Get ready to dance through time at the Qualicum Beach Downtown Business Association’s third annual dance party. Victoria’s The Timebenders will be onstage playing the biggest hits from the late 1950s to today.
“We take the audience on a trip through the history of rock and pop music,” said guitar player and vocalist Brendan O’Byrne. “We’re really able to offer everything.”
For their show, O’Byrne said the six person group starts off with Ray Charles and works their way through Jackson 5, ABBA, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Michael Jackson of the 80s, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5 and more. The musicians also change their clothes for each era for added effect, and for the few songs that are full-on impersonations, the lead singers come onstage in exact costumes of famous singers.
“We like to have fun with it,” said O’Byrne. “We don’t take ourselves too serious.”
“They’re a band and more,” said Sherri Verdec, who is organizing the dance. “They’re a show.”
According to O’Byrne, The Timebenders have performed as a group for the past 22 years. The line up of musicians, however, has shifted over time. “We have some young blood and fresh ears,” he said. “We have a lot of depth in our group.”
The set list has also changed over the years. “Music is always evolving,” said O’Byrne, adding that the band is always ready with 2.5-3 hours of polished music with plenty more in their “locker.”
The Timebenders present a bit of a departure from the usual entertainment found at the QBDBA dance party. For the past two years, Vedec said the entertainment was provided by Zach Stevenson as Buddy Holly, so the night had a distinct 1950s vibe. “I decided I want to be a little more eclectic and branch out,” she said.
Aside from The Timebenders, Verdec said the QBDBA dance party will also include a DJ so the music is continuous. “It’s dance, dance, dance,” she said. There will also be 50/50 draws and possibly a costume contest, since party-goers are encouraged to dress up in costume of their favourite era between the ’50s and the ’90s.
There will be a late-evening supper of bun-wiches and desserts, which is included in the price of a ticket, and a cash bar will be available.
The dance party, which is sponsored by Quality Foods, Lefty’s and Gary’s Bistro, is a fundraiser to the QBDBA “so they can continue to do great things in our community,” said Verdec.
The third annual QBDBA dance party will be on Saturday, Apr. 18 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m. “We don’t really have an end time. It’s dance til you drop,” said Verdec.
Tickets are $45 per person and may be purchased at Fresh N Fabulous Flowers & Gifts. Verdec said that there is the option to buy tables of 10 for $450. She also said people should get their tickets early as the dance party sold out weeks in advance the past two years. So far, around 80 of 320 tickets have been sold for this year’s dance.
For more info, contact sherriverdec@shaw.ca