Get ready for a season of exhilarating performances at The Bailey
By Contributor
Another great season of live performances comes to The Bailey Theatre courtesy of the Trail & District Arts Council, including circus, a range of musical genres, theatre and dance.
Our signature Performing Arts Trail (PAT) series kicks off its seven-show season this year on October 4 with a contemporary dance/theatre piece Vacant Lot by Ichigo-Ichieh New Theatre. This moving piece is directed and choreographed by Nelson-based, 2025 Screen Actors Guild Award winner, Hiromoto Ida.
The PAT season continues on October 11 with the astounding acrobatics performed to Afro-Jazz of Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque on Saturday, October 11. Then warming up the winter season on December 16 is one of the finest classical guitar ensembles in the world, the Montreal Guitar Trio, who celebrate Christmas Around the World. These three brilliant guitarists will perform some of the best music for the season in their own ingenious & unique way.
The New Year sees Juno award-winning string quartet The Fretless playing with incredible, singer-songwriter Madeleine Roger on January 27 for a night of passionately expressive folk music. Followed a few days later by the international award-winning, one-woman, biographical musical Josephine: A Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play on February 2. This latest version includes new content, songs, and stunning new costumes and is performed with a quartet made up of some of our favourite local ‘Jazz at The Griff’ musicians.
February continues the excitement with returning favourites Ballet Jörgen and their unique take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream on February 18. William Shakespeare’s classic comedy with a twist captivates audiences of all ages in a tale of love and misguided magic as 18 dancers, including 10 local dancers, take to The Bailey stage.
The series ends on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 pm with a music double-bill by PIQSIQ and Oh Pray Tell. Sisters Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay are an Inuit style throat singing duo who perform ancient traditional songs and eerie new compositions with live improvisational looping. Oh Pray Tell feature the amazing vocalists Betty Supple, Sally Titasey and Shayna Jones, whose original, soulful sound is influenced by gospel, rhythm & blues, roots music and folk storytelling.
Artistic Director Nadine Tremblay says “patrons keep telling me this is the best line-up they ever saw and they are SO excited to take it all in. It’s hard to pick what to come to but whatever you choose to do, don’t wait as things are selling quickly. I suspect locals are sticking closer to home these days and why wouldn’t you when you can get artists of this caliber in your backyard.”
The Jazz at The Griff series returns with a fun mix of local favourites and touring acts, beginning with the Short Stories: Portraits in Jazz with Don Macdonald and his band on October 9. An evocative vocal jazz performance from Don Macdonald, featuring singer Allison Girvan, that blends narrative-rich originals with timeless standards from the American Songbook.
On November 20, Juno award winner Dave Restivo & his Band bring you new originals and some classic standards with the focus on love in Lovestream.
For the holiday season we have a special treat as jazz favorites Laura Landsberg & Melody Diachun bring you Soulstice: Songs for a Winter’s Night on Thursday, December 3 & 4. This will be a heartwarming evening of wintry songs, sprinkled with holiday cheer, full of soulful harmonies and playful spirit.
Then get the big sound experience at Ebony Roots, as we celebrate Black History month on Wednesday, February 25. This concert is a celebration of African Descent/Black music from 300-year-old spirituals to the emergence of Black Soul, R&B, Blues and Motown, including a tribute to some of BC’s legacy artists.
Then, rounding off the series, is Keith Todd’s Off The Grid on Thursday March 26. This Kootenay based group lays down the groove spanning multiple styles including jazz, old school, Afro and Latin funk for a high energy show.
All Jazz at the Griff shows, except Ebony Roots, are in The Griff, where the jazz club vibe lets you savour a glass of wine in a setting that is up close and personal with the band.
This year we have some amazing experiences as part of our Classical series as you get on the stage with the performers for our intimate Bailey Theatre stage concerts.
Local favourite Carolyn Cameron (violin) brings a quartet of performers to The Bailey stage for La Cafamore: Her Voice in Chamber with Afternoon Tea on Sunday, March 22 at 3 pm. Playing with Carolyn are Nina Horvath (piano), Angella Snyder (viola), and Anne Scott (cellist) as they bring to life a collection of brilliant, rarely heard works, by women composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.
An eclectic collaboration by virtuoso performers, Fire & Grace: Celtic Meets Classical with Chocolate Tasting, on Sunday, April 12 at 3 pm, explores the musical landscape of classical, folk, and contemporary traditions from around the world. The repertoire ranges from Bach to Vivaldi, tango to Celtic reels, traditional Bulgarian to American fiddle tunes and waltzes, all played with passion.
An exciting new partnership sees the Trail and District Arts Council and Rossland Council for Arts & Culture join forces next year to present the Teck Family Series. The series includes four amazing shows that broaden your child’s artistic horizons in a shared experience for the whole family.
On February 7 at 3 pm Presto! The Great Lambrusco brings magical, physical theatre to The Miners Hall in Rossland. See scarves become eggs and a cupcake get baked in a shoe as the audience learns to slow down, observe, and listen.
Then award-winning theatre company Axis Theatre performs Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? on March 1at 3pm at The Bailey Theatre in Trail. A show that follows two souls through different periods of Métis history and incorporates fiddles, jigging and a life-like buffalo puppet.
Back in Rossland on March 29 at 3 pm Do-Si-Do down to the Miners Hall for the Family Square Dance! Learn the difference between a Promenade and a Swing as you Roll Away to a Half Sashay. Our caller, musician Paul Silveria, will call the moves to high-energy live music for a fun, welcoming, and beginner friendly afternoon!
Closing out the season in Trail on April 24 at 6 pm is a high-energy, one-man, circus comedy show, Circus Incognitus at The Bailey Theatre. An unforgettable performance from the phenomenal Jamie Adkins, a former member of Cirque du Soleil, using no hi-tech distractions, sees him heroically battle with everyday objects, always on the verge of disaster.
All of these great shows are made affordable thanks to our sponsors, and by our series pricing packages, with average ticket prices starting for as little as $15 for the Family Series, $21 for Jazz, $26 for the classical shows, and less than $28 per ticket for the Performing Arts Trail series.
If you want to ‘Pick your own Season’, and choose a selection of shows from each series, become a Patron Member for $25 per year and get 20% off TDAC shows, plus additional benefits including early access to tickets for touring shows.
As well as these great offers, $12.50 to $21 tickets are available for those under 30 years old for all TDAC shows in The Bailey Theatre, except Family shows.
Plus, we have another great season of films from the Toronto International Film Festival starting on October 20. Check out the trail-arts.com website for more details.
Call 250-368-9669 or drop into the Cedar Avenue Box Office from Monday to Friday between 12 and 4 pm to get tickets or purchase a membership. Tickets are also available online at trail-arts.com.
Our shows are made possible by the support of our sponsors Century 21 Kootenay Homes (2018) Ltd., McEwan Law, Pharmasave Trail, Teck Trail Operations, and Tourism South Kootenay and our funders the BC Arts Council, BC Live Performance Network, and the Government of Canada. We also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
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