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Harmony Bazaar
Nova Scotia Festival of Women & Song
July 25 & 26/08 - stay tuned for updates!
Amy Grant: Youth Performance Workshop leader
3:00 - 4:30pm Friday July 25/08
Amy Grant lives in Milton, Queens County with her husband, Troy and twin teens, Luke and Mandi both of whom also play a variety of
musical instruments.
Music has always been a big part of her life. She is a former member of the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and has performed in many
Winds of Change theatre productions including Grease, Evita, and Passionella
which the group was invited to showcase in Yakumo, Japan during its first international theatre festival in 1999.
Amy enjoys performing many different genres of music including gospel, bluegrass, classic rock and pop as well as her own compositions. A number of years ago she had the privilege of being asked to sing one of her original tunes on Breakfast Television along with Joyce Seamone, Scott McKone and Tim Clark to help promote a compilation cd of various South Shore artists.
She credits playing music with a
variety of local bands over the years as teaching her "many useful things" and enriching her life "beyond imagination."
Currently, she plays keyboards and sings harmonies and lead vocals as a member of the band
In a Jam - when she's not giving
private piano and vocal lessons or working as a veterinarian's assistant.
Back from '07: Back 2 the Start
Back 2 The Start was created September '06 by a group of friends from Shelburne Regional High School. What started as a few jam sessions became the makings of the band they are today.
Alex Buchanan is the the band's cornerstone and creator. An experienced musician, he plays an array of instruments focusing on piano and vocals with the group. He also acts as producer and editor for much of what they perform.
Kayla Boyd began as band manager, but after hearing her sing you will understand why she been added to vocals. She has an obvious natural rhythm and plays percussion instruments.
Eleanor Melanson, one of the original band members, is on vocals, lead, back-up and percussion.
Emily Demings, the newest member, plays a key role on the drum set and guitar. She too is a talented musician and a great addition to the band.
Bankrupt
Bankrupt consists of four members: Bassist Dayna Forsythe has been playing for around two years. Her favorite bands are Pink Floyd and NoFX.
Guitarist Robin Wakerell's influences include Jimmy Page and Ian D'sa. He likes all rock, but has a taste for indie bands.
Drummer Kyle Goreham draws influence and inspiration from the band Our Lady Peace. He likes to drum in his bare feet.
Finally, there's vocalist Dawn Penney who loves Green Day and live gigs. In her case, musicians make the best politicians. Together, they form the band Bankrupt.
Cathy Cook: back from '06 & '07
While Cathy comes from the Ohio River Valley and still has family in Coolville, Ohio, she is
delighted to now make her home in Walls Lake (a suburb of Sable River) Nova Scotia. The first
live concert she ever attended was Judy Collins, who along with Joni Mitchell and Janis Ian, has
been a strong early influence on her music. Later influences include Mary Chapin Carpenter, and
her current favorite recording artist, "Blues Goddess" Rita Chiarelli.
Cathy released her debut CD, Silk and Steel, in 2007
and has been spending time encouraging and promoting young musicians from Shelburne County and
celebrating being in this beautiful part of the Province. When she's not singing, she's making a
living as a Licensed Practical Nurse and enjoying riding her motorcycle.
Irish Mythen: back from '07
Songwriters' Circle leader Saturday 3 - 4:30pm
Her earliest musical influences were sounds of Makem and Clancy, Planxty and Bob Dylan being played by her parents as they drove around the Caribbean island of Trinidad where she lived as a child.
1996 saw her based in Sweden to start what would be a 4-year tour of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and the U.K. She started work on her debut album "Republic of One" which she recorded in Bohus Studios Gothenburg, Sweden.
In 2000, Irish Mythen moved to Australia where she quickly established a large and loyal following. 2003 saw the release of "Appreciate" on Myth Records. Irish was in the studio June 2006 recording her new E.P "Fallen me" with Paul Mills at the Millstream Studio in Toronto, Canada. This recording sold quickly and got massive reviews so she decided to recorded the full album "Sweet Necessity" with Mills at the MILLSTREAM January 2007, and judging by early sales, this album is going to be the one that firmly plants Irish on the map.
