // The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

If sitting through another rendition of White Christmas or The Nutcracker makes you want to crawl under a duvet until January, catch C.S. Lewis’s less clichéd, but still much-loved classic. Perfect for the young and the young-at-heart, this tale of magic and mayhem will inspire as much holiday whimsy as Bing Crosby or the Rat King ever could. An added bonus: this performance of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is outside Vancouver’s busy downtown core in a small theatre, at 12th Avenue near Granville. Upgrade the evening by hitting West or Vij’s before your trip to Narnia. (Pacific Theatre, December 5-15. pacifictheatre.org)

 

Art // Heritage Holiday at Fort Langley

Most Vancouverites have revelled in holiday cheer at twinkle light-lit spots like Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, VanDusen Gardens and Grouse Mountain – or just by strolling past St. Paul’s Hospital on Burrard Street. To get a taste of rural Christmas charm, the Heritage Holiday at Fort Langley is less than an hour’s drive from downtown Vancouver. Wander its tree-lined streets, then step inside the National Historic Site, which includes charming decorations and children’s crafts as well as tours of the grounds. It’s the perfect day trip to take with visiting family or for anyone looking to explore B.C.’s heritage. (Fort Langley, December 22 to January 6. pc.gc.ca)