Yes, it’s true! The popular Canadian singer, songwriter and pianist Jeffery Straker, whose style is often compared to that of Elton John, Neil Young and Billy Joel, is coming to Ajijic. He’ll perform two concerts in aid of Niños Incapacitados, on Thursday and Friday, February 12 and 13, at the Auditorio de la Ribeira del Lago, at 7 p.m.
Thursday’s concert, ‘Simply Spectacular’, will be an intimate evening with Straker at the grand piano, accompanied by Brodie Mohninger on guitar and will include the very first live performance of selections from Straker’s new album, “North Star Falling,” which is due for release on March 10.
On Friday night, the aptly named concert ‘Niños para Niños’, finds Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales (CREM) Choral and Symphony Orchestras joining Straker for a unique evening of music, as the children from the Ajijic music school join in to support Niños Incapacitados, and its vital work raising funds to provide on-going medical expenses for children with disabling or life-threatening illnesses.
Jeffrey Straker is definitely a rising star. The review following his orchestral debut with the Saskatoon symphony Orchestra in 2013 read: “Straker was simply spectacular...clearly one of the province’s best cultural exports”.
In 2014 he won the international category at Chile’s Vina del Mar International Song Festival in with his song “Hypnotized.” That year, Canadian Musician Magazine commented, “Very much an artist to watch”, and the Chicago Free Press agreed: “Rufus Wainwright, as well as k.d. lang are among the Canadians making essential and beautiful music. Add the name Jeffery Straker to that list.”
Straker’s talented songwriting is exceptional — as a quick tour of YouTube will confirm. His charismatic performance style and innate showmanship, should ensure that these two concerts are a huge success, which will be great news for Niños Incapacitados and thence all the local children, and their families, whose lives they touch. Don’t miss them; book early!
Tickets: 300 pesos for center seating & 200 pesos for side seating. Contact Rita Frost at 766-3625 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to: www.programaninos.com/jeffery-straker.html. Tickets will be held for pick up at the Auditorio until February 7.
Auditorio box office: Monday - Friday, January 28 to February 12, 10 a.m. to 12 noon. All pre-ordered tickets should be collected during this time. Unsold tickets, if any, will be available at the door for both performances.
Tickets are also available from: Charter Club Tours, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a,m, to 1 p.m., and at retail stores: Creative Heart/El Corazon Creativo, Galeana 14, Ajijic, Yoly’s Unisex Styling Salon, Plaza Bugambilas, Ajijic.