Many festival fringe events coming up

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 9, 2008.)

In addition to mainstage concerts, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts presents several fringe events over the coming days.

On Sunday, July 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. Tunes at Tall Trees takes place on the lawn at Spencer’s Tall Trees restaurant.

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a couple hours of light pop and contemporary music from Tobin Spring and Sean Connon.

Also enjoy a selection of juices and light snacks and pastries prepared by chef Randy Spencer. Music and food for the low price of $15 is definitely a winning combination.

Next Monday evening, features the second Monday at the Movies with the presentation of Todd Haynes film I’m Not There. The film focuses on the life of Bob Dylan, as depicted by a stellar cast including the late Heath Ledger and Cate Blanchette. Tickets are $8.

Tuesday, July 15, has been set aside for the sixth annual Poetry Café. This year the event includes an afternoon workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Suzuki Strings Studio (located in the train station).

“Martin Avery, who started Poetry Night in Canada in Bracebridge a few years ago and is the writer in residence in Durham County, is hosting the poetry workshop,” said festival board director June Salmon, adding that 15 people have registered so far.

“The idea is to hopefully write something during that time to present at the Hideaway Pub that evening.”

The evening of presentations and readings at the Hideaway begins at 7 p.m. and runs through to 9 p.m.

Poets interested in registering for the free workshop should contact Salmon at 385-2722 or at junesalmon@sympatico.ca.

Everyone is welcome to attend the evening poetry reading, which includes an open mic portion, said Salmon.

“If poets feel they can’t write something that day, they can read something else they have written. As well, anyone who is unable to attend the workshop is still welcome to come and listen and perhaps share their work at the open mic.”

Those who live a little outside the downtown core, or would like to take a short summer’s drive, there are two dock concerts coming up featuring the Muskoka Concert Band.

The first presentation is tonight, Wednesday, July 9 starting at 7 p.m. at the Dwight beach dock. The second one is the following Wednesday, July 16 at the Port Sydney dock.

Admission is free to both concerts.

Huntsville's arts festival continues with second great week of entertainment

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 9, 2008.)

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is now well underway and playing to large audiences.

This next week offers a further opportunity to see and hear some great entertainment, starting with Thursday’s presentation of the legendary Downchild Blues Band. Then, with singer/songwriter Marc Jordan appearing on July 12, the upcoming weekend promises to be a special one indeed.

Downchild, and their leader Donnie Walsh, have been Canada’s leading blues band for 40 years. Weighed down by awards and recognitions over their career, the group showed their currency by being acknowledged as Entertainers of the Year at the 2007 Maple Blues Awards.

Inspired by the early music of Muddy Waters and BB King, Downchild plays the blues the way it was meant to be played: straight up and strong.

On Friday night, the festival welcomes back a favourite show from a couple of years ago. Unforgettable: Brothers of Song features a tribute to the music of Nat ‘King’ Cole and celebrates such notable artists as Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Al Hibbler, Sam Cooke, Johnny Mathis, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Barry White, James Brown, Lou Rawls, Lionel Ritchie and others.

UNFORGETTABLE: Rudy Mayes returns to the Algonquin Theatre stage with the music of Nat 'King' Cole and others, supported by an all-star band and some great female vocalists. Don't miss Unforgettable: Brothers of Song on July 11 at 8 p.m.

Cole, a musical pioneer with hits such as Unforgettable, Mona Lisa, Ramblin’ Rose, and Nature Boy, sold over 50 million recordings during his illustrious career.

The two-hour production of Unforgettable: Brothers of Song, features Rudy Mayes with an all-star band, a lead female vocalist, plus four solo and back-up singers. This smooth, romantic, joyous show takes audiences through the early years of jazz, gospel, blues, soul, rock and roll, Motown and more.

From noon on Saturday and Sunday, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts presents the inaugural Edge of the Woods street festival (see separate story), then on Saturday evening festival patrons will be treated to not one, but two very talented artists.

Opening the evening will be Dawn Langstroth. While that name may not be familiar to many, Langstroth is the daughter of Anne Murray and sang with her mother on her recent duets CD. Langstroth has also established a personal recording career.

Following Langstroth is regular festival performer Marc Jordan, who has previously appeared with his wife Amy Sky and as a member of the songwriters group known as Lunch at Allen’s.

Jordan has established an impeccable name internationally, as the writer of such hits as Living in Marina Del Ray, Rockets, and also Rhythm of My Heart and This, recorded by Rod Stewart. A superb storyteller and an excellent musician, Jordan will provide a great evening of entertainment.

For more information on these or any of the festival concerts, or to order tickets, go to www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca or call the Algonquin Theatre box office at 789-4975.

