Westfest performers enjoy new stage
Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
The sensuality of Taqralik Partridge’s piece Eskimo Chick, a poem of love and longing from one Inuit lesbian to another, set the stage for a celebration of alternative culture at Westfest on Friday and Saturday.
Partridge performed it early in the evening on Friday as part of Qaggiq, a showcase devoted to Inuit acts. Also on the bill that night were singers Lucie Idlout and Tanya Tagaq and the electro-fusion band Tumivut. Between them, the throatsinging was steamy, the energy was primal and the temperature of the planet shot up a few more degrees.
Despite the quirks, it’s a great site that looks like it will hold at least 10,000 fans. Approximately 3,000 attended the Inuit showcase on Friday, while Saturday’s mainstage crowd peaked around 5,000, with a big influx after the rain ended, just in time for Bif Naked.
Read full review: Westfest performers enjoy new stage
Westfest: new space and new direction
MUSIC FESTIVAL / Opening night showcases Inuit musicians
Noreen Fagan, Xtra!
Westfest has fast become an energetic and unique music festival – a double bass in a rock n roll world. Elaina Martin, founder and producer, has taken Westfest from a one-day, three-block festival into a three-day arts and music fest that dominates the west end.
Westfest is the only music festival of its kind in the city that’s free to attendees. For the cost of sunscreen, Ottawans can wander the streets and take in street performances, buskers and spoken words artists at every corner of the 14-block street party.
In the evening, with the kids in bed and the converse sneakers on, music lovers can kick back, swig a beer anywhere on festival grounds – thanks to the new venue and Ontario’s new liquor laws – and watch local and national musicians rock it out onstage.
To add to the festivals growing appeal, this year the opening night will showcase Inuit artists, with Lucie Idlout as the headliner.
Idlout is a well-known musician from Iqaluit, Nunavut. She released her first album in 2004 and opened for the White Stripes three years later. Idlout has recently moved back to Iqaluit from Toronto.
“As far as my spirit goes, I am a lot happier here,” says Idlout.
Read more on Xtra!’s website: Westfest: new space and new direction
Westfest: Still Naked after all these years
Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Gone are the days when Bif Naked, muscular and tattooed, rocked the stage in combat boots and bikini. Oh, she’s still muscular and tattooed, but the in-your-face Bif who gave us hard-rock songs with plenty of power and volume says she has evolved into a softer, more reflective and mature artist.
That’s how Naked’s battle with breast cancer is changing the course of her musical career. Instead of trying to shock audiences, Naked, who was born Beth Torbert, now wants to connect with them by sharing her stories and unplugging her songs during acoustic concerts.
“There’s so much mutuality between the audience and me, I just felt like I finally figured out what to do,” Naked said on the phone from Vancouver. “I prefer it so much. I just want to talk to everyone. I wanted that connection with the audience and I couldn’t connect with them the other way.”
For her, the turning point came while on tour for her 2009 album, The Promise, a rock album recorded during chemotherapy treatment that served as a battlecry against the disease. Two weeks after surgery, Naked embarked on a cross-Canada tour with a full band, and she knew it would be a physical challenge. But what really threw her off was the proliferation of camera-equipped cellphones, especially those with video.
Read more on the Ottawa Citizen website: Westfest: Still Naked after all these years
Bif Naked heads Westfest lineup
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
When you hear that Westfest plans to get naked this year, try not to jump to any conclusions. It’s intended to draw your attention to the fact that Bif Naked is headlining the eighth annual edition of the free Westboro festival that bills itself as a celebration of music, art and life. It takes place June 10 to 12. Clothing is required.
Bif Naked anchors the Saturday night lineup at Westfest, while Mighty Popo will do the honours Sunday. To kick off the festival Friday night, Martin has assembled an all-star bill representing the best of the Inuit arts scene, including rocker Lucie Idlout, the breakdance troupe Kaiva, throat-singing artist Tanya Tagaq and writer Taqralik Partridge, to name a few.
