Blues and Bonfires
Indian River Festival offering blues and Maritime music this weekend
It’s blues night on Friday and Bonfire concert Sunday.
Organizers say there’s an incredible weekend of music in store for visitors to historic St. Mary’s for the award winning Indian River Festival. For a night of blues and original music, come Friday at 7:30 p.m. for P.E.I.’s own Amanda Jackson Trio and 2018 ECMA Blues Recording of the Year winner, Mike Biggar from New Brunswick.
Then visit on Sunday, July 15, for a 3 p.m. matinee with Chris Norman, David Greenberg and Matthew Olwell presenting “The Bonfire.” Amanda Jackson Trio was Music New Brunswick’s and 2018 ECMA’s Blues Recording of the year award winner. “Amanda Jackson’s success has been tremendous this past year and we are happy to have them make their debut at Indian River Festival this season,” says Don Quarles, executive director of the festival. They will be followed by Biggar bringing blues, original songs and humour to this July 13 concert. “Mike Biggar in an incredible performer as well and was the 2018 winner of the ECMA Blues Recording of the year and past recipient of a Music New Brunswick award so we are excited to have Mike join us this summer.” Sunday’s matinee concert is called “The Bonfire” and includes imaginative, dynamic performers, exploring the fire from which Maritime music ignited, with glowing traditional tunes for flutes, fiddle, pipes, keyboards, voice and inspired choreographed dance. “Chris performed on the Oscarwinning soundtrack of ‘Titanic’ and many other Hollywood films including ‘Soldier’ and ‘Stone of Destiny,’” said Quarles. “This concert includes David on violin, who’s artistry spans centuries, and Matthew on percussion, who has been teaching and performing in festivals and theatres around the world since 1996.” Doors open one hour prior to concert time and food and beverage is available for purchase in the pavilion, including handpies from the P.E.I. Handpie Company, Samuels Coffee, Upstreet Brewing beer, cookies from Crystal Green Farms and IRF’s strawberry shortcake. “We are looking forward to seeing and hearing these artists in our space,” says Quarles. “If you have never been to St. Mary’s Church or the festival before, we encourage you to come and experience this and check it off of your P.E.I. bucket list.” Historic St. Mary’s, known for its near perfect acoustics, was designed by Island architect William Critchlow Harris and built in 1902 overlooking Malpeque Bay. For more information and to buy tickets, go to the IRF facebook page or website at IndianRiverFestival.com ; call Ticketpro at 1-888-311-9090 or the Festival Box office at 902-836-3733.