(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 1, 2009.)
Johannes Linstead performs Saturday, showcasing similar musical stylings to festival favorite, Jesse Cook
By Gillian Brunette
The fabulous Fitzgerald family, featuring four of Canada’s finest young champion fiddlers and stepdancers, accompanied by their parents on keyboard and bass guitar, is the opening concert for the 2009 Huntsville Festival of the Arts summer season.
Everything Fitz takes the Algonquin Theatre stage this Friday, July 3, at 8 p.m. Theatre-goers may remember the young fiddlers and dancers from their charity benefit concerts here in 2006. The shows were virtual sellouts, and the festival is confident the group’s appeal will bring many of the same people back.
Everything Fitz offers a high-energy stage show featuring Canadian fiddle music that incorporates the sounds of East Coast, French Canadian, Texas-style and old-time music, combined with Ottawa Valley-style stepdancing. The band members, considered to be the rising stars of the fiddle and stepdancing world, have been show openers for such international stars as Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster, and now take their own action-packed show across Canada. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under.
Lovers of guitar and Latin rhythms will enjoy Johannes Linstead, who performs at the Algonquin Theatre this Saturday, July 4, beginning at 8 p.m. Fans of festival favourite Jesse Cook should take particular note, as Linstead’s sound and stylings are very similar.
A hugely talented multi-instrumentalist, Linstead plays guitar, piano, mandolin, bouzouki, bass, wood flute and various percussion styles. On his recordings, he is backed up by world-class musicians from countries as diverse as Cuba, Colombia, Syria, Greece, Mexico, Russia, India and the Ukraine.
Linstead’s live performances are nothing short of phenomenal, bursting with tropical sounds. Audiences are moved to dance and clap along to the music. In concert, as on his recordings, Linstead strives to create a festive mood, leaving plenty of room for lightning-fast guitar improvisations and spicy percussion solos on bongos, congas, timbale and doumbek.
Linstead is appearing with a solid six-piece band of exceptional musicians and will be joined on stage by a flamenco dancer, who will interpret Linstead’s music, adding both passion and flair to the performance. Tickets are $32 for adults and $20 for youth under 18.
The Metropolitan Silver Band, a brass band in the English tradition, appears at the Algonquin Theatre on Wednesday, July 8, at 8 p.m. Using only the instruments of the brass and percussion families, the band has been based at the Metropolitan United Church in downtown Toronto since 1934.
The group’s repertoire spans all genres written and transcribed for brass band. Classical, swing, pop, traditional and show tunes are among the selections for their fun-filled, 75th anniversary tour summer concerts. Along with the delightful Scottish flair of baritone Malcolm Sinclair, the band is sure to delight every audience. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for youth under 18.
For those looking for some comedic relief, the very funny duo Bowser and Blue return to Huntsville on July 10. Whether being politically correct (or as the case may be, incorrect), this satirical pair mix insightful observations and exceptional musicianship to bring laughter to all. Tickets are $32 for adults and $20 for youth under 18.
Another great evening of music is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, when the 40-piece professional festival orchestra, under the direction of Kerry Stratton, returns with Classics at the Movies. Stratton will present classical scores used in a number of well-known films, culminating with Beethoven’s Emperor piano concerto performed by pianist Zora Mihailovich.
More information and/or tickets are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by phoning 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.
