A revamped website might be the ticket to a sold out season for Turner Valley’s concert series.
The non-profit Beneath the Arch Concert Series has sold all but a dozen of its 185 season passes for the line-up of seven concerts this season more than three weeks before its first concert. Season passes make up two thirds of available seating.
The concert series now boasts a redesigned website that’s more user-friendly and visually appealing with the opportunity to purchase rush tickets and season passes online.
“Season tickets have been going so well I think it’s an indication that our rush tickets might as well,” said Jane Toews, director of promotions and sponsorship. “We sold out our season passes last year and most concerts were sold out. We started to think, why aren’t we selling out every time? What can we do to increase our sales?”
Toews suspects the answer is having better accessibility for purchasing tickets.
In previous years, tickets were available at a business each in Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Millarville and Okotoks, but not online.
“It does make it more accessible for people who live farther away,” said Toews. “They don’t have to come to get the ticket. It makes it a whole mot more convenient.”
In addition to booking tickets online, they can also be bought at Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond.
Suzanne Searle, Beneath the Arch artistic director, is excited about the success of the season passes and doesn’t expect to see a dip in sales the concert series expected during the economic downturn in 2008.
“I’m hoping with the increase in newer population in Black Diamond and Turner Valley we will not see a dip,” she said. “We had a lot of new people move into Black Diamond and Turner Valley in the last few years and hopefully some of the newer residents are taking advantage of our wonderful concert series that saves them from driving to Calgary to see high quality music.
“It’s close, the parking is free and some people who live in Turner Valley can walk to the concerts. We had a very good turnout to all of the shows last year.”
The quality of the Canadian multi-genre performers this season is also expected to contribute to the anticipated success.
“I try, as usual, to get an interesting mix of performers,” she said. “It’s a varied and interesting season with a great mix of performers, some well known and some not so much, and that doesn’t matter because we always provide a very high quality of music.
“They are seasoned performers who provide quality music. It’s a very affordable night out.”
Searle also credits the acoustics, which she said are very good considering the concerts are held in a Quonset, to the success of the concert series.
She said Nanton resident Steve Loree is in charge of sound.
The coming season kicks off with four-piece band The Bros. Landreth on Sept. 24, featuring blues and cowboy lullabies, followed by alt-country, bluegrass and Cajun music by Mayhemingway’s and stroyteller Brock Zeman in a rare double performance in October and finishing 2016 with a Christmas concert by Quartette in December.
Starting off the new year half way through the season is pianist and cellist pair Duo Polaris for an afternoon matinee, followed by blues-based Tim Williams Band in February, Juno Award-winning Old Man Luedecke in March and Winnipeg bluegrass and cow punk band D. Rangers finishing the season.
Searle said Beneath the Arch is bringing back its first classical concert in a long time as a rare treat with Duo Polaris on a Sunday afternoon in January.
“I haven’t brought in a grand piano in some years because it’s expensive,” she said. “I used to do it all the time but the price is going up for that.”
Also new this year is a concert in December, rather than November.
Searle said she wanted to take advantage of Quartette during it’s tour in the west.
“These are iconic Canadian musicians, singers and songwriters,” she said. “The Quartette was developed in the 1990s and Cindy Church used to live in Turner Valley. I expect it will be sold out.”
Searle is also excited to have Quartette’s Sylvia Tyson on stage.
“A few years ago we had her ex husband Ian (Tyson) for our special 25th anniversary,” she said. “It’s great that we can get this top notch musician.”
A snapshot of the season’s performers will be featured on CKUA Radio Sept. 20 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Rush tickets to see this season’s concerts cost $25 for adults, $10 for ages 6 to 12 and children under age six are free. Adult tickets purchased at the door will cost $30 each.
All concerts take place in the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall in Turner Valley.
For more information about this season’s performances or the Beneath the Arch Concert Series go to beneaththearch.ca or check out the concert series on Facebook.
