Country Music Festival set for Oct. 16-18
The Acadian Musical Village in Abram-Village will host the 11th annual Evangeline Country Music Festival, Oct. 16-18, featuring some of the top country music entertainers on P.E.I.
A traditional Country Music Legend Show is Oct. 16, with a second one held on Oct. 17. Both shows will feature four popular country music performers from the western area of the Island who will be paying tribute to music legends such as Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Stompin’ Tom and more.
Performers for the two Country Music Legend Shows are Kurk Bernard, a popular musician-entertainer from West Prince who moved from Ontario back home to his roots in rural P.E.I. five years ago. He keeps busy playing at local venues and working with local artists. Together, with Joey Doucette, who also hails from West Prince, they form a popular country music duo and have recorded a CD titled Our Little Piece of Heaven. The duo is known for its strong vocals, harmonies and stage presence.
Marcella Richard, a singer/ songwriter who grew up in Mont Carmel in a musical family surrounded by fiddling, harmonica, guitar and songs, sang in multiple musical groups and performed in local dinner theatres, as well as in community halls across the Maritimes.
In 1997, she recorded her first French album, Le Bon Fricot, followed by two more albums in 2000 and 2005.
In 2018, Richard released her fourth recording,
Marcella Richard Sings Roy MacCaull, and won the country music album category at the Music P.E.I. 2018 awards gala. Richard’s voice has been described as one that goes straight to the soul and can make people laugh, dance and even cry.
Jonathan (Jonny Ray) Arsenault is an instrumentalist and vocalist who grew up in the Evangeline Region and now resides in Summerside. He is the son of renowned Island fiddler Louise Arsenault, and his music is influenced by his traditional Acadian roots.
His vocal repertoire includes favourites from Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, John Prine, Stompin’ Tom, Cayouche and many more.
Back-up music for these two shows will be provided by Rheal Arsenault, Remi Arsenault, Andy Paynter and Keelin Wedge for Friday’s show and Steve Perry for Saturday’s show.
Both Friday and Saturday night shows go on at 8:30 p.m., and admission is reserved to 19 years and over. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, admission is limited to 100 for each show. Tickets are sold in advance for both shows and can be purchased online at www.villagemusical.com. or at the door on a firstcome, first-serve basis.
For more information, call 902-854-2072 or 902-8542324.
The three-day event will wrap up on Oct. 18, with a roast beef dinner served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The local duo of Marcel Caissie and Allan Gallant will present a free closing country music show on main stage from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.