The 2011 Dunnville Rotary River Arts Festival is underway!!

Hello!


The Festival opened on Saturday afternoon, with a fun, Art Scavenger Hunt.  We had a nice group of young people and their families come by to pick up a clue sheet and then head off to the venues displaying art, seeking Artistic Answers!!  Everyone who participated got a little prize to take home, and we will notify the winner of the draw very soon!  There was face-painting and Moose-FM was on location, sending in live-to-air reports!!  I think it was a good way to start the Festival.

Then a little later on, Briar Gillis took the stage and sang her beautiful songs to a packed room.  She was amazing, what a lovely, rich voice! Her songs are incredible, and left many of us wondering how someone so young could write like that. 

Then, we welcomed Jason Collett to the stage.  He had us all in the palm of his hand from the first notes he sang.  He referred to himself as an 'oldschool' Canadian, quoting Pierre Berton on 'making love in a canoe'. It was a funny sort of story, but held a good message about balance.  Which reminded me of something else Pierre Berton said (Globe and Mail in 1999):"The nation is bound together by its creative artists and not by parallel lines of rusting steel." 
Jason Collett embodies that thought, and his new songs are certainly on their way to homes in the hearts of anyone who considers themself an 'oldschool' Canadian. If you've never heard Jason, look him up www.arts-crafts.ca/jasoncollett

Sunday afternoon was the opening of the Chidlren's Art Show.  We received art from children in grades 1 through 8 for this show.  You always imagine that you'll get some good work from this group.  We were not disappointed!! The work on display at the Children's Gallery at 125B Queen Street is great!! 

Tonight is Culinary Arts night at the very, very nice Twisted Lemon Restaurant in Cayuga.  It's almost noon as I write this, and I can imagine that most of the chefs involved are busy preparing their delicious offerings, shopping, chopping and fine tuning.  This event, as always, is sold out.  If you didn't get a ticket this year, but want to attend next year I can only suggest you get in touch with us early, very early!

Tomorrow night is Neil Young Tribute Night, hosted by Nate Waldes at Bohemian Friday 223 Queen St. in Dunnville.  We have a great line up of local musicians, ready to sing and play their favourite Neil Young songs.  Will they all wear plaid shirts? Maybe.  Will it be a great night? Yes. The event will be broadcast live on the internet at http://www.thesilo.ca/ beginning at 8:00pm!!

Then it's Derek Miller at Flyers on Wednesday November 9, Terra Lightfoot opens...if you don't have a seat reserved do it soon, the house is filling up 905-701-8527!

Full schedule and more details http://www.riverartsfestival.ca/

19 days to go...!! So much to do!

People!  Well, I'm not sure that any actual people read this blog, but there is a link to it on the website, so I feel obliged to update.  Facebook, Twitter, email newsletter, website, posters, mailouts...OH MY! So much communication.  But it's worth it if people get the information and venture out to one or more of the amazing events we have during this years festival...
Please check the website because I have been working quite hard to get it up to date.  The print version needs work (note to self). http://www.riverartsfestival.ca/ or find us on facebook...or twitter...

Okay, blog updated. On to the next thing...which I think has something to do with my couch.

Only 2 more official days of summer and our Festival lineup is almost full!

I am very happy to announce that we are now the Dunnville Rotary River Arts Festival! We are excited about this new partnership and the opportunities it will bring.  Thanks to the fine folks at Dunnville Rotary for believing in our little artistic and musical dream!


And what a dream this year!! Best lineup yet. Please check the website for the full schedule, but I do want to share the music lineup here. If these names are not familiar to you, PLEASE visit the websites and have a listen.  These are some of the very best songwriters, singers, musicians, and players in Canada.  All of them regularly play at much bigger venues, but the Dunnville Rotary River Arts Festival is able to bring them to you in a unique, intimate setting, where you'll experience them up close and personal!


Saturday November 5
Jason Collett www.arts-crafts.ca/jasoncollett
(Jason is a member of Broken Social Scene)

Wednesday November 9
Derek Millerwww.derekmiller.ca
(Nominated for 4 Aboringinal Music Awards!!)

