I’m in Calgary, freezing my ass off — it’s currently -5°C — and coincidence of coincidences, I heard about an upcoming Vancouver festival. Even out here on the prairies, Vancouver’s art scene casts a shadow.

The festival’s called the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, and it was co-produced by Rumble Productions and some other people who I haven’t yet been able to Google.

Many of the shows look interesting: Studies in Motion: The Hauntings of Eadweard Muybridge, for instance, is one that tickles my interest. But the reason I heard about the festival was that “Famous Puppet Death Scenes” is going to be produced by the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, and I was at an Old Trout party — it was fabulous fun. From their brochure: “In a way, we promise ever lasting life. Through a puppet show. That’s right.”

Most of the festival tickets are on sale at Festival Box Office. The event’s on from about Jan. 17 to about Feb. 4 — watch the PuSh Web site for more specific details and an explanation of that big “S”.

(If you have a festival you want promoted, send an email and let me know!)