Skip to content

Lexi Bainas column: Music, miniature masterpieces, and a long-lost banjo

Some truly heartwarming news last week: Chuck McCandless has his banjo back!
19510548_web1_chuck-mccandless-in-1967-with-banjo
Chuck McCandless celebrates his banjo recovery on his Facebook page with this photo of himself in 1967. (Bii Hamilton photo)

Some truly heartwarming news last week: Chuck McCandless has his banjo back!

If you didn’t think that was a major entertainment story before, you do now.

This special Epiphone banjo was taken from Chuck’s yard four years ago. He asked everyone to keep an eye out for it, and, with all his friends, that meant a lot of eyes out for the prize.

And sure enough, last week the vintage instrument showed up at the Mill Bay Salvation Army, where it was being auctioned off. It was seen, and Chuck was told about it.

I can’t imagine how he felt when he found it was gone but he says he’s elated now, and that I can really believe.

I guess it just shows: never give up hope.

***

Sheila Hilton Johnson, leader of several award-winning youth and adult choirs, popped in the other day with a note about her groups’ coming concert, Sharing the Joy.

On Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Duncan United Church, you can enjoy seasonal music from both the Concenti Women’s Choir and the Cowichan Valley Youth Choirs.

Showtime is 2 p.m. General admission is $15 in advance from Volume One Bookstore or from Concenti members. Children under 12 are admitted free but admission for adults is $20 if you wait and buy your tickets at the door.

***

Over the back fence, I’ve heard that there’s special holiday pricing on tickets for next summer’s Islands Folk Festival and it will be available until Dec. 24.

You can get a pass for $110 for three days of music and fun. (It’s $95 for Cowichan Folk Guild members and $55 for youth aged 13-18.)

Sounds like a great Christmas present for that special music lover on your list.

Visit www.islandsfolkfestival.ca for the details.

***

Just received a note that Downtown Duncan’s Excellent FrameWorks has put 54 tiny works of art up on its walls for its Miniature Masterpiece show, which opened Nov. 30 and runs through December.

When they say miniature, the artists and artisans are up for the challenge, too. Some of the works are really teeny.



lexi.bainas@cowichanvalleycitizen.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter