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Anne Schaefer’s fundraising concert throws open the doors to the rich, complex “Waiting Room”
On Saturday, May 3, award-winning singer-songwriter Anne Schaefer plays the Alix Goolden Hall in a fundraising event leading up to the recording of her sophomore album The Waiting Room. In The Waiting Room, Schaefer introduces listeners to the characters who inhabit her imagination — she explores the lives, inner dialogues and personal soundtracks of a dozen rich, complex characters.
Schaefer’s first album, Twelve Easy Pieces, was met with critical acclaim. The much-anticipated new album takes listeners to a new place, with Schaefer returning to her first instrument, the piano. Superheroes, wistful children, lonely bachelorettes and Mambo kings are some of the fanciful personalities on this near-theatric journey. The May 3 event is the final in a series of pre-recording concerts, where audience members have had a preview of the evolving material. This final concert in the series pulls together all the material in a stunning venue with a full band. The star-studded line-up includes bassist Scott White, drummer Kelby MacNayr, multi-instrumentalist/producer Joby Baker, vocalist Brooke Maxwell, vocalist Emily Braden and accordian/violinist, Adrian Dolan. CBC radio two will be recording the evening for a “Canada Live” broadcast and host “Flora” (a.k.a. actor Gina McIntosh) will knit the evening of music together with her side-splitting stand-up comedy.
Schaefer has received a generous grant from the Canada Council to cover partial costs for The Waiting Room, but she hopes to raise the balance of recording costs through ticket sales and a silent auction.
“It’s not always obvious to the wider public how expensive it is to create art,” says Schaefer. “Many talented people have donated their time and their works of art to this silent auction so I can realize my vision for this next album, and that is at once humbling and exciting. I hope to show the same support for other artists in the future.”
The silent auction items include paintings by artists James Gordaneer, Mark Laver and Mae Moore. Various other goods and services including the following: music lessons, studio recording session, shiatsu massage, personal trainer sessions and Drinks with Flora for as Long as She Can Stand You.
Support live, local music and meet the characters in The Waiting Room:
May 3 at the Alix Goolden Hall. Show starts at 8 pm.
• Tickets available through Lyle’s Place (382-8422, 770 Yates St.) and the McPherson Box Office (386-6121, 3 Centennial Square).
• To preview items in the silent auction visit anneschaefersauction.googlepages.com.
• Call 294-2009 for more information.
Try the music player below to hear a sneak preview of one of the new songs.
