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.
Westfest photos
Once again blurasis has posted a great set of photos from Westfest on Flickr.
Here is a great pict from The Acorn show. View blurasis’ Westfest set on Flickr.
Danny Michel, Jenn Grant put sizzle in Westfest crowd
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
Former Ottawan Danny Michel brought his rocking new band, the Camptown Racers, to Westfest on Friday, kicking off an idyllic opening night for the sixth annual festival. East Coast singer-songwriter Jenn Grant and indie rockers Arctic were also on the bill.
For Michel, it was a test run for his latest arrangement of backing musicians, and things were slightly chaotic throughout the set. Despite a missed cue here and there, the chemistry made it clear that he’s on to something. Even his most tender songs benefited from the swagger of the dynamic rock band. One highlight was Elgin Avenue, a melodic tune inspired by Ottawa’s homeless.
More on the Ottawa Citizen website: Danny Michel, Jenn Grant put sizzle in Westfest crowd
In a Glass house
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
The founder of Prairie Oyster lives the peaceful life on the edge of the city
As a musician, Glass works mostly in the evening and on weekends. His sleek, soulful playing has landed many gigs with several hard-working Ottawa-area artists, including Cajun twangsters Ball and Chain, Texas-style troubadour Brock Zemon and singer-songwriter-guitarist Lynn Miles.
But on a national level, Glass is still best known as a founding member of Prairie Oyster, the veteran Canadian country band that headlines Westfest Saturday. His expressive songwriting and guitar work helped define the band’s rootsy music. Blending Tex-Mex, Cajun, blues and swing into old-time country, Prairie Oyster championed alt-country before it was cool to be alt-country.
Glass, along with singer Russell deCarle and steel guitarist Dennis Delorme, is toasting the 35th anniversary of Prairie Oyster this year. They formed the band in 1974, which happens to be the same year Glass’s motorcycle was manufactured in Germany (though he bought it years later).
With the addition of a fiddler, John P. Allen, and a female singer-songwriter-pianist, Joan Besen, the band released its first album, Oyster Tracks, in 1986. By the 1990s, they were a chart-topping, Juno-winning major-label priority. Over the next eight or nine years came a string of albums and close to a dozen Top 10 singles, including Everybody Knows, Such a Lonely One and Don’t Cry Little Angel. In the group’s heyday, it was a rare beast: a Canadian country-music band that sold thousands of albums.
Read the full article on the Ottawa Citizen website: In a Glass house
Note: Prarie Oyster is appearing at Westfest
Westfest celebrates Westboro
MJ DESCHAMPS FOR METRO OTTAWA
While Westfest has undoubtedly been an essential catalyst in the development of the neighbourhood business and real-estate wise, Martin said that the most important effect of the festival has been its community-building capabilities.
“Westfest is really a ‘people’s festival.’ It has opened the eyes of the community in terms of its accessibility,” said Martin, speaking of the fact that the festival is free, all ages, and has traditionally promoted artists of diverse cultures and sexualities.
“People love coming to Westboro because of its sense of community and acceptance – every weekend, the streets are lined with multicultural visitors.”
Full article available on the Metro Ottawa website: Westfest celebrates Westboro
