Arts Scene

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Some of the best musicians to arrive

From Sept. 26-28, some of North America’s best roots musicians, singers and songwriters will gather in Wolfville to perform at the Deep Roots Music festival. For its fifth edition, Deep Roots will highlight the likes of 2007 Grammy nominee Peter Case; The Hot Club of Cowtown, Texas’s most swinging band; Ari Hest; Steve Poltz; Ellen McIlwaine; Duane Andrews; and Matt Andersen.

The festival kicks off Thursday night with an intimate evening concert with Case, one of today’s most respected American songwriters, and McIlwaine, a true legend of the slide guitar.

Friday afternoon brings a double dose of free “Artists at Acadia” workshops, including In Conversation and Songs presented by Case, Poltz and Hest. In the evening, the music moves to University Hall for performances by Hot Club of Cowtown, Poltz, Genticorum, McIlwaine, Hest, and the Duane Andrews Trio.

For those late night music lovers, the festival continues with hot blues and a string jam highlighting Matt Andersen, The Hupman Brothers, Duane Andrews and Hot Toddy.

Expanded from previous years, the free family programming – Take Root”– begins bright and early Saturday with various interactive workshops. Saturday afternoon, all festival artists perform in concerts and workshops in a variety of venues. Saturday evening brings another main stage concert featuring Case, Coco Love Alcorn, Talambra, Matt Andersen, Celso Machado and Hot Toddy. Again, night owls can take in a barn dance or a roots-blues jam at the various festival venues.

A morning singalong concert will feature the hottest Nova Scotia talent and a closing concert Sunday brings the festival to an end.

Visit Deep Roots’ website at www.deeprootsmusic.ca or call the festival office at 542-7668 for announcements, ticket reservations and to consult the detailed festival schedule.

Book Launch

From Poverty to Power: How Active Citizens and Effective States Can Change the World is being launched in Wolfville Oct. 1.

Most of us feel overwhelmed when we contemplate the number of people across the globe suffering the brunt of poverty. Join editor Mark Fried at the launch of Oxfam’s new book, From Poverty to Power, for a discussion on how ordinary people through organized action can help eliminate poverty and its related challenges of inequality and environmental collapse.

From Poverty to Power, published by Oxfam International, contributes to an urgent and fast-changing debate about development. Its analysis draws on the experience of Oxfam and the organizations it supports in more than 100 countries around the world, recent literature and extensive discussions with numerous development professionals.

Fried is the Advocacy Coordinator for Oxfam Canada and writes regularly on policy issues related to international development.

The launch is set for Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville from 7–9 p.m.

On display

The Acadia University Art Gallery is presenting an exhibition of Edward Burtynsky’s photographs, on loan from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

Burtynsky is well known for his photographic depictions of global industrial landscapes. The large-scale photographs show areas we would rarely see; they demonstrate both the strong visual impact of these massive interventions into the landscape and also serve as reminders of the often destructive path of industry.

The exhibition will be on view until Nov. 8.

Live at the Met

The new LiveHD Met season at the Empire in New Minas begins Monday, Sept. 22 with the opening night gala starring Renee Fleming.

The gala screening begins at 7:30 p.m. and will last for three hours and 37 minutes with two intermissions. It stars Fleming singing La Traviata (Act II) - Verdi; Manon (Act III) - Massenet; Capriccio (Final Scene) - Richard Strauss. Music Director James Levine and Marco Armiliato will conduct fully staged performances. Tenor Ramon Vargas and baritones Thomas Hampson and Dwayne Croft join the soprano.

Empire is advertising the simulcasts as "the ultimate stage spectacle - on screen." There will be 11 performances transmitted around the world this season. The gala is only for North America - the remaining 10 throughout the world.

For a full rundown on the season visit: www.metopera.org



Take up ukulele

Kentville musician John Kavanagh is teaching ukulele at the town's recreation centre. He says, "drop-ins are absolutely welcome. People can join after the first class, too."

He has to charge $75 for 12 weeks in order to pay the rent. "My break-even point is around 10 people. If there are 20 or more I'll split the class and have two."

Kavanagh says at Music Stop in New Minas they have decent entry-level ukes in stock - about as much fun as you can buy for $25.

The first class was Sept. 17. Kavanagh is a fine ukulele player. He released a CD in 2006. Any questions can be directed his way by calling 678-3225 or e-mail: parlourukulele@gmail.com

Featured artist

Erma Walker is the local artist with a special display coming up at the Valley Regional Hospital Art Gallery in Kentville. It will run from Sept. 25 to Nov. 27.

Carter country nights

The Wilf Carter Old-Time Country Night is set for Sept. 27 at the Lions Hall in Canning.

Featured performers are yodeling singer Sylvia Campbell, Carl Dalrymple, Caroll Edwards, Fred Shaw and Dave Harnett.

Tickets are $10 at the door or at Cochrane's Pharmacies in Canning and Wolfville. Doors open at 6 p.m., music begins at 7 p.m. Proceeds go to the Wilf Carter Room at the Canning Library and Heritage Centre.

In addition, Cowgirl’s Sweetheart: A Tribute to Wilf Carter will be staged at The Mermaid Imperial Performing Arts Centre in Windsor Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8.p.m.

The life and music of Canadian music pioneer Wilf Carter will be brought to life by Nathan Tinkham in songs and stories. Tinkham, who has played with Ian Tyson and the Great Western Orchestra, also toured with Wilf Carter himself and has recently finished a CD of some of Carter's most memorable songs.

He will be accompanied in the show by well-known fiddler Gordon Stobbe (Up Home Tonight) and bassist Greg Simm. The show was developed at Ship's Company Theatre in Parrsboro and will be headed to Western Canada in 2009.

Tickets ($15 adult/$12 for students) are on sale now at Moe’s Place Music Sales in Windsor. Call 798-5565.

Coming up

Sept. 26–28

Deep Roots Music Festival, Wolfville

Until Sept. 30

Linda Moyer exhibition, Annapolis Art, Wolfville