She has played all over the world sharing stages with such artists as Tom Paxton, Paul Brady, The Dubliners, Richie
Havens, and top Canadian acts such as Ron Hynes, Lennie Gallant, Gordie Sampson, Joel Plaskett, Dave Gunning, J.P
Cormier, and Bruce Guthro. The list goes on and keeps growing.
North American Festivals 2006-2008 include:
- Stan Rogers Folk Festival 2006, 2007, 2008
- Kempt Shore Acoustic Festival 2006, 2007, 2008
- Harmony Bizarre Festival Lockeport 2007, 2008
- ECMA's Halifax 2007 and Fredericton 2008
- North American Folk Alliance, Memphis TN 2007, 2008
-
Music On Main, Antigonish NS 2008
Jess Keen: back from '07
Jess Keen has been writing songs for as long as she can remember. Already at a young age, singing was her passion - attending stage school from age 4 helped her progress and improve over the years.
Her songs incorporate blunt, true emotional lyrics and capture the edgy British scene with her own twist. She records captivating vocals and harmonies - with each listen, different layers are uncovered. Currently finishing her first album, Jess can be heard at MySpace where she regularly posts new material.
Judith (Judi) Cleveland: back from '07, '06 & '05
Originally from Liverpool, Judi Cleveland is inspired by the experiences she's gathered while living in communities along Nova Scotia's South Shore. After teaching herself to play guitar, songwriting soon took precedence over writing stories and poetry, leading to many wonderful opportunities and new friends.
She participated in the DuMaurier Search for Stars, released a single which received airplay across Canada, wrote and performed a substitute music program for Lunenburg County Schools, participated in the Summer Talent Showcase, won the South shore Festival of Arts songwriting competition, performed in the Songcrafters duo with Robbie Smith and, at last year's Harmony Bazaar, launched her first CD, By the River Broad.
Judi delights in sharing her songs and is grateful to those who have encouraged her through the years. She says thanks to those who have worked so hard to make the Harmony Bazaar come to life, for the honour of being asked to participate, and for all who support, and are, women in music.
Julie Balish: back from '07 & '06
Saturday Open Mike 12-noon - 1pm
About five years ago, Julie Balish was looking for a new challenge. She found it in music - accoustic guitar and singing. Lockeport born and bred, Julie's refreshing approach delivers a pleasant blend of country, folk and rock. Undoubtedly, it's the finger-pickin' tunes that really get her going.
Merrie Howe: back from '07, & '06
Merrie Howe is fairly new to performance, but she has sung and played piano and guitar "for fun" for over 40 years.
Merrie has a casually beautiful approach to music. She prefers a song "with a proper melody that's suitable for whistling when doing dishes."
Halifax duo me 'n' mian blends the singer/songwriter personalities of Amy Blanchard and Sarah Mian. One's a little country, one's a little rock and roll. Their one year-old collaboration has given birth to a multi-genre assortment of original songs and unique takes on familiar hits, weaving intricate harmonies that ride the undercurrents of human stories.
Pat Watson & John Bird: Back from '07
Jazz workshop: for anyone who loves to sing!
Saturday, July 26 - 11am - 1pm
Lockeport Crescent Beach Centre
Jazz is an American art form and an international phenomenon! Jazz is not the result of choosing a tune, but an ideal that is created first in the mind, inspired by one's passion and willed next in playing music. Jazz music is not found in web sites or books or even written down in sheet music. It is in the act of creating the form itself, that we truly find Jazz.
An academic definition of Jazz would be: A genre of American music that originated in New Orleans circa 1900. It is characterized by strong, prominent meter, improvisation, distinctive tone colors & performance techniques, and dotted or syncopated rhythmic patterns. But Jazz is so much more than that!
This workshop will be led by Pat Watson and John Bird. There will be a brief lesson on the history of jazz. We will then focus on the following tools for singing jazz.
- Musical and lyrics formulae
- Improvisation
- Different styles
Pat Watson has been singing all of her life. She performs jazz and gospel music with John Bird and other jazz musicians. She also performs with the 10-member Nova Gospel Ensemble, a gospel group based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Pat toured Nova Scotia with the South Shore Women in Jazz. She was part of the 2005 Halifax Jazz Festival. She was a cast member in The Gospel of Colonus at Neptune Theatre, the Revels Production and the play Copernicus. She has performed with a capella jazz group Counterparts and Tribe I, and various choral groups. As well, Pat coordinates and directs gospel music workshops.
