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CELTIC SPRING FEST AND 3-BARONS PAIR UP!
Contributed by Kevin Hall
As springtime approaches, Alaskans are once again faced with the dilemma of choosing between the many exciting and unique events that South Central has to offer. But this year, the decision just got easier. The Celtic Community of Alaska (CCA) and the 3 Barons Renaissance Fair are teaming up to bring you a day packed with fascinating workshops, history lessons, and hands-on activities that are sure to engage your imagination.
For more than 15 years, the Celtic Spring Festival has been the go-to celebration of the season with a Celtic twist. This year, we’re raising the bar by collaborating with the 3 Barons Renaissance Fair to offer something new and truly special. In addition to our beloved Celtic traditions, we’re opening the doors to workshops typically reserved for actors and vendors, allowing the public to immerse themselves in even more creative experiences. Learn the secrets of ancient Celtic writing, try your hand at clog dancing, or
explore the enchanting world of hobbit and faerie house-making. If you’re curious about music, join us to discover a new instrument or even learn the art of “Ren” speak or stretch your imagination in our lively improv class. Plus, get insider tips from an award-winning filmmaker on how to shoot and edit videos for your YouTube channel. Our goal is to educate and entertain in a way that celebrates both the arts and history while offering something for everyone—whether you’re drawn to the real or the fantastical, the serious or
the whimsical.
Bring your friends, family, and a sense of adventure to travel through time with us! Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 29th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Betty Davis East High School. Tickets are available through Eventbrite, where you can also register for workshops in advance. For more details and the latest class offerings, visit akcelts.org. Don’t miss out on this day of cultural exploration and fun!
ETHERIA A MUSICAL PLAN
Contributed by Jeff Sponsler
Inspired by musical theater publications such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy, and Phantom of the Opera, I endeavored to compose a piece of music of a similar nature. As a fan of rock, jazz, and classical music I wanted to pull in all those types of music into this composition. For a musical theater piece, one must have a theme, and I chose mysticism and space travel as the top-level themes. I invented a planet, Etheria, where the story unfolds. The people that live there live their lives working in the field growing their crops but have a belief that there are mystical beings that visit the planet every 1000 years to give a concert/revival. These beings are called the Harmonauts.
The characters in this play are Isolier and Polyxena and there is a narrator, Thalia, who guides the listener through the story. The antagonist in the story is Farbucron and he is the source of drama for the musical. Each character has a melodic theme, and the notes and rhythms help the listener to identify who is singing. The first piece in the musical is, as tradition would dictate, the Overture. Typically, the overture in a musical play will have melodies from the songs and these melodies are intro -
duced and in so doing give the listener the music that will appear in the play as the story is told. The recording of the Overture was recorded on a digital machine and includes synthesized bass and drums, synthesized strings, live guitar, live flute, and live saxophone.
The Overture to Etheria can be heard on youtube.com and you can find this recording by searching for “Overture to Etheria” or with this URL https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvTZDFLr6Ts. There is a video of Mat Valley Dance students doing an interpretation of the Overture and that can be found at this URL “https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9nhkMN7FvMM”
Etheria: The Legend
This first song is “The Legend” and is performed by The Narrator. This song introduces the planet and its unique religion. The vocal performance is by Jane Lamar-Spicka of Baltimore, Maryland. Sadly, our friend Jane has journeyed to that great gig in the sky some years
ago. She did a very strong rendition of this song and states the key idea of the play that the Harmonauts are soon to visit the planet and that “their return would bring to us a revival” and that the Harmonauts had been to a “distant part of space” and their concert would “fill our lives again.” The Legend introduces the planet, the mystical concepts, and sets the stage for the story. Thalia will appear for most song in the musical to voice an introduction.
Etheria: Deep Space
A spaceship carries the protagonist, Isolier, to the planet Etheria. He is in a state of hibernation, but wakes and
initially confused, he comes around and then realizes his mission and that “distant Etheria approaches.” After giving a short geology lesson on the planet, “fumaroles expel ether,” he reports that is descending to a space port. He briefly expresses that there is a female that he has not seen in some time and that “she is here” and this apparently is important to him. But then he returns to the main focus of his existence which is that “the Harmonauts have returned.” A YouTube search on “Etheria Deep Space” will pull up the song for listening. Future Articles will discuss the next song in the series.
