November 10, 2004

Arts Page 10

Not So Underground Anymore

Blues makes a comeback with the Blues Underground Network

BY BELINDA LI
STAFF WRITER

The genre of blues music has
quite literally been hidden under-
ground since its beginnings with
African-Americans during the
early 20th century. Though its pop-
ularity grew with time, especially
in Europe, blues has not quite
made it into the mainstream popu-
lar music culture yet in Canada.
However, for those blues-loving
Canadians who are yearning for

some quality gigs or looking for

some people with common musi-
cal interests, the Blues
Underground Network is like a
gift from the heavens.

The first Blues Underground
Network chapter started in
Kamloops three years ago and has
grown to more than 700 members.
Last spring, Earl Krushelnicki
decided to start the Prince George
Chapter of the Blues Underground
Network. Currently the member-

=

PHOTO BY BELINDA LI
Mike Footitt gave an outstanding live performance in the CFUR Studio as a guest artist for the Blues
Underground Network’s weekly radio show.

ship consists of roughly 40 people,
but he hopes that it will exceed 100
members by, June.

The annual membership fee is
$20 and gives perks such as a $5
discount off any dance or concert
put on by the Blues Underground
Network in Prince George or
Kamloops and the first chance to
buy tickets.

The Blues Underground
Network will be putting on eight
shows this year at various venues

such as Artspace, the Prince
George Golf and Country Club, the
Casino, and the Legion Hall.
“Most of our shows are dances.
Whether it’s blues, or blues with a
rock-tinted flavour to it, or even
more traditional blues, it’s all
danceable kinds of music. We go
into swing and we might get into
Cajun music,” stated Krushelnicki.

The shows, which cost about $10
to $15 for members, feature talent
from the region and also from
across the Canada and the States.
World-renowned artists such as
Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Waynes, who
has been nominated for several
Juno awards, will be stopping by
Prince George in the coming
months. Krushelnicki expects to

-have quite a few prominent blues

artists to perform on a regular
basis despite the city’s remote loca-
tion. “Bands tend to play. in
Vancouver and then Edmonton
when they’re on tour. We can often
get a band here when they are on
their way to Edmonton,”
explained Krushelnicki.

Aside from organizing dances
and shows for the Blues
Underground _ Network,
Krushelnicki also hosts a radio
show on CFUR called the “Blues
Underground,” which runs on
Thursdays from.7pm to 9pm. On
his show Krushelnicki highlights a
variety of blues genres and inter-
views guest artists on occasion as
well. According to Krushelnicki,
“If anybody wants to know what
blues music is, they should listen
to the show.”

The Blues Underground
Network also puts on workshops
to promote blues music and edu-
cate young musicians about the
music industry. “We want to give

to young musicians. We want to
help them develop skills in the
music business,” said
Krushelnicki. Some of these work-
shops include visits by renowned
blues musicians such as Rita
Chiarelli to local high schools,
where students can broaden their

“Most of our shows
are dances. Whether
it’s blues, or blues
with a rock-tinted
tlavour to it, or
even more tradi-
tional blues, it’s all
danceable kinds of
music. We go into
swing and we
might get into
Cajun music.”

~ Earl Krushel nicki

knowledge of this rather hidden
music genre. Krushelnicki com-
mented, “If you are in classical or
jazz, you get some help, but if you
are in bfues’or réck, you Soin the
garage and figure it out yourself.”

Krushelnicki hopes that blues
will be a more popular genre of
music in Canada as organizations
such as the Blues Underground
Network grow. According to
Krushelnicki, blues is a type of
music for all‘ages and, “basically,
it’s for anyone who is interested
music, dancing, and having a good
time.”

Celebrating 10 years at the Northern Women’s Centre at UNBC

BY JULIA POLSON
VOLUNTEER AT THE NWC

On November 2, 1994, UNBC
opened the Women’s Centre’s
doors for the first time.

The Women’s Centre project was
at that time headed by Ms. Carey
Mastre and some
Professors who thought it would
be a good idea to have a women’s
ONLY space; a space where
women would always feel wel-
come, a place where women in cri-
sis could turn-to for help. Over the
years this women’s only space has
been the centre of heated contro-
versies.

The controversies stem from
confusion as to why women
should have access to a “women
only space,” and why in turn, there
was not a “men.only space” (or the
usual women’s centre vs. men’s
centre). This topic is still a hotly
debated topic.

Currently the —Northern
Women’s Centre (NWC) is run by
a Coordinator, Sarah Boyd-Noel,

founding

and many volunteers who sit on
the Board and at the Collective
Meetings.

The facility’s aim is to provide a
safe physical and social environ-
ment for all women on campus
and in the community of Prince
George.

It is for that reason that the
NWC is aWOMEN’S ONLY space.
The NWC is a space for women to
seek refuge from issues such as
harassment, chill out, meet women
with similar interests, discuss
ideas-or issues, network or to just
use the couch to catch up on some
much needed zzzz’s.

Also, this centre caters to
women in crisis providing them
with a place to spend the night if
they require a safe place to sleep.

In the past two months, the
Women’s Centre has seen women
who have experienced sexual
harassment (in the classroom, by
their peers, etc.), stalking (of the
criminal nature), custody issues,
daycare issues, women who have

been sexually assaulted, and so

forth.

Since its conception back in
1994, the need for a Women’s
Centre has only grown through the
years. To the women who do use
this centre and who are in crisis,
this centre is a place where they
can get referrals (custody battles,
counseling, etc) or just simply sup-
port from their fellow women.

As of 2004, the NWC takes part
in a whole host of events and activ-
ities that are community related.

Some examples of those activi
ties and events are: “Take Back the

Night”, Multi. Cultural Day,
Women’s “Herstory” month and
The Women’s Centre’s 10th
Anniversary.

As for upcoming events, the
Northern Women’s Centre is cur-
rently looking at ideas to com-
memorate December 6th (the mur-
der of 14 women at the Universite
de Montreal Polytechnique). This
day is also used to raise awareness

about. violence against women.

Finally, in March the NWC is going
to celebrate International Women’s
Day. There’s something to look for-
ward too for sure!! I'll keep ya
updated “-’

Alas, on November 2nd 2004,
the Women’s Centre celebrated its
10th birthday by inviting a panel
of speakers to address some of the
most important issues women
have faced over the past decade.

The panel of speakers consisted
of Professor Anita Valliancourt, Dr.
Jacqueline Holler, and Dr. Rhonda
Semple. The topics covered youth
indifference towards feminism,
women and poverty, and violence
against women.

The panel discussion was then
followed up by an open house at
the Centre where snacks and coffee
were offered. It was a success on
all accounts and the NWC looks
forward to the next 10 years!!!

The hot issue for women in this
decade...I'll have to get back to you
on that ;)

PHOTO SUBMITTED