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There is such a vast amount of entertainment in the lowlands and the hills of the Okanagan valley
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Manfred Harter gears up for Manfred’s Guitar, Episode 3, which takes the Gallery Vertigo stage Sept. 16. (Parker Crook/Morning Star)

Manfred Harter

For The Morning Star

Episode 3 of Manfred’s Guitar is plain and simply the adventures of an addicted ‘picker’ that’s no stranger to danger and at this time in his life is still poking at the classical guitar and using it as a minor success, at least in his own mind.

Episode 3 is simply a continuation of one and two — live music shows and where by now he has found some helpers to operate some serious cameras, donated by more serious owners.

Enter volunteer Adrien Lapierre, another mad picker but with Selkirk College smarts so he knows what the different colours on wires mean.

The first and second show featured Falkland Coffee House Cash, Lowell Friesen and the twin Manfred with the Vertigo staff, working again. This of course led to The Morning Star reminding everyone of my zany antics on Shaw Cable for seven years like an itch, before saying goodbye for 15.

Episode 1 was OK, we had 30 people show up and the gallery and musicians went home with a few bucks. Everyone was happy.

In Episode 2, there appeared out of the West Kelowna suburbs a middle to older age picker with the lovely moniker Rusty Halo — a familiar face on the retirement circuit, I have invited him to free-visit episode three and he doesn’t have to play.

But devious me, I was able to borrow two new friends from the Okanagan Valley Big Band. From the depth of the coniferous hinterland of Cherryville, trombone player Phil Wagner and out of the area of the past Heron Pub appeared trumpet fellow Barry McDougall. Of course it was a bit on the loose side and not predictably down pat. However, we tooted successfully through one of my compositions called Mila!s Dance.

It was a creepy spring, between drowning and burning and a wagon load of other stuff going on. That was less attendance and less money but no one wept.

This edition means Cadillac Bob, Lumby’s remaining and only living legend. This blues-blood giant is then followed by Soulstice Creation in the avatar of one Tristan. That’s supposedly for a younger crowd, but if you have ears and a mediocre brain you should get to like his approach as he is very real and plays friendly chords.

Not to be outdone, April Sheehan will blow her synapses out of their safe corners when she aggravates a few thousand hemi, demi and semi quavers with her flute. Remember last year she tried to see how strong her left hand wrist was by challenging the strength of a spruce tree root on a hiking expedition.

Lastly, and for this I will be drawn and quartered. I have borrowed from the Okanagan Valley Big Band another piece of brass. A real saxophone player with a history that may easily outshine mine. J. Johnson will join Wagner and McDougal and Sheehan and they will pummel Harter and his rubber string and probably drown out his twiddled with the rubber string classical.

Manfred’s Guitar Episode 3 hits Gallery Vertigo Sept. 16. Limited seating. $10 cover. Doors close by 7 p.m. As camera will be present, releases are signed at the venue.