Saturday night will be full of Latin spice.
The Big Rock Singers bring back their spring show with Latin Nights on May 14 at the Foothills Centennial Centre.
“We’re having a good time with Latin Nights, it’s a celebration of Latin music,” said Nairn Nerland, the troupe’s marketing director. “Very high energy, lots of colours in our costumes, a good high energetic show.”
It will draw on classics and contemporary alike, with favourites from decades past, as well as a couple earworms of late.
“Santana, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, stuff like that,” Nerland said. “And then we’re also picking up two quite popular songs from the Disney movie Encanto.”
From the Pixar film, the group will be performing We Don’t Talk About Bruno and Family Madrigal.
“There will be 50 plus singers on stage and we’ve been rehearsing since January,” Nerland said.
“We always put on high-energy shows; we don’t just stand there, there’s lots of singing, lots of dancing, lots of costume changes, lots of colour, lots of energy.”
This will be the group's first spring show in three years and the second live show since it returned to the stage at Christmas, and Latin Nights will also mark the Singers’ 32nd anniversary.
“It was amazing – there's nothing quite like singing in front of a large audience that enjoys what you’re doing,” Nerland said.
That doesn’t mean the Big Rock Singers were silent with the group running a YouTube channel and posting several virtual performances, but Nerland is happy to be back in front of the audience.
“You can never replace that no matter how many videos you do,” he said. “The live energy, it’s pretty special.”
The Big Rock Singers will also begin recruiting for their Christmas show, which begins rehearsals in September.
In addition, Nerland added they are making a trip to compete in a singing competition in Italy, with stops in Verona, Rome, among others.
“We’ll start rehearsing for that in June and then we’re going to make a trip over there,” Nerland said. “So we’re going to have some fun and see the sights and sing a few songs.”
Showtimes are at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 14, with tickets running $30 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $10 for under 18.
Proceeds will be donated to the Western Wheel Cares fund, Nairn said, adding over $40,000 has been donated to local charities from past shows. For tickets and more information visit BigRockSingers.com
