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Celebrating women with live music

The Arts Station was packed with people in celebration of International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8.

The Arts Station was packed with people in celebration of International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8.

The by-donation event was put on to raise funds for the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre and featured a lineup of local women in music to entertain the room.

“This is the second year in a row that we’ve held this event at The Arts Station,” said Krista Lampman who is a director on the board of the Women’s Resource Centre and chairs the event. “It’s a free event and it’s put on to invite everyone to come to celebrate women.”

Lampman said that she enjoys putting together the lineup for the evening, picking out people that she meets around town to go up on stage.

“I think it’s really great because I just get to pick people from the community … There’s so much talent in Fernie it’s crazy,” said Lampman.

Among the performers was the all-female acoustic trio the Hark Raving Sirens who bounced between well-known classics like Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” and Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me Baby.”

Performing on the finishing end of a cold, singer Ocean Whalen was accompanied by her mother Cathy Wells on piano — creating a heartwarming two-generation performance of women on stage. Whalen sang through a three-song set that included a rousing rendition of Queen’s “Somebody To Love.”

Whalen cited the song as an all time favourite.

Famous covers weren’t the only songs in play, as Australian Susan Carson dabbled in a trio of her own humorous originals inspired by the experiences of herself and her friends. The comically titled “At Least There Was Free Beer” reflected on Carson’s experience on standby at an airport.

A reggae jam “Unique Technique” was meant to capture the Fernie snowboarding experience.

The night was capped off with a surprise a cappella performance of “Down In the River to Pray” by the Fernie Community Choir and led by the night’s MC Heather Boyd.

Prizes including yoga mats from Essential Yoga, and gift bags were also handed out as door prizes to attendees.