“It’s going to be an intimate, amazing night,” says Martin, who’s working hard to attract the Inuit community in Ottawa. The co-hosts will perform in English and Inuktitut and shuttle buses will serve the Inuit community centres in the city. “This isn’t just about teaching white people the Inuit culture, but it’s also about celebrating the Inuit in Ottawa. We’re working really hard to make this night very, very special.”
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: Bif Naked heads Westfest lineup
Westfest’s Domicile Main Stage Moves to Bigger Space
In its eighth year running, Westfest, Westboro Village’s Festival of Music, Art and Life, is making a few changes that will ensure this year’s experience is one to remember.
This spring, from June 10-12, Westfest’s Domicile main stage will return to the eastern end of Westboro Village, at the corner of Byron and Kirkwood Avenues. The Domicile main stage will open each day of the festival at 5 pm, leaving the daytime for families to enjoy the many “On The Street” features of Westfest. As street activities wind down, the party will start on the main stage with an excellent line-up of artists performing each night.
For years, the community greenspace at the corner of Byron and Kirkwood Avenues has been left unused, waiting for an event like Westfest to bring it back to life. This space, which features a grassy hill for naturally elevated seating, was reserved for community use when the nearby Real Canadian Superstore was built. Until now, it has remained virtually unused.
Westfest Founder and Producer Elaina Martin says the new location will provide an audience area four times the size of the previous location, making the festival experience safer and more comfortable for everyone. In addition, she said the entire audience area at this year’s Domicile main stage will be fully licensed. “The new Domicile main stage space will give attendees a truly full festival experience; the comfort of having a drink while still experiencing an intimate show in a safe setting – all while also not having to peek around trees or buildings to do so!”” Elaina said. Last year saw more than 5,000 music fans attend Westfest’s Domicile main stage area; while the audience continued to grow, the space became too small.
After a year of searching for the right candidate, a new Executive Director, Natalie Hanson, has been named to the Westboro Village BIA, leaving past executive director Elaina Martin free to focus on Westfest. This will be the second year that the festival has operated with full autonomy from the Westboro Village BIA. The Westfest team looks forward to a continued relationship with the BIA, and Ms. Hanson.
As always, there will be many ways to get to the new site of the Domicile main stage. For attendees using OC Transpo, the nearby Westboro Transitway Station is a short walk south to the stage. A secure bike park will be available, and on-street parking is available where designated on nearby streets.
Fast-growing Westfest gains ‘giant’ new home
Westfest will expand to a new part of the neighbourhood this year. The organizer of the free music festival that takes place in Westboro has found a new location for the main stage that gives more space for the audience to stretch out.
The stage will be set up in the strip of community green space at Byron and Kirkwood avenues, immediately south of the Real Canadian Superstore parking lot. Westfest director Elaina Martin says the grassy site will accommodate 15,000 people, tripling the capacity of the previous main-stage area, which was a strip of parkland several blocks west.
Describing it as a “new, giant, beautiful, safe, glorious home,” Martin says the festival will now be able to license the entire area, instead of having to separate the beer-drinkers from the rest of the concertgoers. “You won’t have to wave at your friends over the fence anymore,” she said. Popular Vankleek Hill-based microbrewery, Beau’s, is returning as the beer sponsor.
Westfest, which began in 2004, has been growing every year. Billed as a community celebration of music, visual art and literary pursuits, last year’s event attracted more than 100,000 people during one June weekend. Richmond Road was closed to traffic between Golden and McRae avenues, and programming filled the street. The main stage at the western end of the 14-block stretch featured performances by Sloan, Dala and Ottawa blues trio MonkeyJunk. Up to 5,000 people crammed in front of the stage for the headlining shows.
Read more at ottawacitizen.com
Peggy White’s Moments of Confidence
Unfolding.ca, By Mike Levin
Right out of high school, Peggy White started writing songs and spent the next 12 years on the road with country-music bands. Throughout the 1990s, she was a successful travel agent in Ottawa while raising two sons. Recently she’s taught herself Web design to generate income. Throughout, she’s never stopped writing songs and playing the guitar. Then why, at 50, is she still having trouble accepting that a career in music is possible?
