Submitted by Susie Teague

Imagine yourself walking into the community center after feeling a bit of “cabin fever” from the long cold winter. As you enter, you see community friends and gather around our local youth organization’s displays, looking at photos and information related to Lopez Island youth programs. Then, after you get a warm cup of tea and say hello to a couple of neighbors, you move into the friendly and cozy concert hall for an intimate musical evening with local musicians.

Lane Langford started the tradition of singing in the heart of winter at Lopez Community Center for the Arts nine years ago. These annual wintertime concerts benefit the Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Lopez Children’s Center and Lopez Island Youth Conservation Corps.

“Being able to come together to make music that benefits these excellent organizations is a pure pleasure,” said Lisa Geddes of Lost Marbles. The musicians begin rehearsing in the fall for this show, choosing a variety of songs, from cover tunes to Lopez Island musicians’ originals. Bringing together a show like this takes times, energy, patience and lots of practice, practice, practice.

“Besides the opportunity to raise funding for local youth organizations, I love that the whole community comes out to see this showcase for the wide variety of songwriters and musicians who are nourished by this small but mighty island’s love and support,” Phil Paige, from Lost Marbles, said.

This year’s performers include Lost Marbles, a Lopez Island Americana band with Geoff Heard; Phil Paige; Lisa Geddes; Rick Hoffman; Todd Goldsmith; Nick Teague; and Susie Teague, with special guest, Rosie Sumner. The event also showcases Lopez singer/songwriter Derek Eisel, as well as The Fieldboats, with Lopez’s own Chris Aiken; Kevin Sullivan; Doug Poole; and John Platter. Of course, the concert would not be the same without its very own inspired founder of the “Warmth in the Heart of Winter Concert,” Lane Langford.

Mark your calendars, get your tickets and come out to support your local youth organizations, musicians and community at 7 p.m. on either Friday, Feb. 7 or Saturday, Feb. 8, at Lopez Center. Extra donations will be accepted in support for the youth organizations. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for youth, available online at www.lopezcenter.org; Lopez Center box office; Paper Scissors on the Rock; Blossom Grocery; and the Lopez Bookshop.