Double country shows for a fiver
Published Thursday August 28th, 2008
The past few years the Atlantic National Exhibition's planning committee has been mired in a quandary: how to make the most of the venues that remain at Saint John's Exhibition Park, and bring more people of all ages through the turn-stiles (figuratively speaking since they don't have turnstiles).
Ultimately, they decided for this year's event, Aug. 26-29, to try something they had kicked around often as their buildings diminished. They aren't charging admission to the exhibition grounds, to the exhibits, the Irving outdoor stage or to the carnival ride area. The ferris wheel and the more than 20 other mechanical wonders have become more expensive to bring in. So organizers hope the $5 savings will bring more thrill seekers, teenagers primarily, to this year's midway.
The flower, vegetable, art, photography and hand craft enthusiasts can visit exhibits in Deluxe's canteen end of Building 1, walled off this year from the stage end (where a nightly $5 admission is being charged) and in Building 2 (for years the fish and game venue.) A $2 admission applies to the Little Ray Reptile Zoo in the big tent.
Your $5 admission to Building 1 today and Friday buys four hours of traditional entertainment - two shows each day.
Shanklin Road, the all-girl trio based near St. Martins, kicks off the entertainment today at 5:45 p.m. Originally a quartet, they formed when the Kennedy sisters, now Dawn Ellis and Joyce Miller, teamed with two Bennett sisters, Lisa and Donna, to stage fundraisers.
They eventually became the bluegrass act Blacks Mountain. Blacks Mountain was backed instrumentally by the girls' fathers and families, won many awards and guested with Shelagh Rogers and Bill Richardson on CBC. In 2002, Donna left and Dawn, Joyce and Lisa became the comedic country trio Shanklin Road. The trio earned an ECMA nomination, opened for George Canyon and joined Stewart McLean on three Vinyl Café Live broadcasts. They also released many CDs, both as Blacks and Shanklin Road.
The act following them at 7:45 p.m., Randy Vail and Lost Highway, features a superb regular cast: singer-songwriter and guitarist Steve Lyons, lead vocalist Anna-Marie (Burke) Golding, singing keyboardist Jennifer Hazen, lead guitarist Mike McNamara, drummer John Somerville and singer-songwriter Randy Vail.
Their special guests include: banjo and dobro wizard John Jefferies; vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Reg Gallant; New Brunswick's own "Charlie Pride" Paul Bright; former Men of The Deep vocalist Cyril MacNeil; Douglas Harbour's royal country couple Hazen and Eileen Kennedy (Joan's parents); old-time piano man Joe Ness; the great Hank Snow sound-alike Bobby Burke, his granddaughter, four-year old Chelsea Golding and his son-in-law Bruce Golding; popular multi-instrumentalist Matthew O'Connor and mother/daughter duo, Beth and Jillian O'Donnell. What a bargain for $5!
Friday, at 6 p.m. another double show for $5 in Building 1 features rising national star Steve Waylon and band Rebel Ridge. Based in Fredericton again, after a couple of years on Ontario's very competitive country circuit, Steve has been compared with Travis Tritt and Montgomery Gentry.
He has opened for Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Doc Walker and others. His manager Barry Haugen, of Sand Dollar Entertainment Inc., says Steve can gear himself to any audience. When I heard him at a pre-CCMA showcase here in 2006, I was greatly impressed with his smooth voice, commanding stage presence and persona.
At 8 p.m., spectacularly ending the ANE's Four Nights of Country, Ivan and Vivian Hicks, New Brunswick's constantly touring music ambassadors, bring their Sussex Avenue Fiddlers contingent of over 30 multi-talented fiddlers, accompanists, dancers, singers and at least one fiddling yodeler, Sylvia Campbell, to the ANE stage for the first time. They were the first fiddle group in the province to meet for the purpose of instruction, organize a program to entertain shut-ins, dress in matching stage outfits and travel outside their home base to perform, Canada-wide and internationally. Now, as a result of their popularity, there are many well-organized fiddle groups throughout the province.
A group of fledgling musicians who met for instruction at Ivan and Vivian's former residence on Sussex Avenue, Riverview, they grew to more than 50 members. Celebrating their 30th anniversary this past February, they did a 17-day tour of the Southern U.S. with performances in Nashville, Tenn., Bristol, Va., and Lafayette, La. That is a state to which many in the group have Acadian ties.
Don't miss these last two nights of double country at the ANE. It may be a smaller venue but the music is greater than ever.
SUSSEX VALLEY JAMBOREE
As if Gary Morris hasn't been busy enough this week, he has put together (in his spare time) a Valley Jamboree for this Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Sussex Regional High. It will feature all the regulars: Jeannie Clark, Tammy Feeney, Cheryl Ellis, Dale Butland and special guests, the New Diamond Trio of Al Sherwood, Wayne Nightingale and Gary Morris. Other guests include Roger Lanteigne, Allison Inch, Art Merritt, Bonny Kilburn Dancers, Sharon Layton, Madison Dupere, Maurice Fleming and Shelby Murray, teen accordionist. Tickets are at all regular outlets.
PENINSULA PARTY SATURDAY
A super special Kingston Peninsula Kitchen Party, hosted by Sylvia Campbell and her brother Fraser Smith, Saturday, 7 p.m., at the Parish Hall, Kingston - a bigger venue than their regular one at Frances Smith Memorial. It's the last for 2008 and Ivan and Vivian Hicks and some of their Sussex Avenue Fiddlers will be featured, along with the entire Kingston kitchen party gang. Bring an instrument, come to sing or just to listen. A donation is asked at the door. Light refreshments will be served. There will be fiddling, yodelling and probably dancing. For details, call Fraser at 763-2559 or Sylvia, at 386-4601. Some of the performers will be at the Kingston Market entertaining Saturday morning, as well. So join them for breakfast.
PARK AVE FIDDLE JAM
The Park Avenue Fiddlers host a Fiddle Jam, Sunday, 7:30-9:30 p.m., at the Park Avenue United Church, Saint John East. All fiddlers, traditional accompanists and fiddle enthusiasts are invited. Free coffee or tea will be available with a free-will offering at door to help with hall expenses. For details, call 847-1034.
Gerry Taylor cgtaylor@nbnet.nb.ca has covered folk and country music for over 30 years.
More Magazine
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
