Strictly Hip to perform at Grand Island Cultural Center

By Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Writer

A big helping of alternative rock culture is coming to the Old Church Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16.

The Strictly Hip will perform as the inaugural concert event at the theater in the Grand Island Cultural Center (GICC), 2106 Baseline Road. The building formerly was the Old St. Stephen Church.

“We’re really excited about the concert,” GICC board member Frank Burkhart said.

The concert is a fundraiser to support the renovations to complete the transition from church to community center. Projects yet to be completed include the upstairs floor and the downstairs kitchen.

The GICC said in its news release, “The Strictly Hip have been evangelists, spreading the good word of The Tragically Hip’s music far and wide. This is the music of The Tragically Hip presented with reverence, respect, accuracy and fun.”

Tribute band has built its own fan base

The Tragically Hip performed their final show on Aug. 20, 2016, following lead singer Gord Downie’s terminal cancer diagnosis. Based on popularity, critical acclaim and streaming data, the top three Tragically Hip songs are generally considered to be “Bobcaygeon,” “Wheat Kings” and “Ahead by a Century.”

Their iconic Canadian anthems “are beloved for their storytelling, poetic lyrics, and distinct rock sound,” according to Spotify.

The tribute band Strictly Hip was founded in 1995 in St. Catharines, Ontario, but is now based in Buffalo.

“They regularly perform to sold-out venues across North America and have created a loyal fan base of their own,” the GICC news release said.

Dave Goris climbed onto scaffolding to work on replacing ceiling fans in the Grand Island Cultural Center, formerly Old St. Stephen Church. He and other volunteers are preparing the upper floor of the community center for the Strictly Hip concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)

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Transformation to community center

GICC volunteers have been working hard on Phase 2 renovations on the upper floor of the former church for its new role as a theater and performance arts venue. This past Christmas season, the GICC hosted The Parish Players and BelleIsle Entertainment for a musical production of “Joseph and Mary.”

Phase 1 of the renovations was making the lower floor into a home base and meeting space for nonprofit, charitable groups such as the Neighbors Foundation, Scout Troup 630 and the Knights of Columbus, St. Mary Star of the Sea Council.

Burkhart has spent many Saturdays working on the renovations. On April 18, he was joined by the usual crew of volunteers, this time making headway on preparations for the Strictly Hip concert.

“We got a $20,000 grant from M&T Bank (toward the Phase 2 renovations) and two people from the community donated $5,000. So, we hired a company, E & M Star Painting, and they are doing the painting. They let us use their scaffolding so we could take down the old fans and replace them. And then we refinished the historic light fixtures,” Burkhart said.

He pointed to the former church confessional and said, “We are repurposing it as a ticket-taking booth.”

Ken Hamm, left, and Anthony Brawn stain some beams that will go up along the bottom of the balcony. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)

Dave Louth, left, and Jim Niland measure up some pews from the original Old St. Stephen Church. The pews are up for sale and can be sold at full size or cut to a specified length. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)

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Young volunteer helps cause

Anthony Brawn of Grand Island joined the renovation team in the summer of 2024 and is happy to do the work.

“I first got involved with the parish just by going to church, and then I eventually started doing Parish Players,” he said. “After another production of Parish Players, I was told to come here and help these guys. So, I come here every Wednesday and Saturday that I could. I got involved, joined the Knights. It’s great to know a good group of guys like this,” he said.

He graduated from Grand Island High School in 2021 and has a job in medical transportation. Brawn said of his involvement in GICC, “This is my passion, getting out in the community and helping.”

Making the facility self-sustaining

Burkhart outlined the mission and scope of the work ahead.

“The whole purpose of the upstairs is to generate enough income to sustain the building so that the not-for-profits can use the downstairs for free. The Neighbors Foundation, the Scouts and, eventually, the Knights of Columbus will also be free. They (the Knights) pay rent currently. Effectively, this is how we’re going to make it financially self-sustaining,” he said.

“We’ll probably end up doing concerts, maybe six times a year; theatrical productions. It will be available to rent for wedding receptions, big parties and big community events.”

The upstairs space can accommodate 260 people, Burkhart said.

Another fundraiser

The GICC is selling the 11-foot-long pews from Old St. Stephen Church at $250 each, if you pick it up yourself. The benches come in two sections. They will cut them to the size you want for another $150. They will deliver them to you, anywhere in a 10-mile radius for another $50.

Getting a ticket

Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7:30 concert. There will be cocktail tables and a cash bar. Tickets are $30. To purchase them, click HERE, use the QR code below, or email giculturalcenter@gmail.com.