MAIN STAGE SATURDAY AFTERNOON,
AUGUST 5
AUGUST 5
Session Crowd
This is a group of 5 musicians that have been playing together at
informal traditional music sessions in St. John's for the last decade.
Their set features a blend of instrumental and vocal traditional music
primarily from Newfoundland and Ireland with Michelle Brophy on wooden
flute; Karla Walsh on vocals and guitar; Greg Walsh on vocals, fiddle,
and mandola; Allan Farrell on button accordion; and Rob Brown on
uilleann pipes and whistle.
This is a group of 5 musicians that have been playing together at
informal traditional music sessions in St. John's for the last decade.
Their set features a blend of instrumental and vocal traditional music
primarily from Newfoundland and Ireland with Michelle Brophy on wooden
flute; Karla Walsh on vocals and guitar; Greg Walsh on vocals, fiddle,
and mandola; Allan Farrell on button accordion; and Rob Brown on
uilleann pipes and whistle.
Donna Roberts
Donna Roberts, a singer/songwriter from Goose Bay, Labrador, released her debut album, Isolation Highway, in May. Produced and recorded by Clyde Wiseman at Conception Recording Studios, Isolation Highway features a wide variety of original songs from the whimsical to the inspiring. Donna’s music has been described as country/pop and her lyrics and voice are powerful and compelling.
The NL Association for Community Living approached Donna to use I Believe in Me as the soundtrack for a promotional video launched in March. Donna is donating a portion of CD sales to the NLACL.
Donna Roberts, a singer/songwriter from Goose Bay, Labrador, released her debut album, Isolation Highway, in May. Produced and recorded by Clyde Wiseman at Conception Recording Studios, Isolation Highway features a wide variety of original songs from the whimsical to the inspiring. Donna’s music has been described as country/pop and her lyrics and voice are powerful and compelling.
The NL Association for Community Living approached Donna to use I Believe in Me as the soundtrack for a promotional video launched in March. Donna is donating a portion of CD sales to the NLACL.
The Pickett Line
The PICKETT LINE is a legacy of the CBC Lock Out in 2005. Over a drink with Stan Pickett (accordion) and Andrew Lang (mandocello), Francesca Swann (cello) commented on the boredom of walking the the picket line. Stan responded by suggesting that she might be relieved of her picket duty if she joined his PICKETT LINE. Francesca was not relieved of her picket duties, but with their unusual combination of instruments, PICKETT duty now consists of regular sessions over tea and cranberry loaf as this trio of St. John's musicians tailors songs and tunes to a neglected niche in the local trad music scene.
The PICKETT LINE is a legacy of the CBC Lock Out in 2005. Over a drink with Stan Pickett (accordion) and Andrew Lang (mandocello), Francesca Swann (cello) commented on the boredom of walking the the picket line. Stan responded by suggesting that she might be relieved of her picket duty if she joined his PICKETT LINE. Francesca was not relieved of her picket duties, but with their unusual combination of instruments, PICKETT duty now consists of regular sessions over tea and cranberry loaf as this trio of St. John's musicians tailors songs and tunes to a neglected niche in the local trad music scene.
The Rosalines
THE ROSALINES are a new and energetic acoustic trio from St. John's. Forceful rhythm guitar, bluegrass mandolin riffs, and soulful fiddle lines combine with vocals in three-part harmony to create a truly unique sound. Infused with wit and humour, their dynamic arrangements and onstage banter draw the audience into the music, making THE ROSALINES an engaging and vibrant band to watch out for.
THE ROSALINES are a new and energetic acoustic trio from St. John's. Forceful rhythm guitar, bluegrass mandolin riffs, and soulful fiddle lines combine with vocals in three-part harmony to create a truly unique sound. Infused with wit and humour, their dynamic arrangements and onstage banter draw the audience into the music, making THE ROSALINES an engaging and vibrant band to watch out for.
Christina Smith
Christina (cello, fiddle) is a participant in this year's Common Ground and has been performing since 1985, mostly as half of a duo with Jean Hewson. Her repertoire comes directly from the older generation of Newfoundland musicians including Emile Benoit, Rufus Guinchard, Frank Maher and Vince Collins. Intending to revive their popularity, Christina recently published The Easiest Dance Tunes from Newfoundland and Labrador. She has recorded on several critically-acclaimed albums including her own solo album (Fiddle Me This); Like Ducks and August Gale with Jean Hewson; Mahervelous! with THE MAHERS BAHERS; and on numerous CDs as a studio musician. (website)
Christina (cello, fiddle) is a participant in this year's Common Ground and has been performing since 1985, mostly as half of a duo with Jean Hewson. Her repertoire comes directly from the older generation of Newfoundland musicians including Emile Benoit, Rufus Guinchard, Frank Maher and Vince Collins. Intending to revive their popularity, Christina recently published The Easiest Dance Tunes from Newfoundland and Labrador. She has recorded on several critically-acclaimed albums including her own solo album (Fiddle Me This); Like Ducks and August Gale with Jean Hewson; Mahervelous! with THE MAHERS BAHERS; and on numerous CDs as a studio musician. (website)
Dave Panting
Formerly of FIGGY DUFF and RAWLINS CROSS, Dave is one of Newfoundland's finest songwriters and considered a master of the guitar, mandolin and banjo. He's toured extensively through the Americas and Europe and has contributed to about 100 albums and numerous theatrical, orchestral, TV and Radio productions, many as a session musician and several as a producer. Dave has recently been working as a solo artist releasing Mandolin Christmas in 2000, Look Around in November 2002, and Back Down Home in 2005. He is currently working with Roger Maunder of the Newfoundland Independant Filmakers Co-op on a new music video called "Terra Nova". (website)
Formerly of FIGGY DUFF and RAWLINS CROSS, Dave is one of Newfoundland's finest songwriters and considered a master of the guitar, mandolin and banjo. He's toured extensively through the Americas and Europe and has contributed to about 100 albums and numerous theatrical, orchestral, TV and Radio productions, many as a session musician and several as a producer. Dave has recently been working as a solo artist releasing Mandolin Christmas in 2000, Look Around in November 2002, and Back Down Home in 2005. He is currently working with Roger Maunder of the Newfoundland Independant Filmakers Co-op on a new music video called "Terra Nova". (website)
The Ray Walsh Family Band
Since CBC's ALL AROUND THE CIRCLE, Ray Walsh's music has been found on TV and radio shows, numerous recordings and at frequent appearances throughout Atlantic Canada. Hailing from Bay de Verde where Ray's father and grandfather were well-known fiddle players, the five-member band performs a blend of Newfoundland/Irish/Scottish traditional music and songs and has three albums: Passing of the Years, The Music in our Lives and Work Upon The Water. In addition to Ray, the band includes his brother Gerard, son Greg (NAVIGATORS), daughter Michelle and nephew Neil Hyde.
Since CBC's ALL AROUND THE CIRCLE, Ray Walsh's music has been found on TV and radio shows, numerous recordings and at frequent appearances throughout Atlantic Canada. Hailing from Bay de Verde where Ray's father and grandfather were well-known fiddle players, the five-member band performs a blend of Newfoundland/Irish/Scottish traditional music and songs and has three albums: Passing of the Years, The Music in our Lives and Work Upon The Water. In addition to Ray, the band includes his brother Gerard, son Greg (NAVIGATORS), daughter Michelle and nephew Neil Hyde.
Youth Invasion
Young artists from the Neil Murray Stage invade the main stage to close out the afternoon session, showing
our audience the future face of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk music
scene.
Young artists from the Neil Murray Stage invade the main stage to close out the afternoon session, showing
our audience the future face of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk music
scene.