It’s a Wonderful Life screens at the Rio and VIFF Centre
By Steve Newton
FRIDAY: the B3 Kings–composed of Hammond B3 player Chris Gestrin, guitarist Bill Coon, saxophonist Cory Weeds, and vocalist-drummer Denzal Sinclaire–plays the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.
FRIDAY: Moshin’ Around the Christmas Tree at the Cobalt is a fundraiser for the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, featuring local punk bands Computer, Infidelity, and Space Crash Echoes.
FRIDAY: local ’70s-inspired guitar-rockers Rock N’ Roll Circus–composed of singer Chris Woudstra, guitarists Scott Smith and Aaron Moser, bassist Jeremy Holmes, drummer John Oulton, and percussionist Liam MacDonald–plays a release party for new album The Gold at the Admiral Pub.
The Soweto Gospel Choir performs at Chan Centre
FRIDAY: the Soweto Gospel Choir performs a joyful program of South African freedom songs and traditional spirituals, along with classics from Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Kate Bush, and Leonard Cohen, at the Chan Centre.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: the Vancouver Symphony performs the score of Elf live at the Orpheum Theatre, along to a screening of director Jon Favreau‘s 2003 Christmas comedy, starring Will Ferrell.
FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: Vancouver’s Goh Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, with Tchaikovsky’s score performed by members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.
The Goldeneyes play Montreal
SATURDAY: the Vancouver Goldeneyes take on the Montréal Victoire in Professional Women’s Hockey League action at the Pacific Coliseum.
SUNDAY: screenings at the Rio Theatre and the VIFF Centre of director Frank Capra‘s 1946 Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart as heroic everyman George Bailey and Lionel Barrymore as the cruel Mr. Potter.
SUNDAY: the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival at the Roundhouse Community Centre features lantern-making workshops, music, and food, culminating in the secret lantern walk to David Lam Park.
A Better Tomorrow screens at the Cinematheque
SUNDAY: screenings at the Cinematheque of the 1980s Hong Kong action flicks A Better Tomorrow, A Better Tomorrow II, and A Better Tomorrow III: Love & Death in Saigon, starring Chow Yun-fat.
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