 | | Annual General Meeting 2007 | | |
Music Report
West Prince Arts Council
Year 2007-2008
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A great many musical activities have gone on in West Prince during the past year.
The 14th annual Larry Gorman Folk Festival weekend was a big success. This was held in Tyne Valley at the newly-opened Forbes House Folklore and Community History Centre, with the official opening held on Saturday at 6 p.m. Performing during the weekend were Allan Rankin, John Cousins, The Stolen Roans (Noem Bowser and Mike Dixon), Ed and Ruth Fitzgerald, Arnie Gaudet, Jackie Biggar, Gerald McNally, Elmer Hutchinson - also the group Cajun and old country music group The Bernard Family from Louisiana. A DVD and CD from a concert by John Cousins was also launched during the weekend.
In September 2007 The Lazy Jacks officially launched their third CD, "Watercolor Windows"at the Britannia Hall in Tyne Valley. The group was very busy during the summer. Their website is www.lazyjacks.ca
The Red Clay Blue Grass Festival was held August 17,18 and 19, 2007 at the Chaisson Road in Tignish. Thirteen bands from across the Maritimes and the U.S.A. performed at this festival. Tignish was also the site for the annual Irish Festival during the summer.
The West Prince Jamboree was held at the Bloomfield Provincial Park on August 26th from 1-7 p.m., featuring great local talent, plus the Ellis Family Band and Jerico Road.
In the late summer of 2007 Prince County's Saddle River String Band shared the stage with Ontario's Sheesham and Lotus for a concert at the Britannia Hall in Tyne Valley. The Saddle River String Band is comprised of Troy MacArthur, James Phillips, Tom DesRoches and Mike Dixon.
80-year-old Theresa Bernard from Harmony, P.E.I. launched her first musical CD, entitled "It's Never Too Late - Dreams Do Come True", a CD of religious and war-era songs.
The Allan and Allan Show, featuring singer/songwriter Allan Rankin and noted storyteller Allan Buchanan, was held August 25th at the Britannia Hall.
Christmas and Easter cantatas were performed by various choirs in West Prince, including the Alberton Interdenominational Adult Cantata Choir and the Tyne Valley Community Choir. Congratulations are extended to Allan Graham and Merry Barbour who received recognition by the Alberton and Area Development Corporation (AADC) for their work in the field of music.
The Pendergasts, consisting of Michael, Robert, David, Angela, Jean-Paul and Monique, presented Songs of the Season during Advent and Christmas, with monies going towards needy causes, to the Reg Pendergast Memorial Scholarship Fund, and to the school playground equipment fund.
The West Prince Music Festival, coordinated by Claude Brisson, started April 23, 2008 for three days, with Elmsdale Church of the Nazarene the host for the event. The final concert and awards presentation were held at Westisle Theatre on May 8, 2008.
The 5th Annual P.E.I. Guitar Festival was held on April 25th and 26th, 2008 at the Britannia Centre in Tyne Valley. This year's featured performers included Scott Parsons, Robert Drew, John MacAllar, Fred Arsenault, Ian Toms, W. Brent Johnston, Jordan Palmer, Shawn Martin, Mark Smith, Jesse Wagner, Wensley Power, Spencer Phillips, Mark Phillips, plus several others.
Last but not least - there were numerous musical gatherings all over West Prince, including benefits for people in need of assistance. Country and western singing, old-time fiddling, and step-dancing are very popular with young and old alike, and especially popular with visitors "from away"
Respectfully,
Dorothy Griffin-Farish
Secretary | | | |