Saturday November 12
Local Music Night


Monday November 14
Oh Susanna and The Abrams Brothers www.ohsusanna.com
www.theabramsbrothers.com


Saturday November 19
LMT Connectionwww.lmtconnection.com
("celebrating 22 years of the funk around the world 1989-2011")

 

Admission to all of these amazing shows is by donation/pay what you can, and we suggest a donation of $10.Reservations are highly recommended as most concerts during the festival sell out.
Please email askus@riverartsfestival to reserve.
Check the website for set times and openers as they are announcedwww.riverartsfestival.ca

It can't really be August already can it?

So many great things happening, and time just flies by...sorry for the delay in updating.  I have been busy though!
We've booked some incredible music for the Festival this year:
Jason Collett www.arts-crafts.ca/jasoncollett on Saturday November 5
Derek Miller www.derekmiller.ca on Saturday November 12
The Abrams Bothers and Oh Susanna on Monday November 14
http://youtu.be/mDUrP6a-bmQ (awesome acoustic video by 2 of the Abrams Brothers)
and then check out Oh Susanna http://youtu.be/17tVBtsFKVQ (one of my favourite songs : )

The website schedule is filling in, and I'll be working on it next day or two so check in and check back often okay!
http://www.riverartsfestival.ca/

: )

Homeshow in Dunnville this weekend!

We've teamed up with our good friends at Haldimand Art Works and the fine folk at Arts Dunnville and procured a booth at the Dunnville Home and Garden Show this weekend! So thats April 15 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and April 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are both free, plus the draws to be held during the show. The Home and Garden show is held at the (old) Dunnville arena at 218 Main St. E.
Hope that lots of people stop by our little space : )

In other news, other very exciting news, we've booked Jason Collett for the opening night of the Festival!!  That's Saturday November 5.  From Jason's webpage "Most singer/songwriters are lonely souls
with only a stool, an acoustic guitar and a heart-worn sleeve. Not Jason Collett. Oh sure, the Broken Social Scene guitarist has his instrument and a stack of intimate tales to tell—but his new solo album,Idols of Exile, sounds more like a house party."
www.arts-crafts.ca/jasoncollett

Thanks for reading and supporting the arts.  And hey, if you're a visual artist who is interested in being a part of the 2011 River Arts Festival please visit our website http://www.riverartsfestival.ca/ or send an email to: submissions@riverartsfestival.ca

More soon!

Whew! Busy day today, working on booking headliners.  Looks like we're going to be able to bring some truly outstanding music to our little town this November.  I wish I could give you some hints, but it's not time yet.  As soon as I can though, I will!

Next Thursday is our St. Patrick's Day event and fundraiser...on St. Patrick's Day which is March 17th.
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=events#!/event.php?eid=146647648725610 if you want to know more.  It's almost sold out, so do not delay!

There's a few photos from last year on the website http://www.riverartsfestival.ca/ and I promise to get more up soon, as well as the 2010 video presentation that is almost done.  So keep checking back, sign up for the newsletter, join us on Facebook, eat local and walk often.

Update to our logo!

You may notice things look a little fresher around the website lately.  Been doing some updates, added some photos and there has been a slight change to our logo.  We all felt it needed a little tidying up.  Thanks to one of our new recruits, Jason Mastrandrea, it's now looking fabulous!

Tonight, Jody and I are going to speak to the folks from Arts Dunnville Inc., at their Annual General Meeting. I'm interested to know what their doing and how we can work together.  The River Arts Festival is all about trying to get as many people interested and involved in using the arts to create a happier, healthier community and life here in Dunnville. 

This week I will begin to contact some of the amazing musical artists on our wish-list.  And HEY!! I just booked Royal Wood to play at Flyers Cafe on May 28. This will be a River Arts Festival presents concert, and we'll try to pack the house for this exceptional performer!  Congratulations to him for his 2011 Juno nomination for songwriter of the year!!  http://www.royalwood.ca/

February 2011 ~ Let the planning begin!

We have had 2 meetings this year.  Plans are being planned. New ideas have been planted and will need to be watered and placed out in the sunshine. We've welcomed some super new faces to the committee and all of the crazy people who were here last year, are still here (go you guys!!).  There's even a few of us who have been here since the festival began 6 years ago. 2011 will bring you the 6th edition of the River Arts Festival.  We have much work to do.

I will endeavour to blog about it.