Lethbridge — The sewing machines are humming and the buzz is building for the March 23 Superheroes Dinner & Dance capping off the Galt Museum & Archives Nerd Fest running March 21-23.

Let your inner avenger escape at this spring fundraiser for the Galt. Come dressed as your favourite super hero, partake in an out of this world dinner [after all, you need your strength to carry out those amazing feats], and share your special moves while dancing the night away with other like-minded world-saving heroes to the sounds of the local band, Moon Dancer. Dress is casual, not fancy, except of course if you’re a fancy superhero.

Chris Roedler, Resource Development and Volunteer Coordinator at the Galt is most looking forward to “seeing what costumes people will come dressed up in, and the photo sets and scenery we are bringing in.” He is coordinating the sets with the University of Lethbridge drama department, as well as Lethbridge Musical Theatre, but adds “if anyone has a phone booth we can borrow, that’s the one thing I’m still looking for!”

A roast beef buffet by The Guesthouse will sustain the humans trapped in superhuman bodies. Earth Hour will be observed at the event from 8:30-9:30 pm with the lights turned off on the east side of the historic 1910 Galt Hospital building, and dimmed in the event space, with a few special surprises planned.

The word is that tickets must be purchased by noon on Tuesday, March 19. They are available at the Galt Museum Store and online at $30/person. The event starts with cocktails at 6:00 pm dinner at 6:30 pm dinner, followed by sets featuring Moon Dancer - created in 2010, this Lethbridge-based pop/rock/jazz band rearranges classics from as early as 1929 with great vocals and driving rhythms. A cash bar will be open throughout.

Nerd Fest also includes a public lecture on the history of comic books, followed by a two-day workshop with leading comic book artist Scott McCloud, a talk by Canada’s first neurologist in space, Astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar, a pop culture movie trivia night, and an all night games night.

Nerd Fest is made possible in part by festival funds raised through Taste of Downtown and coincides with the current exhibit “Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame”, on loan from the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa until May 19. For updates and details visit www.galtmuseum.com, call 403.320-3954, or email info@galtmuseum.com.

Background

ABOUT Moon Dancer:

Created in 2010, this Lethbridge-based pop/rock/jazz band rearranges classics from as early as 1929 with great vocals and driving rhythms.

Dory Rossiter- Lead Vocals
Brad Gillespie- Keyboards & Vocals
Allan Wilson- Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar & Vocals
Gerry Clewes- Bass guitar and vocals
Bill Weiler- Rhythm Guitar
Keith Duff- Drums

They released their first self-produced album, It's A Marvellous Night, on July 7, 2012, recorded at University of Lethbridge digital studios and mixed at Electric City Sound on Vancouver Island. A portion of the proceeds of sales support the Canadian Mental Health Association. The video of their version of “Will You Sill Love Me Tomorrow” on YouTube explains why.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

KEITH DUFF: drums

Keith started playing drums in junior high and as a young man in Lethbridge, one day he heard from a relative, that another friend in Vancouver knew about a talented group forming, and they were looking for a drummer. Since it was just a "maybe" situation, Keith stayed in Lethbridge and started a family. The band was forming around Bryan Adams. But Keith doesn't regret it, and 28 years later life has led him to Moon Dancer, and he's having "an absolute blast", loving the music Moon Dancer is creating. When he's not drumming, "Bam-Bam" is an auctioneer and Realtor.

BILL WEILER: Guitar

Bill comes from a very musical family--his father played for years in many orchestras in southern Alberta when Bill was growing up. Bill has taken years of piano, has played trumpet, but switched to guitar when he joined his high school jazz band. Bill has played in various groups in a backing role but Moon Dancer has allowed him to contribute lead guitar work and musical direction for many songs. "I'm thrilled to get out and entertain people with this band.

BRAD GILLESPIE: keyboards and vocals

"It's simple. I love to play." Brad has had years of formal music training and is the one other band members go to for technical questions on note reading, time signatures and "how do we start this one?" His standout work on the band's signature song Moondance demonstrates his ability to drive the rhythm of the song while creating striking improvisations. Outside of music Brad has an MBA and is a government manager.

