Soft Focus News Archive










Note: When playing audio, please be very patient as the files are large and can take a long time to download.














 




















  March 2010...We got   in on the St Patrick's
  Day action at the Fort
  Langley Ceilidh, doing
  a 4-song set of Irish
  tunes among a roster
  of highly talented
   musicians. The
  Ceilidhs are a romping
  good time and happen
  through the fall,
  winter, & spring at
 
St. Andrew's United
  Church Hall.


  April 2010...
Yippee! After three years, we are
  back in the studio recording a new CD!  This
  one will feature favourites from our pop and
  Broadway repertoire and is tentatively titled
  (appropriately enough) Favourite Things.
  With luck, it should be available late summer.










Feb 2010...
If you enjoy swordplay,
ancient weapons, or falconry, check out the
new location of Academie Duello, where
Soft Focus played on the night of their gala
opening.
Academie director Devon Boorman writes:












  “People loved your
   music and you
   really added
   to our event!
   Thanks, Devon
   that's what we
   like to hear!








Jan 2010...The world reeled in shock at the news of the devastating Haiti earthquake and, like many others in the musical community, we were moved to bring people together in an effort to raise funds for aid. The Help for Haiti fundraising night hosted by Soft Focus at the Hollyburn Sailing Club raised over $1600.
Many thanks to the merchants who donated raffle prizes, to the volunteers who helped pull the event together at less than a week's notice, and to all the other musicians who made the evening a success.
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Decembrrrrr, 2009...Having volunteered to provide music for the Salvation Army's annual Christmas Kettle Campaign at a couple of outdoor locations, Steve and Marian watched the weather reports anxiously in the days leading up, as snow was predicted.












In the end, it was simply very cold and very noisy on the corner of Robson and Burrard. The number of people passing that corner on a Friday evening is amazing-- shoppers clutching Christmas purchases, tourists with smiles and expensive cameras flashing, and office workers hurrying home.








Dec, 2009...
Our seasonal greeting image for 2009, taken at the Vancouver Folk Song Society retreat.


















Any resemblance to famous claymation figures, living or deceased, is purely coincidental....
 













Fall, 2009.
..Following in the footsteps of Steve, who made his acting debut earlier this year appearing as a musician in the film Gunless, Marian donned Renaissance garb for a part in a short film titled The Tale of Sir Manford. Perched scenically 'neath a spreading tree in full autumn colour, she sang Spare Me the Life of Georgie, a traditional ballad of appropriately mournful tone.
Marian and Steve are now planning where to locate their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.












Marian in costume >>









The Vancouver Folk Song Society celebrated its 50th
anniversary with a gala concert.  Soft Focus was honoured to be invited to perform at this special evening of shared music and memories. To hear a clip of their performance, click here.

















August, 2009...
.Beautiful weather, friendly folks, and non-stop
great music made the second Princeton Traditional Music Festival on Aug 21-23 a complete success.  We were excited
to be part of this wonderful free event this year, which included everything from Morris dancing to Celtic tunes to acapella trad ballads. 










Galway Shawl
Female Ramblin Sailor
English Country Garden
Many thanks to the Princeton Traditional Music Society for putting on the festival.
To view a selection of our performances
at the festival, use the buttons to access videos on YouTube.












July, 2009...
We have been roaming the beach area at Kitsilano, playing music in period costume to promote that wonderful Vancouver institution, the Kitsilano Showboat. We attract a lot of attention as we stroll along in picturesque hats, me with leg-o'-mutton sleeves and trailing skirt, Steve in two-tone shoes and sleeve garters, while the rest of the crowd is soaking up rays in bikinis and skimpy Speedos.  All in a good cause!










To top off our urban experience, we
played a feature on the Kits Showboat stage itself. With the Kits pool, English Bay, the Vancouver skyline, and the mountains as a backdrop, it's a spectacular setting for outdoor music.








































December, 2008