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The Pomelos



THE POMELOS
Every year, during the first two weeks of March, five songstresses combine their powerful vocals, moving songs and great stories for an unforgettable musical event that celebrates International Women's Day. These five women are Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, Laura Bird, Marianne Girard, and Heather Katz and they're called The Pomelos.

THE STORY:
How did Marianne Girard (top left), Laura Bird (bottom left), Katherine Wheatley (middle), Tannis Slimmon (top right) and Heather Katz (bottom right) become 'The Pomelos'? It was a note…

"I've been meaning to e-mail you to tell you what a great time my sister and I had at the women-in-song concert (at the Orangeville Opera House). I'm thinking you five should form a group...You could call yourself The Pomelos..." :-Bernadette Hardaker

Actually, the whole thing started where all great parties start: in the kitchen. Laura's kitchen. She'd arranged a luncheon with some songwriter friends to welcome Katherine into her new community. Marianne barbequed the jerk chicken, Laura baked the bread, Heather divided the dark chocolate and Tannis peeled the pomelos (the grandmother of all grapefruit). This culinary gathering led to sharing songs and singing harmonies, then rehearsals and finally to the International Women's Day Songstress Celebration 2005 tour. At each show, these women sang their hearts out, told stories, and in moments of spontaneity, had little contests. The audience called for prizes, but all that the performers had on hand to give out were pomelos. It became a tradition.

Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, Laura Bird, Marianne Girard, and Heather Katz celebrated International Women's Day 2005 with performances at Gananoque's beautiful Firehall Theatre and Orangeville's famed Opera House. The shows were so well received that they were immediately invited back for performances in 2006, this time as The Pomelos. In addition, they've been booked for shows in Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo and Whitby.

With influences ranging from early folk-roots and gospel spirituals to rock 'n' roll, blues and jazz, The Pomelos invite you into their collective kitchen!

"It was a memorable experience that lifted the spirits as they totally engaged the audience with their stories and playful sense of humour. The audience couldn't get enough, calling out for more! more! during the extended encore. I have already booked them again for next year." -Carl Borgstrom, A.D., Live! At the Opera House, Orangeville