The Boscombe Community Centre will play host for Vilna’s very own country singer/songwriter, Jackson Mackenzie’s CD release party on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. A collection of special guests will take part in the show, bringing along their own special brand of music for an evening of exciting entertainment.
Twelve-year old Cassidy Zahar, one of this year’s Junior Division Northern Star Talent search winners, will be opening the show for Mackenzie with a half hour performance. Zahar is well known in these parts for creating goosebumps with her powerful voice and amazing talent.
Also part of the program is the incredibly versatile Bob Glidden, eastern Canada’s Dobro Master. Glidden, now residing in St. Albert, will be sharing his extraordinary repertoire of country/bluegrass music, and Darla Daniels, an 18-year-old fiddling sensation from north of Smoky Lake will also be taking the stage.
Mackenzie, who recently recorded his sixth CD, will be lending his voice to share several songs on his new CD titled Classic Country Gold. He is a very good entertainer who is comfortable on the stage and draws easy laughter from his audience.
Mackenzie chose Boscombe as a venue to promote his new CD because it is close to his home base, and also because of his association with jamboree organizers, Guy and Lois Bouchard. “They’ve always supported stuff I’ve done, and I just wanted to return the favour.” He adds, “Boscombe has a good crowd!”
Mackenzie’s love of music has led him on an gratifying mission. He performs at hundreds of venues across the province to raise money for 100 Ugandan orphans he has sponsored through a Canadian charity called F.A.C.E. (Free African Children Through Education). Mackenzie says, “Whatever profit I make on CD sales or from putting on a show goes towards providing for my sponsored children for the year. Anything leftover is donated towards drilling wells in Africa to provide safe drinking water for communities.”
People can support Jackson Mackenzie’s child sponsorship efforts by attending one or all of his CD release parties or by purchasing one of his CDs. If you’re the curious kind, you can find a whole host of information on Mackenzie and other artists he performs with, as well as a schedule of events, on the following website: www.remembermyshow.com.
Tickets for the show at the Boscombe Community Centre can be purchased at Speedee Mart in St. Paul at the cost of $15, which includes a $5 discount on his new CD. The Sidestreet Café in Vilna is another venue where Jackson Mackenzie will be having a CD release party. That event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The café venue is smaller, so people may want to phone the café at 636-0005 to make reservations and to avoid disappointment.