Page 16 The OSCAR l April 2017

MUSIC Malak Joins the Ottawa Grassroots Roster Rich in

Diversity and Participation The audience will enjoy the popular/ broadening its vision towards full folk acoustic duo, Geneviève RB inclusivity. The Grassroots Festival & Alain Barbeau, who are slated to would not be complete without OGF open and who also performed at the favourites, The Sparrows. Led by festival launch, March 2 at Pressed Chris White, this group of home- Café. schooled children between the ages Tonya Price (CKCU host) will of 4 and 11, along with some very MC during the Friday evening talented adults, will be presenting a performances which will begin with workshop geared towards children on the One World Choir, led by Chris Sunday. MacLean. This unique choir brings For folks interested in workshops together voices of new Canadians − where participation is key − there and refugees in a welcoming setting, is plenty to explore. For example, creating new friendships and helping festival participants can learn how to the singers learn English along the build a cigar box guitar or they can Malak, the opening performer on the first night of the Ottawa Grassroots way. Co-headliners, ShoutSister! join in song with The Terry Penner Festival. PHOTO BY TAREK GHANEM Ottawa and The Durham County Weekend Choir, where anyone can Poets complete the evening that lend their voice. Or, “learn how By Grace Smith a high rate of suicide, sexual and promises to fill the sanctuary at to build your own band” with Pat physical abuse due to drugs and Southminster United with sweet Moore and Garry Greenland. Also, The eclectic line-up for both the alcohol. As a result, he advised songs, many of which will surely new this year, the festival is hosting daytime and evening performances they will be unable to fulfill their have the audience joining in. a few of the talented songwriters at the Ottawa Grassroots Festival commitment to perform at the Tickets for Ottawa Grassroots of the Canadian Song-Along, an (OGF) is finalized. Now in its 6th festival, offering apologies for the evening performances are on sale, annual song writing challenge and year, this not-for-profit music event short notice. available online through the festival performance event where established will take place from April 20-23 “Line-up changes can happen and website. They are priced to be singer-songwriters write a song at Southminster United Church, we think that people coming out affordable for families (children 15 from amongst 4 or 5 topics and then 15 Aylmer Avenue, in Old Ottawa on Saturday night will be thrilled and under are free when accompanied perform their new tune. Jam sessions, South. Anne-Marie Brugger (CHUO with Malak,” says Nesbitt. “Her by an adult). The daytime events on Gil’s Hootenanny Contest, an open host) will be the MC Saturday multi-octave, pitch perfect vocals both Saturday and Sunday are FREE stage event, KidZone and another evening which will start with an are mesmerizing and presented for everyone! “We are excited about festival favourite, a workshop for opening address/prayer by Algonquin with such incredible emotion you’ll the daytime programming we have toddlers and babies, led by singer- elder, Albert Dumont. Canadian get goosebumps.” Malak grew up lined up this year,” says Nesbitt. songwriter Kristine St. Pierre and a folk/roots singer-songwriter, Ken in Eygpt and now calls Ottawa Daytime performers scheduled workshop with the Festival of India Whiteley and The Beulah Band will home. She has won numerous for Saturday and Sunday include an are all synonymous with grassroots. headline the evening which will draw vocal competitions across Europe. array of talented local artists: Jill The Grassroots Festival is a folk enthusiasts to watch a legend Recently, Malak was a showcased Zmud, Acacia Lyra, Jamie Anderson, family-friendly gathering of folk perform. artist in Megaphono 2017 and is Julie Corrigan, Francine Leclair, The music, dance and spoken word. Opening for Whiteley will be working on her first full length CD, Shirt Tearing Boys, Vince Halfhide, It’s called Grassroots because it is! Malak, whom Showbox calls “one set to be released later this year. James Blondeau, The Paugan Dames, This organization is run entirely by of the most powerful and beautiful In Arabic, her name translates to Jillian Kerr and Emma Lamontagne volunteers and prides itself for the voices in town.” Previously “angel,” which describes this unique (winner of Ottawa Bluesfest’s 2016 participatory workshops it provides, scheduled Twin Flames will not be songstress beautifully. “She’s The One” contest). Spoken cultivating community and nurturing performing. In a letter to Festival The opening night of Grassroots word artists, Albert Dumont and inclusivity in a fun and friendly way. Producer, Bob Nesbitt, Jaaji of offers evening performances with Deborah Kigjugalik Webster, along Twin Flames explained there was a powerhouse of Francophone with singer-songwriter Larissa For more information check out, an immediate need for them to artists including headliners Mélanie Desrosier are a few of the Indigenous ottawagrassrootsfestival.com; www. participate in a workshop for youth Brulée, Anique Granger and Cindy performers scheduled to appear, facebook.com/pages/Ottawa-Grass- in Kugluqtuq NWT, where there is Doire, who have grouped together to in a year which finds the festival roots-Festival/210912422324113; or, present, “Une soirée avec les filles.” twitter.com/OttGrassroots.

Music at Trinity: The Juliet Singers “Mostly A Cappella” By Fabien Tousignant, accompanied, they are riveting Artistic Director audiences with their rich blend of voices and sumptuous interpretations of jazz and contemporary For the April concert of the Music standards—as well as songs by at Trinity concert series, we are luminaries such as Carole King, thrilled to have The Juliet Singers Burt Bacharach, Joni Mitchell, Paul in a concert entitled “Mostly A Simon, and Henry Mancini—at sold- Cappella.” On March 8th 2017, for out shows, private engagements, international women’s day, The Juliet and house concerts. Individually, the Singers offered a tribute to Carole members of The Juliet Singers are King’s 1971 chart-topping album songs from their repertoire in a wide has you wishing the snow would professional performers with varied “Tapestry” in 3-part harmony with array of genres, from the Beatles’ melt! Letourneau’s captivating backgrounds who bring jazz, blues, Mark Ferguson at the piano, to a near Because to Jean-Phillippe Rameau’s vocal arrangements will leave you classical, choral, rock, country, world packed house at Southminster United La nuit. There will be something for mesmerized. music, and more to the mix. Prepare Church. Here is another chance everyone as the Juliet Singers bring A dynamic and fresh vocal to be enchanted! to hear Ottawa’s premiere female their superb vocal style to songs harmony trio, The Juliet Singers— vocal harmony trio in a completely by Henry Mancini, Joni Mitchell, Rachel Beausoleil, Elise Letourneau, different program. This time around, Paul Simon and their own Elise Lindsey Sikora—have burst onto This concert will be presented on they will present captivating Letourneau. Add in a dash of jazz the Ottawa scene with their unique April 22nd 2017 at 4:30 pm at Trinity renditions of jazz and pop standards. standards and you have a potpourri arrangements of jazz standards Anglican Church (1230 Bank Street For this occasion, the Juliet Singers of wonderful harmonies to set you and contemporary pop classics. @ Cameron.) Admission is by free- will perform a selection of a cappella right on a Saturday afternoon that Performing both a cappella and will offering.