Bagpipes to blacksmiths, AlgomaTrad tuning up for summer camp

NEWS RELEASE
ALGOMATRAD
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The 16th Annual Algoma Traditional Music, Dance, and Heritage Arts Family Camp (AlgomaTrad 2019) is tuning up for an inspiring week of all-ages and levels workshops, concerts, dances, and heritage arts, all happening at the AlgomaTrad Centre, 1249 F&G Line on St. Joseph Island. The camp runs from Sunday evening, August 11 to Saturday morning, August 17.  Check out complete information about AlgomaTrad 2019 at algomatrad.ca/camp/. There are still openings for registration, either as a full-time registrant or for day camper programs that include a wide range of options including fiddle, bagpipes, banjo, piano, guitar, singing, step-dancing, blacksmithing, fiber arts, and dry stone walling, to name a few.

Several evening events are open to the public including the renowned Staff Concert, featuring nationally- and internationally-recognized performers from across Canada, scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, 7:30 p.m. at the Centennial Grounds in Richards Landing. Admission at the door is $20, children 12 and under free. Featuring over 15 world-class musicians, the Staff Concert line-up will include:

Virtuoso Canadian fiddler Louis Schryer, 8-time Canadian Open and 4-time Canadian Grand Master Champion and one of the famed and locally-grown Schryer Triplets;

Sophie and Fiachra, a duo playing traditional music from Ireland and Québec. Sophie Lavoie is a Québecois fiddler and singer and Fiachra O’Regan, from Ireland, is an all-Ireland Champion of the uilleann (Irish) pipes and Irish style tenor banjo-playing. They are coming to AlgomaTrad 2019 fresh off touring their new CD release “Portraits” in France and the USA ;

Kyle Waymouth, 4-time Canadian Open Champion stepdancer and multi-instrumentalist, in fact one of the greatest stepdancers in the world, who tours with The Fitzgeralds and international sensation Step Crew;

Cape Breton fiddler Dan MacDonald, whose 2018 release Urban/Rural was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in the Solo Instrumental category;

Singer and guitarist Andy Hillhouse, Artistic Director for the Harrison Festival of the Arts, founder of the Canadian Celtic group Mad Pudding, choir master, and regular accompanist for Pierre Schryer and Celtic rock band The McDades;

Elder Marly Day, a 'Traditional Ojibway Grandmother' (Nookimis), who was the lead in Women’s Hand Drum Group Wabshke Niimki Kweok and she performed as Thunderbird Woman in the Thinking Rock Community Arts production “The Rivers Speak”;

Fiddler, pianist, and accordionist Emilyn Stam, with 4 Canadian Folk Music and 2 Juno Award nominations to her credit and whose creative musicianship has been heard around the world with the Eastern European party-punk-super-band Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Dutch band Té, Canadian award-winners The Shoeless, and Italian accordionist Filippo Gambetta;

Banjo player and multi-instrumentalist, Sam Allison, who performs as Lotus Wight, will be joining the team this year. Sam is no stranger to AlgomaTrad, having taught here in the past and performed both as a solo artist and with the group Sheesham, Lotus and ‘Son

Joseph Phillips, returning this year to work his Bass and Guitar magic with all the staff musicians. Joe performed regularly with the Pierre Schryer Band and the London Symphony Orchestra and tours with Jayme Stone’s Folklife.

Citizen Jane - featuring songwriter Reenie Perkovic, a semi-finalist in the 2016 UK Songwriting Contest, accompanied by one of AlgomaTrad’s favourite musicians on fiddle and viola, Lea Kirstein;

Other evening events include Community Dances and the always entertaining Live and Silent Auction, slated for Thursday evening, August 15, which raises funds for the Nicholas Missere Bursary, a fund that helps families and individuals take part in AlgomaTrad events and workshops. Please contact AlgomaTrad if you would like to make a donation to the auction. Evening schedules will be available soon on the website, algomatrad.ca.

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