Performing Arts Studio

We hope you enjoyed the Winter Wind 2011-2012 concert series!  We'd love to hear your feedback.  Please take a couple of minutes to fill out our online survey and help us make the series even better.  Your feedback will also help support our grant applications so that we can continue this wonderful concert series.  Just click on the link below.  Thank you!

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“Big Wide Grin is well named. Their groove and their vibe will put a big smile on your face and in your heart.” (Freebo.)  The group will brighten the Winter Wind stage in the smoke free listening room atmosphere of the Norman Depot, 200 S. Jones, at 7:00 pm on March 4.  Tickets are $20.  Complimentary refreshments will be provided by Bohemia Moveable Feast Caterers.

Big Wide Grin is the bi-coastal trio of Elaine Dempsey, Lawrence Lambert, and Karl Werne, who bring diverse backgrounds of experience, music and theater together to form a rich, soulful blend of character and deep harmony. They are constantly on the move, whether at festivals, concert series, shows, or select house concerts, and have toured with legendary blues man Keb' Mo', who says of them, “Great songs and the hardest working band in folk music.”

Californian Elaine Dempsey has lived most of her life on the the Chesapeake and San Francisco bays.  As a singer, songwriter and performer Elaine blends a background of folk, rock, gospel and blues to create a dynamic vocal and acoustic guitar style truly her own. Her music has received international airplay.

After singing with his siblings as a child, Lawrence Lambert continued his interests in music and theater at the University of Virginia.  Although nicknamed "the Voice" for his unique vocal style, Lambert says he wants nothing more than to write the kind of music that will “make a difference and make the world a better place.”

Karl Werne has been entertaining the Hampton Roads area of Virginia since he was sixteen.  Eight years with The Lewis McGehee Group and four years with his own Instant Karma featured his versatile guitar work and smooth hypnotic vocals.  Werne’s group was the opening act for Bruce Hornsby's Grammy winning 'The Way It Is Tour.'

"Take three supremely talented performers, throw in a generous portion of intelligent and heartfelt songwriting, add a dash of wit and charm, then sit yourself down to a spellbinding evening of top-notch entertainment with Big Wide Grin ... guaranteed to put one on every face."  (BJ Leiderman, theme composer, National Public Radio)

Links:
Video: Big Wide Grin - 7 songs in 5 min

To purchase concert tickets click the Buy Now button above, or phone 405-307-9320.  PAS office and gallery hours are 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Friday in the Norman Depot.

Winter Wind Concerts are produced by The Performing Arts Studio and made possible in part by grants from the Norman Arts Council, the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.  Local sponsors include: The City of Norman; Tom McAuliffe, Don Cies Read Estate; Cindy Merrick, Therapy in Motion; and Nancy McClellan.  Contributors are Glen Brown; Jack’s Pool Service; Skye Diers, Gingerbread Nursery School; Hugh and Keri Young; Dale Wares, Wares Properties; and Danna Primm.  Friends include Tom & Mary Cay Woodfin; Tom Cotrone; and The Grider Family.  Additional support comes from Cafe Plaid, The Montford Inn, and Bohemia Moveable Feast Caterers.