Canadian pop singer-songwriter coming to play at Cleland Community Theatre

Photo: Contributed

Polaris Prize and JUNO Nominee, Begonia, is coming to the Okanagan in November

Local and national music artists are lining up to play throughout the fall in Penticton.

As a part of the Route97 Culture Road Trip Series, Winnipeg pop diva Begonia is set to play three dates across Revelstoke, Vernon and Penticton.

Begonia’s Penticton performance will take place at the Cleland Community Theatre on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

Begonia (Alexa Dirks) launched into the Canadian music scene with the critically acclaimed 2017 EP Lady In Mind.

The indie pop singer has received media praise and numerous awards and had two number-one songs on Canada’s CBC national radio chart.

Begonia released her debut full-length album Fear in September 2019, which she wrote and co-produced the record with a close-knit team of collaborators: Matt Schellenberg and Matt Peters of Royal Canoe, along with Marcus Paquin, who has previously worked with The National, Arcade Fire and Local Natives.

Fear was nominated for a JUNO Award for Adult Alternative Album Of The Year and was long-listed for The Polaris Music Prize.

Songs from Begonia's album can be heard in numerous productions on Netflix and the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Mark Greenhalgh, co-creator of Route97 Culture Road Trip Series, said that the Begonia show and the series as a whole are part of a bigger picture.

“We’re delighted to have Begonia coming to the region! Our vision is not just about our series. We are striving to build the region as a viable touring option and a venue “ladder” where artists, both emerging and nationally recognized, can find routing and opportunities for amazing shows in unusual venue settings," he said in the press release.

"To see a series of regional presenters working in sync to create a tour through the region is something that really excites me, and I can’t wait for the Begonia shows.”

Begonia will also be performing in the North Okanagan in November:

• Revelstoke: Nov. 18 at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre
• Vernon: Nov. 19 at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre

In addition to Begonia’s show, the Route97 Culture Road Trip Series continues with a mix of emerging and nationally-recognized artists such as:

• Led by JUNO Award-winning musician Tom Landa, joyful Mexican-Canadian band Locarno (Sept. 19, 2022, at Covert Farms Family Estate)
• JUNO Award-winning Winnipeg folk and country singer-songwriter William Prince (Dec. 2, 2022, at the Cleland Community Theatre)
• Vernon pop/rock artist Andrew Allen (holiday show – Dec. 16, 2022, at the Cleland Community Theatre)

To learn more about the Route97 Culture Road Trip Series, and buy tickets for upcoming shows, visit the website here.