Festival also presents Compadres and their exciting fusion of sound.
One of history’s all-time favourite groups will be captured in music tonight, Aug. 13, at the Algonquin Theatre.
More precisely, one of Led Zeppelin’s monster albums will be on show, as Led Zeppelin II is recreated sound for sound and note for note.
The folks at Classic Albums Live, most recently at the Algonquin Theatre with their Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd evening in February, have made an excellent name for themselves with these re-creations. Not a tribute band per se, Classic Albums focuses more on the music. Every sound is critical, and is often enhanced in the studio as the music is being mixed.
CLASSIC CUT: Members of the Classic Albums Led Zeppelin II band got the audience stirred up during their concert at the Alqonquin Theatre Aug. 13. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]
In matching the studio sound, that may mean adding players past the original four. The first half of the evening is dedicated to the Led Zeppelin II album, with songs such as Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, The Lemon Song, Ramble On and Moby Dick.
Released on the heels of their first album, which was an international success, the second album was even more widely acclaimed and arguably more influential.
The second half of the evening will be an all-out Zeppelin jam, with favourites from a wide range of their amazing discography. Needless to say the Algonquin Theatre will be a rocking place to be.
On Thursday, Aug. 14, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts welcomes two of Canada’s finest artists. Singer/songwriter James Keelaghan joins good friend Oscar Lopez in an evening of diverse styles that combine to create a fusion of sound that will be sure to entertain.
FAB FUSION: Singer/songwriter James Keelaghan (right) joins fellow musician Oscar Lopez, combining diverse musical styles to form a creative and entertaining evening of sound fusion.
Keelaghan is a Juno winner, a three-time Juno nominee and a two-time winner of the USA Songwriting Competition’s folk category. He has played with the Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony and has established himself as an avid tourer, playing to critical acclaim across the country
Lopez is a two-time Juno winner and the recipient of the Haygood Hardy Jazz/
Instrumental Music Award. Originally from Chile, Lopez moved to Canada in 1979, where he established a solid career that includes three CDs released under the Narada label.
Together, the two are Compadres, an example of the world-music fusion that has taken off in recent years. Keelaghan and Lopez jokingly refer to their sound as Celtino, fusing the rollicking, sometimes melancholy influences behind Keelaghan’s folk material with the fiery guitar vibe of Lopez’s work.
In Lopez’s two previous appearances as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts line-up, he left no doubt that his talents with the Latin/flamenco guitar are exceptional and can raise the temperature of any room in which he plays. Lopez’s playing injects energy and edginess into Keelaghan’s smooth baritone, while Keelaghan’s skillful song-craft creates a superb structure for Lopez’s amazing guitar work.
On Friday night, enjoy a stunning spectacle of traditional Irish dance music and song with the Magic of Ireland.
A consistent sell-out on a recent tour through England and Europe, the show features 10 champion Irish dancers and five multi-instrumentalists, featured on the accordion, fiddle, guitar, Bahrain, pipes, whistles and flutes. At press time, tickets were selling fast but some should still be available.
Tickets for all shows can be purchased at the theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.
