Hot Club of Cowtown

Friday, September 13 at 8 p.m.

The hardest-swinging trio on the planet The Hot Club of Cowtown comes to town on a wave of enthusiasm following their appearance here last summer with Mountain Stage. Their international cult following stems from for their sonic personification of joy and unique sound inspired by their namesakes: hot jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli’s Hot Club of France, and the western swing influence of Bob Willis and His Texas Playboys.

You asked, we listened!
Hot Club of Cowtown was a direct response to audience interest. Their brief appearance during last summer’s Mountain Stage, left everyone wanting a full length performance. So that’s how we’ll begin. In fact, we are the lead presenter in a big statewide tour.


Martin Short

Saturday, October 5 at 8 p.m.

Martin Short, celebrated comedian and actor, has won fans and accolades in television, film and theater since his breakout season on Saturday Night Live. He received his first Emmy in 1982 for SCTV. The star of many feature films including Three Amigos, Inner Space, Three Fugitives, and Father of the Bride and an accomplished stage actor, Short has won both Tony and an Outer Critics Circle Awards. The New York Times describes Short as “a natural for live musicals, a limber singer and dancer who exudes a fiery energy that makes you want to reach for your sunglasses.” In 1994, Short was awarded the Order of Canada, the Canadian equivalent to British Knighthood. He was also inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame in June 2000.

Martin’s show is a variety show, with a lot of audience participation. He interviews a guest as Jiminy Glick, performs skits as characters such as Ed Grimley, sings humorous songs, and plays funny clips. Overall a fun, family friendly show.
YES! For real, Fairbanks! MARTIN SHORT!!!!


Quixotic Fusion

Sunday, October 20 at 7 p.m. (family show)

An ensemble of artists from various disciplines including aerial acrobatics, dance, fashion, film, music and visual f-x. This inventive group of artists goes beyond the limits of any specific art form, challenging traditional perceptions and creating a total sensory experience unlike any other while exploring infinite possibilities of movement, sound and multimedia. Our family show, Quixotic harnesses light, rhythm and expressive emotion sure to be enjoyed by everyone.

FCA started offering family shows a long time ago – setting ticket prices so families could afford to attend together. We still do this. Then, FCA started donating tickets to social service organizations and families in need. We still do this too. Long before anyone can remember, we offered tickets to our local military and their families through the ASYMCA. This grew and grew and grew. Now we donate 1,000 tickets every year to active military and their families. We do this with the help of donations to the Education Partnership. It’s a nice way to say “Thank you” to those who serve and to help those in need.


The Manhattan Transfer

Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m.

The legendary Grammy-winning vocal group The Manhattan Transfer has sold millions of albums and achieved their status as one of the most influential and innovative vocal groups in history. Using doo-wop and jazz, Latin and pop/rock, Manhattan Transfer has defined four-part harmony and sold out concert halls around the world, delighting fans with their high-energy renditions and ability to connect with their audience.

You know how much we love partnerships. Consider this group who have been partners in song for 40 years! What a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season.


California Guitar Trio + Montréal Guitare Trio

Saturday, February 1 at 8 p.m.

Featuring six virtuoso guitarists from four countries (Japan, Canada, Belgium, and US), California Guitar Trio (CGT) and Montréal Guitare Trio (MG3) fuse over 40 years of combined performing experience into one unique six-by-6-string ‘phenomensemble’. In a pleasantly surprising way, CGT’s steel stringed-guitars blend naturally with MG3’s nylon-stringed guitars, as each trios fret boards chase the others’ original compositions and new arrangements of progressive rock, world, jazz and classical music.

So many of our presentations revolve around great new and innovative partnerships this year. Here’s a beautiful example of two great groups working together with amazing results…


Lúnasa

Friday, February 14 at 8 p.m.

Lúnasa are internationally acknowledged as being the finest Irish instrumental band of recent times. Lúnasa’s inventive arrangements and bass driven grooves have steered Irish acoustic music into surprising new territory. Their recordings have been hailed as some of the best and most important world music albums anywhere, while their blend of intelligence, innovation, virtuosity, and passion has brought this “Irish music dream team” to the forefront of Celtic music.

If you were at their last sold-out concert then we don’t have to tell you about how much fun they are or sell you on their amazing energy… back by popular demand? Oh yeah, you could say…


Sybarite5

Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8 at 8 p.m.

Their rock star status…is well deserved. Their classically honed technique mixed with grit and all out passionate attack transfixes the audience…” the first string quintet ever selected as a winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition in its 60 year history. Sybarite5 has taken audiences by storm all across the US, forever changing the perception of chamber music performance. From the moment their bows hit the strings, this quintet of talented, diverse musicians takes the audience on an exciting ride that engages the senses and redefines the rules. From Mozart to Radiohead, Sybarite5’s eclectic repertoire and dynamic performance style is turning heads throughout the music world. Their range is so dynamic that we are bringing them to you in two very different performances. Friday at the Blue Loon for a Radiohead performance, followed by a sublime presentation which is sure to please the most serious members of our classical patrons. Either way, this group is “Classically trained to rock your ******* socks off.”

We love this group so much we had to bring them up for two completely different shows. You’ll probably want to hear them both.


International Blues Express

Friday, April 4 at 8 p.m.

Injecting a healthy dose of his own personality and ingenuity, Cedric Watson has been exciting an ever-­broadening audience with his unique take on traditional Creole music, and his new compositions that expand the genre while still respecting his roots. Cedric’s creative style features him moving with ease between fiddle and accordion, and adding his strong blues-­inflected vocals. Sidi Touré both captures and challenges his roots. While the music and rhythms remain authentically Songhai, his lyrics reveal an observant and critical mind. His songs draw attention to issues not usually addressed by singers from such ancient traditions. Travel from Africa to the Delta, experiencing the blues through this exciting collaboration.

IBE brings two of our favorite sounds together. Although they’ve never toured before we know that the greatest partnerships happen when you merge the best. Never more true than when Mali meets the Bayou and the Blues are reborn!


Chick Corea and Béla Fleck

Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m.

Béla Fleck, the premiere banjo player in the world has virtually reinvented the image and the sound of the banjo. NEA Jazz Master, 18-time Grammy winner, brilliant American composer and keyboard virtuoso, Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering. These two virtuosos collaborate on a program of their own works merging styles seamlessly with a rapport and familiarity that suggests they have spent decades performing together.

How lucky are we? How lucky are we? How lucky are we?! Béla and Chick have come together and we have them Fairbanks! Talk about great partnerships! These two virtuosos collaborated on their own works for their 2007 album, The Enchantment, merging styles seamlessly with a rapport and familiarity that suggests they have spent decades performing together.


Arctic Winter Games Cultural Program/Events

Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m.

The Games’ promote our deeply-rooted heritage and the indigenous culture that reflect each of the participating Teams. FCA is proud to be a part of the Fairbanks team which encourages strong relationships and provides a long-lasting connection among the circumpolar participants and visiting guests. The 2014 Games’ cultural activities will appeal to all ages, but particular emphasis will be placed on our visiting youth, to promote cultural interchange, and to assist in developing our next generation of compassionate and understanding leaders.

“The cultural connection we have the opportunity to make will support our state, highlight indigenous cultural performing arts and display games and performances that all Alaskans have come to know and love.” FCA Board Member Toni Abbey
FCA is so proud of the season we’ve put together and we can say with some certainty that we’ve never worked harder to do so.