Funnies
FEBRUARY
February 20 @ 6PM
Northern Lights-Liberal Nights
Mat-Su Dems
Sweet Gypsy, 173 S Valley Way matsudems.org (907) 631-4037
February 20 @10AM-3PM
Palmer Community Resource Day
The Peoples Paper & Daybreak Incorporated
Palmer Train Depot, 610 S Valley Way (907) 746-6019
February 23 @11AM-5PM
Fur Rondy Ice Bowling
Fur Rondy
5227 Old Seward Hwy www.furrondy.net (907) 274-1177
MARCH
March 1 @10AM
2025 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Ceremonial Start
The Iditarod Downtown Anchorage, 606 W 4th Ave, 4th & D Street iditarod.com
March 1 @ 11AM
Intro to Tallow Skin Care
All About Herbs
All About Herbs, 4621 E Palmer Wasilla Hwy, Unit 104 (907) 376-8327
March 1 @ 5PM
23rd Annual Spaghetti Dinner & Auction
Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community
Mat-Su Career & Tech High School, 2472 N Seward Meridian Pkwy
Matsu@specialolympicsalaska.org (907) 631-8591
Cost: $15
March 1 @1PM-4PM
Paint Your Pet Workshop
Paint Nights with Sara 535 W Parks Highway
Tickets available at paintwithsara.com (907) 521-4094
March 3 @ 10:30AM
(first Tuesday of every month)
Valley Garden Club
Valley Garden Club
Grace Community Church 900 Leatherleaf (907) 982-7570
Cost: $20 yearly membership dues
March 7 @ 1PM
Rhonda Scott First Friday at the Hotel Captain Cook
Rhonda Scott Art
The Hotel Captain Cook, 939 West 5th Avenue
Rhondascottart@icloud.com (907) 433-9211
March 7 @7PM
BlackBarrel & The Bad Men
Williwaw Social 609 F Street
Cost: $10, Tickets available at eventbrite.com
March 15 @ 11AM
Foot Reflexology
All About Herbs
All About Herbs, 4621 E Palmer Wasilla Hwy, Unit 104 (907) 376-8327
March 17th – 31st @ 6PM
The Gallery Closing! Everything Must Go!
Make A Scene Media
The Gallery in Palmer, Alaska 1150 S Colony Way (907) 745-1420
March 26 @ 10AM-3PM 2025 Mat-Su Employer Expo
Curtis D Menard Memorial Sports Center
1001 S Clapp Street (907) 357-9100
March 28th @ 7PM-11PM
BlackWater Railroad, Brother Buffalo, & DUDE MTN.
Live at Palmer Train Depot
BlackWater Railroad
Palmer Train Depot, 610 S Valley WayBlackwaterrailroadco@gmail.com
21+, Tickets available at tixtree.com
APRIL
April 4 @ 11AM
Go Blue Rally
The Children’s Place
Newcomb Park, 891 E Parks Hwy (907) 357-5157
April 12 @ 5PM
Boots & Bling
The Children’s Place
Raven Hall, 2075 Glenn Hwy administrative@tcpak.org (907) 357-5157
Contributed by Melissa Keefe
Tickets on sale to general public Friday, February 14, 10 a.m. AKST
International dancehall icon Sean Paul will heat up the Alaska State Fair as part of the 2025 ConocoPhillips Alaska Concert Series. The multi-plati-
num, chart-topping, Grammy®-winning artist will perform Thursday, August 28, at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, February 14, at 10 a.m. AKST at alaskastatefair.org.
With a career spanning over three decades, Paul is one of Jamaica’s most successful musical exports, bringing
SEAN PAUL TO BRING DANCEHALL HEAT TO THE 2025 FAIR
dancehall to the global stage with countless hits and performances in over 120 countries. Rising to fame in the late 1990s with tracks like “Infiltrate” and “No Bligh,” he became an international sensation with hit singles such as “Gimme the Light” and “Get Busy,” featured on the Grammy-winning album, Dutty Rock. His 2005 album Trinity produced the smash hit “Temperature,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
With over 33.8 million monthly Spotify listeners, nearly 5 million YouTube subscribers, and more than 6 billion YouTube views, Paul remains a global powerhouse. An eight-time Grammy nominee and winner of Billboard, Soul Train and American Music Awards, his influence extends beyond music, with appearances on major television shows, including his role as Gwen Stefani’s coach advisor on season 22 of The Voice.