John Bird (Birdie) is well known for his many musical endeavors during the past 30 years. He has played, composed and arranged for musical theatre, CBC radio drama, Neptune Theatre and the Winds of Change drama group in Liverpool. He has also done commercial recording and been a session player on other artist’s CDs. Although he seems to be able to play anything, he is primarily a clarinetist/saxophonist and for the past 12 years a jazz-band pianist.
A self-described "happy harmaniac," John's love for harmony in all forms is very evident in his playing. His sensitivity to musical style is often appreciated by singers such as Daniel Matto, Katrein and of course, Pat Watson. John writes for, and directs, the Big Band Refugees - an eight-piece jazz band, teaches at Buckley's Music Centre in Halifax, and has many private students.
Pink Thunder is a three-piece pop/rock girl band with a full, fun sound . There are lots of hooks and harmonies to spare. It has enough originals to carry a full show but can also deliver covers from artists such as Pink, Paramore, and Avril Lavigne. They strive at keeping our audience involved 'til the end.
Olivia (drums and keyboards) and Barbara (vocals and guitar) have been with the band since the beginning when Olivia was 12 and Barbara 13. About one and a half years ago, Barbara's sister Victoria (bass guitar and vocals) joined the group. Since then, the band has practiced regularly, working hard to find a style of music that both fits and represents the musical taste and interest of the band and its members.
Last summer was a busy one for Pink Thunder, totaling 31 gigs - at least four a week and loving it!
Shauntay Grant is a Nova Scotia-born writer, spoken word performer, journalist, and musician. She is a founding member of Word Iz Bond Spoken Word Artists' Collective, an organization committed to the promotion of spoken word poetry. The collective stages a performance series in Halifax dubbed "SPEAK!" "Let The Youth SPEAK!" - an extension of the SPEAK! series - aims to promote literacy and encourage creativity among school-aged teens.
Shauntay regularly performs as a solo artist, and conducts workshops at schools and community groups. Her original works of poetry and music have been featured nationally on CBC Radio, CBC Television, and Vision Television. Shauntay has shared her poetry at festivals and performance spaces throughout Canada and parts of Europe and the Caribbean - the Governor General's Student Forum "From The Abolition Of The Slave Trade To The Elimination of Racial Discrimination" (Rideau Hall, Ottawa, March 2007), rock.paper.sistahz festival (Toronto, April 2007), and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival (Lunenburg, August 2007) are among her recent performances.
Shauntay is the director of the 2007 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (October 10-13 in Halifax). She pens a column in the weekly HFX Arts & Entertainment guide. She is also the host of All The Best, a music program that airs weekly on CBC Radio Two in the Maritimes.
Shelley Meisner: back from '06 & '07!
As with most singer-songwriters, Shelley Meisner has been putting words to music for as long as she can remember. She's been performing for over 30 years, playing everything from folk jazz to R&B to rock while busing on the street, playing concert halls, entertaining restaurant diners or appearing in theatre productions.
She and a varied cast of popular Nova Scotia jazz musicians opened the Shelburne Jazz and Blues Festival multiple times. In the fall of '05, she appeared as vocalist in a touring show featuring the songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim. She's taken part in a number of events promoting the heartfelt music of local women artists and is proud and excited to see her sisters flourish and express their thoughts and feelings in this way.
Vapour: Back from '07
Vapor got together in the summer of 2003 when guitarists Aaron Bell and Stephen Elliott formed a band with Adam Rogers on bass and Anthony Phillips on drums. In November, Ryan MacLellan took over as drummer.
For the last two years, the band has organized Shelburne's Vaporized giving local bands a great show and venue - look for it in July. In June '06, Vapor recorded a five-song EP. Adam Rogers left the band last summer to pursue other projects. Shortly after the Shelburne What! reunion in December 2006, Tristen Goodwin became the new bassist. The band's newly penned songs will be debuted this spring and summer.
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