Song & Dance

A Little Bit Country, a Little Bit Québecois: Great Acts Lined Up for T-Day Ayer’s Cliff

From square dancers to Celtic singers, Townshippers’ Day 2009 will have a full line-up of great performances. Entertainment will be provided at numerous places in and around the Fairgrounds, with acts ranging from local favourites Le Vent des Cantons to the beautiful Choromondo World Music Choir.

The main stage for musicians is the Grandstand at the Ayer’s Cliff Fairgrounds, which will feature Ralph Steiner, Jim Robinson, Amos Joannides, and Patrick and Gary.

Steiner, a Townships staple for the past fifteen years, has starred in numerous productions with Sunshine Theatre and at Theatre Lac Brome. Though trained in the technical side of performing, Steiner says he found “onstage” more exciting than “backstage.” He’ll be playing a mix of folk, pop and country at T-Day.

Jim Robinson may have been living in Montréal most of his life, but was raised in the Townships and can still be heard on the local English radio station, CJMQ. Robinson, who will be supplying the country fare for T-Day, says he is “really looking forward to performing in Ayer's Cliff again.” You can check him out online at www.jimrobinson.ca.

  
Amos's heartfelt, catchy melodies, and lyrical guitar playing are showcased in tunes that move easily from pop and hip-hop to folk and flamenco. His ever-growing fan base is reflected in the crowds flocking to his shows, whether in the Townships, where he spent his formative years, or Montreal, where he is now based. A former student of Massey Vanier, Amos's Township roots are immediately obvious in his infectious, optimistic approach to both his life and his music. His first album, "My Name is Amos", was recorded with Westbrome Records. You can learn more about Amos and listen to tracks from his CD at his website www.amosj.com. 

Gary Davis and Patrick Lesyk, both Montreal natives, are two very accomplished acoustic guitarists, and together, they make quite the team. Patrick has dabbled in a solid handful of musical genres, while Gary has been a well-renowned guitarist across Canada since the 1970s. Patrick and Gary will be adding a Celtic flavour to this year’s festivities.

Acts away from the Grandstand will include Le Vent des Cantons, a local trio who will provide their musical talents for a second consecutive Townshippers’ Day. The popular group, who just released an album earlier this year, plays traditional Quebec music, and has recently performed at Quebec City’s 400th Anniversary celebrations, and last year’s Townshippers’ Day, in Sutton. They will be performing in the Exhibition Hall on the Fairgrounds.

A stone’s throw away from the main event, the Choromondo World Music Choir will also be performing on T-Day, in the Beulah United Church. Based in North Hatley, Choromondo is an extraordinary group of women who sing songs from such far-flung places as South Africa and the Balkans. The choir gives itself a noble cause, saying it “hopes to help bridge differences between cultures and contribute to a more peaceful planet.”

Harmonie de Coaticook helps Townshippers celebrate 100 years of harmony

With a history stretching back almost 140 years, Harmonie de Coaticook is a mainstay of the Eastern Townships – and a definite crowd-pleaser.

Harmonie is composed of more than 30 musicians, who play, among other instruments, trombones, trumpets, saxophones, flutes and clarinets, under the direction of Jean Lavigne. One of those fine musicians, John Sharp, is 77 years old and has been playing in the band since 1947!

The first incarnation of Harmonie was founded in 1870, under the name Coaticook Cornet Band; this moniker would undergo several changes before arriving at Harmonie de Coaticook, which has been its name since 1925.

The band’s original bandstand was destroyed by a fire in 1950, but the town of Coaticook and the local veterans’ association chipped in and rebuilt it just a few years later. Even though the band likes to play on their home territory, they’ve also taken their tunes abroad, visiting the north-eastern United States as well as France in 2005.

The repertoire played by Harmonie is endless: Quebec folk, European classical, Hollywood favourites and dances from all around the world. With such a varied catalogue, they’re guaranteed to get yours toes tapping, so be sure to check them out on Townshippers’ Day. They’ll be playing at 11:30 a.m. at the bandstand, on Main Street in Ayer’s Cliff.