Read more: White plays Westfest’s main stage at 6 pm, June 11.
Peggy White’s Crisis of Confidence
By Mike Levin
Right out of high school, Peggy White started writing songs and spent the next 12 years on the road with country-music bands. Throughout the 1990s, she was a successful travel agent in Ottawa while raising two sons. Recently she’s taught herself Web design to generate income. Throughout, she’s never stopped writing songs and playing the guitar. Then why, at 50, is she still having trouble accepting that a career in music is possible?
She dances around that question, blaming her procrastination, her ego and a few other things. Then she lowers her eyes and the most unexpected answer comes out: “I’m a perfectionist. If I can’t do it the best, I won’t do it at all.” It still doesn’t make sense because in entertainment, perfect isn’t possible.
It’s festival season in the capital
TRACEY TONG, METRO OTTAWA
Ottawa is widely known as the city of festivals.
For residents looking for something to do on weekends without having to leave the city, the lineup doesn’t disappoint.
Read the full article on the Metro website to see a run down of a few of the many, many events that will be happening over the course of the next few months: It’s festival season in the capital
Westfest promises three days of free, family-friendly fun in June
Phil Ambroziak, EMC Events
Westfest opens Friday, June 11 with a night devoted to “Rootsy Women.” Among those to take to the stage will be headliners Dala, the Inuit throat singers Nukariik, Madison Violet, the Marigolds, Peggy White and DJ Jas Nasty. The following night will feature a “Westfest Pop Explosion” headlined by the ever-popular Sloan. Other performances will be provided by Will Currie and the Country French, the Balconies, the High Dials and Bloomistry. The festival comes to a close Sunday, June 13 with “Ottawa Night.” This night will feature performances by Ottawa artists of all genres. Among those scheduled to perform are MonkeyJunk, the White Wires, TokyoSexWhale, GOOD2GO, the Kingmakers, Ken Workman and the Union and Autumns Canon. Also on hand will be Mi’kmaq dancer Thomas Clair among others.
“Westfest has evolved into what is now 14 city blocks of festival site,” she said. “This 100 % Canadian, multidisciplinary art festival’s focus still remains on accessibility and the community. I’m pleased to welcome everyone from the National Capital and the Gatineau Region to Westfest 2010.”
Read the full article at EMC online: Westfest promises three days of free, family-friendly fun in June
Ottawa festivals and events receive more than $1.5-million in funding from Province
Funding will help Canada’s Festival Capital come to life with improved offerings.
OTTAWA – The Province has announced the recipients of 2010 Celebrate Ontario funding grants, and more than $1.5-million is being invested in festivals and events taking place in Ottawa.
Twelve Ottawa Festival members that include Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, Ottawa Folk Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Ottawa International Children’s Festival, Ottawa International Writers Festival, Rideau Canal Festival, Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Summer Festival, TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival, WESTFEST, Festival Franco-Ontarien, and Canadian Tulip Festival received funding this year.
“This is very exciting news,” says Barb Stacey, Executive Director of Ottawa Festivals, a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 50 not-for-profit festivals, special events and fairs that take place in the National Capital Region, “this represents a substantial investment in our community, especially considering that these investments are leveraged many times over through private investment, sponsorship and funding available from other levels of government.
“This investment will improve our offering to visitors and further Ottawa’s reputation as being Canada’s Festival Capital. This will help attract new visitors to our internationally renowned premier events, and our supporting events will certainly enhance the city’s many tourism and cultural attractions,” Stacey continues, “These events animate the city. They add colour, life and excitement.”
Awarded by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Celebrate Ontario funding helps communities realize the potential benefits associated with increased tourism and visitor spending. “Festivals and events are important drivers of tourism in Ontario. This support will help enhance their offerings and bring more jobs, visitors and spending to communities throughout our province,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture.
