Stompin’ celebration
Stompin’ Tom Festival set for Canada Day weekend is all-Canadian
This weekend’s Stompin’ Tom Festival in Skinners Pond is all-Canadian.
Stompin’ Tom’s son, Taw Connors, Whiskey Jack and George Canyon will headline the second annual Stompin’ Tom Festival June 29 to July 2 in Skinners Pond. The four-day festival coincides with the one-year anniversary of the official opening of the Stompin’ Tom Centre in Skinners Pond and takes place on the venue’s outdoor stage. All of the festival entertainers are Canadian. “That is something Tom himself wanted. He was a fierce Canadian who stood up and fought for his principles and recognition of homegrown Canadian music,” noted Anne Arsenault, festival director and the general manager of the Stompin’ Tom Centre. “This is why Canada Day weekend is the most appropriate time to be celebrating his legacy with a festival in his honour and paying it forward featuring new and existing Canadian artists.” Two other special events coincide with the Stompin’ Tom Festival, the unveiling of a plaque on Canada Day afternoon commemorating Tom Connors’s induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame, and the premiere on July 2 of a new dinner theatre production, “My Stompin’ Grounds – A Stompin’ Tom Story.” Taw Connors will be the featured entertainer for Friday’s outdoor concert which will be opened by West Prince country artist, Daniel Drouin. Saturday’s show will feature award-winning Canadian country singer, Canyon, and Palmer Road native Ben Chase. Canyon’s performance comes just five weeks after the scheduled release of his new album, “Southside of Heaven.” The Canada Day show features “Whiskey Jack Presents Stories and Songs of Stompin’ Tom.” Founding Whiskey Jack member, Duncan Fremlin, who has been with the group for 41 years, will be joined by Douglas John Cameron, Randy Morrison, Eric Jackson and Dave Carruthers for the special show. Joining the group will be Canadian country and folk artist Cindy Church. Also performing old and new country hits during the Canada Day show will be local group, Waylon’s Drinking Buddies. Tickets to the festival are available at the Stompin’ Tom Centre box office, 14024, Rte. 14, Skinners Pond, by phone at (902)882-3214 or online at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/stompin-tom-festivaltickets. Festival passes, weekend concert passes, and day passes are available. Tickets to a Taste of P.E.I. Food Tent are also available. This year’s festival also features a Songwriters Circle Friday evening, hosted by Drouin and also featuring P.E.I. entertainers Chase, Rodney Arsenault, Keelin Wedge and Johnny Oliver. A jam session and live entertainment will follow until midnight. Neil Pond will host a Songwriters Workshop on Saturday afternoon and Kurk Bernard will teach the basics of lyrics writing and putting it to music. Participants will have the opportunity to record their song onsite as a workshop and Stompin’ Tom Centre memento.