Story Relay offers creative fun online

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 9, 2008.)

While several dozen authors toil away at the Muskoka Novel Marathon, members of the public are invited to take part in the first-ever Story Relay.

From July 11 to July 14, you can add your touch to one of three online collaborative stories and help support the Muskoka Literacy Council.

“Traditionally the marathon has been for writers and they have invited the public to come and see what’s happening and to support them, but there hasn’t been a way for them to be really involved,” said novel marathon committee member Paula Boon, who is the mastermind behind the Story Relay.

“As a writer, I found the marathon so much fun that I wanted to think of a way to let others have that experience. The novel marathon is a fundraiser, so I thought this would be a way to bring more attention and hopefully funds to the literacy council.”

Although the Story Relay was Boon’s idea, those who sit on the novel marathon committee brought something to it that Boon noted “is fantastic.” They invited three celebrity authors to write the beginnings to three different stories. These include Mel Malton, who has contributed the beginning of a mystery set at the novel marathon, Roy MacGregor, who has written the beginning of a more historical story, and Robert Munsch, who has provided the beginning of a children’s story.

“It’s exciting for people to be collaborating with these writers,” said Boon.

“People don’t have to be incredible, fantastic writers or storytellers to take part, they can just add a word or a phrase and there is also a place on the site that offers suggestions if you want to contribute but you’re stuck for ideas. People can contribute more than once if they want to.”

Go to www.huntsvilleforester.com and click on “Story Relay” to see the stories and/or contribute.

Festival Image Makers art exhibit at Trinity

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 9, 2008.)

By Jenny Cressman

Show featuring works from local visual artists runs from July 14 to 19.

When the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) was founded in 1993, the impetus was music.

As the festival vision grew, the inclusion of other art forms became increasingly important. Visual arts in particular, began to be seen as a vital part of the mandate.

After the first few years, the HFA board decided to invite local artists to contribute work to be featured on the festival’s brochure. Kate Santos provided three musically themed pastel images in the late ‘90s, setting a high standard. However, the board felt it should offer the coveted cover position to others in the community.

Since then, artists have been commissioned annually to create work, in a broad range of media. In 2000, Laura Bombier made a splash with her photograph depicting a musical score emblazoned on a woman’s bare back.

IMAGE MAKERS: Five of the many Huntsville artists who have produced images for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts over the past years gathered for a photo at the opening of the Festival Image Makers exhibit held at Trinity United Church hall last week. From the left are Brenda Wainman Goulet, Beverley Hawksley, Jon Snelson, Jenny Kirkpatrick and Marni Martin.

Next, Beverley Hawksley contributed a painting featuring elegant arms with fingers of one hand pointing to a sheet of music and the other set, skyward. The latter direction proved prophetic when the following year, Brenda Wainman Goulet sculpted an angelic bronze dancer, who appeared to hover in the heavens thanks to the computer-enhanced image that was used on the brochure cover marking the festival’s 10th year.

Photographer Jenny Kirkpatrick created the 2003 cover image, followed by Charles Knapp (stained glass scene), Gus van Baarsel (three-dimensional wall hanging), Joseph Reijnen (fine metal and gem sculpture), Bill Urban (abstract oil painting) and this year, Marni Martin (woven image).

Work by these artists and the HFA’s long-time official photographer Jon Snelson, will be featured in a special exhibit entitled Festival Image Makers, taking place on July 14 to 19, from noon to 4 p.m., in the Trinity United Church hall.

THREE DIMENSIONAL: This wall hanging by Gus van Baarsel is just one of the festival images that will be on display at an art exhibit being held in the Trinity United Church hall, July 14 to 19.

Patrons of the Music at Noon concerts, also hosted at the church, are encouraged to visit the art show afterwards; both events are free.

Week two of Music at Noon concerts starts Monday, July 14, at Trinity United Church

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 9, 2008.)

The second week of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts Music at Noon concerts begins on Monday, July 14, with a couple of changes to the advertised programming.

The line-up as of press time is:

July 14: The Corktown Chamber Players

July 15: Carol Hardy (flute) and Marion Haggart (piano)

July 16: Merry Winds clarinet quartet; leader Kathy Kilbourne

July 17: Bob Attfield, piano potpourri

July 18: Just 8, jazz vocals with director George Kadwell

The concerts, taking place weekdays beginning at 12:15 p.m. each day and running for approximately half an hour at Trinity United Church, are free.

After the concerts, visit the festival artisans’ exhibit in Trinity Hall, which runs from July 14 to 19. The exhibit features works by previous festival brochure cover artists.