DORY ROSSITER: lead vocals

Dory will admit to being the "newbie" in the band who did her first professional singing with Moon Dancer, but within a matter of months it was clear that Dory was a serious musician with a unique and rich voice. When the mixes of the first two songs went out to people in BC, Alberta and the UK who didn't know her, the comments were "I just love her voice" and "Brilliant!". When not coaxing the band through practices and performances, Dory does weather and community events for Lethbridge radio and TV, and has received a Governor-General's Award, Diamond Jubilee medal and Key to the City for community service.

ALLAN WILSON: guitars and vocals

Allan started playing guitar and singing as a solo act in Victoria BC in the 70's while working part time and writing. He left music to move to Toronto to pursue writing, but soon found himself working in the food business. In 1990 he moved back to Lethbridge, earned his teaching degree, and started using music in the classroom. Five years ago he was asked to join the music team at church, and that led to getting an electric guitar and meeting the other band members. Allan has an M.ED. and has been published in the Reader's Digest, Toronto Star, the Canadian Medical Association Journal, and has read one of his essays on the CBC national radio network show "This Morning".

GERRY CLEWES: bass guitar and vocals

Gerry started taking music at St. Patrick's Elementary School and was able to sing Ave Maria until his voice broke. Gerry also played trumpet, but switched to guitar at 14. Gerry spent the last 25 years as a railway engineer, and although he had made a recording and had done numerous sessions as a single guitar player or part of a twosome on an impromptu basis, the continuous demands of on call railway work made it impossible to join a band--until he retired. Moon Dancer asked him to join, he accepted in a second, and now "I'm like a kid in a candy store."

NERD FEST CALENDAR:

Thu MAR 21 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm
The Changing Face of Comics with Scott McCloud

advanced regular admission is now available:

$3 post-secondary | youth 7-17 | $6 adults | $5 seniors | free for Annual Pass Holders

Leading comic theorist, historian and author Scott McCloud will present a fast paced visual presentation with over 500 slides on the history of comic books.  It’s a far ranging talk about comics, cartooning, visual communication, and art’s relationship to old and new technologies.  Q & A and book signing too. 

Fri MAR 22 + Sat MAR 23 | 9:00 – 4:00 pm

Scott McCloud’s 2-Day Comic Book Workshop – SOLD OUT!

This special workshop is geared toward the art of making comics and broader issues of visual communication, combining visual lectures and hands-on exercises as the students learn the art of storytelling in the cartooning medium.

Fri MAR 22 | 4:00 – 6:00 pm

Astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar: First Neurologist in Space

200 TICKETS only, now available at the Galt Museum Store and online: $15 general | $10 students, seniors and annual pass holders | includes exhibit access

The world’s first neurologist in space, astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar is globally recognized for her contributions to space medicine. On the space shuttle Discovery mission STS 42 in 1992, Dr. Bondar conducted scientific experiments in the First International Microgravity Laboratory. Throughout her career, Dr. Bondar has also maintained a deep interest in our own natural environment, here on Earth.

Fri MAR 22 | 8:00 – 10:00 pm

Pop Culture Trivia Night

regular admission fees apply, available at the door: $3 post-secondary | youth 7-17 | $6 adults | $5 seniors | free for Annual Pass Holders | includes exhibit access | $3 bar [ID required]

This interactive trivia contest (with prizes!) will feature categories of books, TV shows and movies that explore science, math and technology. Create a team or come on your own to challenge your pop culture know-how!

Fri MAR 22 – Sat MAR 23 | 10:00 pm – 10:00 am  

All-night games tournament

regular admission fees apply, available at the door: $3 post-secondary | youth 14-17 | $6 adults | $5 seniors | free for Annual Pass Holders | includes exhibit access | $3 bar [ID required]| must be 14+

Stay after the trivia contest for D&D, Magic the Gathering, chess tourney, math mayhem and more. Supported by Kapow Comics, Cards & Games.