This edition of Folk Lines gives details about Folk Fiesta! and shares news from the ECMAs. As we shared in the January edition of Folk Lines, the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is planning a busy schedule of live presentations in 2022. That schedule includes our Festival in August, Saturdays in the Park this summer, and a Weekends at the Opera House series this spring. This installment of the newsletter will focus on the first event on our slate, Folk Fiesta!   Folk Fiesta!: March 26Folk Fiesta! is planned for March 26, 2022 as a songwriters’ circle featuring Cassie and Maggie, Dave Gunning, and Terra Spencer. The concert will take place at the Lunenburg Opera House at 7:30 pm.  Cassie and MaggieCassie and Maggie MacDonald were raised in Antigonish, NS, surrounded by the Celtic music traditions of the Maritimes. Their sound is a remarkable blend of these traditions – fiery reels, lilting polkas, and Scottish and Irish influences. Their captivating sound is driven by Cassie’s lively fiddling, and Maggie’s beautiful guitar and piano playing, with the special depth that comes when siblings create music together. The Willow Collection, their 2016 recording, was named Best Traditional Album at the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards. From that album, here is “Hangman”.  Dave GunningWith Folk Harbour Festival performances dating back to 2004, Dave Gunning is a much-loved performer who displays his honest, emotionally rich songs every time he takes the stage. A master craftsman, Dave’s extensive discography includes his tribute to John Allan Cameron (2010), a collaboration with JP Cormier (Two, 2017), and his newset release, Up Against the Sky (2019). Dave’s song, “A Game Goin’ On” from his album No More Pennies won the 2013 Hockey Night in Canada Song Quest, and “These Hands” is not only an award-winning song (ECMA’s 2013 Song of the Year), but also an enormously popular children’s book. From Up Against the Sky, here is “In the Time I Was Away”.  Terra SpencerNova Scotian funeral director-turned-songwriter Terra Spencer is rapidly winning over audiences with her fingerstyle guitar playing, her warm voice, her onstage humour, and her absolutely stellar songwriting. Folk Harbour audiences already know about Terra’s abilities as a natural storyteller; her most recent appearance on our stage was in November 2021 as part of Catherine MacLellan’s holiday concert. Terra’s self-produced second album, Chasing Rabbits, was named the 2021 Music NS Folk Recording of the Year. From that recording, here is Lunenburg Moon. Folk Fiesta! details Over the years, Folk Fiesta! has been a lot of things, including a competition, a celebration of spring, a fundraiser, and our Festival announcement concert. Folk Fiesta! 2022 will be quite different. There will not be food or drinks sold, and there will not be a silent auction. In fact, capacity restrictions are such that it won’t be a fundraiser at all. What it WILL be is a chance to show Folk Harbour’s commitment to hiring professional Nova Scotian musicians and giving them opportunities to ply their trade. We will announce our Folk Harbour Festival lineup, too…and with any luck, it just might be a celebration of spring!   Folk Fiesta! and COVID-19 restrictions By March 26, Nova Scotia is expected to be in Phase 2 of reopening. This means that we will be limiting capacity in the Lunenburg Opera House to 85 seats, so that physical distancing between audience members can be maintained. Audience members will have to provide proof of being fully vaccinated, and must wear masks at all times in the venue.We were so grateful for the exceptional compliance displayed in the fall for our Weekends at the Opera House series, so we know you all can do this!  The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society’s COVID-19 Safety Plan is available on our website. Tickets for Folk Fiesta! will go on sale Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at noon Atlantic Time through Ticketpro (888 311-9090) and the Folk Harbour office (125 Montague St., Lunenburg, 902 634-3180). Tickets are $35 (taxes included), and $17.50 for those 25 years and under.Tickets for Folk Fiesta! – on sale February 22.   Weekends at the Opera House, Spring 2022 Weekends at the Opera House, Spring 2022 ● April 8 and 9 / April 22 and 23 ● May 6 and 7 / May 20 and 21 ● June 3 and 4 Festival 2022 Like many of you, all of us at the Folk Harbour Society are dreaming of a return to a full Folk Harbour Festival this year.Much work is going on behind the scenes to book the artists and make the other necessary arrangements. Stay tuned for the Festival lineup announcement at Folk Fiesta! on March 26, and plan to join us from August 4 to 7 for the best in Music by the Sea!Festival passes are on sale at the Early Bird price of $160.00 for four full days of music! The sale price stays in effect until April 15. On April 16 and until the Festival – or until they’re sold out – passes will be available at the regular price of $175. Note that those 25 years old and under get 50% off the regular prices.  Recently, the East Coast Music Association released its list of nominees for this year’s awards. We are thrilled that the 2021 Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society Mini-Festival was nominated in the Event of the Year / Événement de l’année category!!The full list of nominees can be found here, and includes many musicians who have performed on Folk Harbour stages. 2022 promises many musical offerings from the Folk Harbour Society. Plan to take in some of these live concerts and support the live music industry!  ©2022 Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society | 125 Montague Street, PO Box 655, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 |
Folk Lines – February 2022
Folk Lines – February 2022
Folk Harbour
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization. They are focused on preserving and celebrating the tradition of folk music through educational programs, youth scholarships and showcasing world-class musicians from across Canada, United States and beyond.