Tickets to Sean Paul go on sale at 10
a.m. AKST, Friday, February 14, atalaskastatefair.org.
Paul joins the previously announced acts: Rainbow Kitten Surprise on August 16, “Weird Al” Yankovic on August 17, Chris Tomlin on August 18, Billy Currington on August 23, 3 Doors Down on August 29, and Foreigner on August 30.
Concert-goers have the option to purchase concert-only tickets or tickets including Fair admission. The included admission is at a discounted price and is good for the day of the concert only. Concert tickets including Fair admission must be purchased by August 14. Details on ticket options and pricing are available on the Fair website. Convenience fees apply to all online concert ticket purchases. Visit alaskastatefair.org for additional information on this act and upcoming concert announcements. For more information, contact Melissa Keefe, director of marketing and communications, atmk@alaskastatefair.org.
ALASKA JUNIOR THEATER PRESENTS THE FOURTH WALL
HYBRID ARTS ENSEMBLE FOR A SPECTACULAR WEEK OF WHIMSICAL CIRCUS FUN!
Contributed by Lainie Dreas
March 18 – 22, 2025 at the Atwood Concert Hall – Don’t Miss Out on the Biggest Showstopping Extravaganza of the Year!
Get ready to be dazzled, amazed and maybe even slightly baffled – in the best way possible! The Fourth Wall: Hybrid Arts Ensemble is teaming up with Alaska Junior Theater (AJT) for a mind-blowing week of performances that combine music, dance, circus skills, acrobatics and some seriously cool science! Whether you’re a student or a local supporter, this lineup of three electrifying performances is set to leave you laughing, learning, and longing for more.
Public Show: “Without a Net” (March 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM)
Step Right Up—The Circus is Coming to Town!
Hold on to your hats, because Without a Net is coming to town with a spectacular night of daring acrobatics, whimsical tunes, and comedic chaos! Join The Fourth Wall as they throw caution to the wind and go all in with their high-flying, high-energy, HIGHLY entertaining circus antics. Featuring everything from the Twirling Topsy-Turvy Trombonist to the Death-Defying Drummer, this Vaudeville-style show is packed with marvelous music, aerial stunts and an ever-present sense of mischief. Get your Vaudeville here! The show’s motto? The show must go on… whether we have a net or not
Tickets are on sale now! Visit Centertix. com or call 907-263-ARTS.
AJT’s “Roaring Twenties” Benefit Performance (March 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM)
It’s a Variety Show and YOU Get to Pick the Order!
Tickets: $80 adults/$65 youth ($90/$75 at the door) – Call 907-272-7546 to get tickets today!
Come as a Flashy Flapper or in a Zoot Suit - Gangster style and be the Bees Knees while enjoy the festivities: a Champagne Reception, Hearty Hors d’oeuvres, Dessert, Online, Silent & Live Auctions with a Live Performance of The Fourth Wall: Hybrid Arts Ensemble. This trio of musicians are the cat’s meow as they create music that leaps off the stage! This nifty show will make you laugh, sigh, gasp and cheer for repertoire spanning Benny Goodman to Louis Armstrong to Duke Ellington. In their award-winning variety show Fruit Flies Like a Banana, this trio of musicians creates new interdisciplinary works and reinterprets classic repertoire – all performed in an order chosen by the audience – to make music the leaps off the stage.
School Shows: “Sound Wave Circus” (March 18 – 20, 2025)
Shows at 10:30 AM & 12:15 PM – Perfect for students of all ages!
Imagine a circus where the performers don’t just flip and fly—they play the very sound waves that fill the air! In Sound Wave Circus, The Fourth Wall takes you on an interactive journey through the science of sound, blending live music, jaw-dropping aerial acrobatics, and circus tricks with cutting-edge scientific tools.