2012 06 19 Planet Indigenus Highlights
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Media Contact: Jon Campbell 416-973-4655 [email protected] media.harbourfrontcentre.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World’s largest Indigenous festival comes to Harbourfront Centre Planet IndigenUS Festival Co-Produced by Woodland Cultural Centre Aug 10-19, 2012 TORONTO, ON (June 18, 2012) – It’s a festival so big, it only happens once every three years: Harbourfront Centre is pleased to announce the return of the world’s largest multi-disciplinary, contemporary, international Indigenous arts festival. Planet IndigenUS, co-produced by Woodland Cultural Centre , is a ten-day region-wide celebration, August 10-19 , bookended by festival weekends at Harbourfront Centre. The festival celebrates the future of Indigenous culture while honouring the past by presenting international artists steeped in local traditions and devoted to pushing their art forms into new realms. An amazing array of talent will be on display at Harbourfront Centre and at dozens of partner sites across the region. Planet IndigenUS highlights include: • Music from an international assortment of artists including: Derek Miller ’s Robbie Robertson tribute; Hanggai ’s Mongolian folk via Beijing, mind-blowing didjetronica from Tjupurru (Australia), space-aged cellist Cris Derksen ; Transjoik ’s Nordic throat-singing meets rap and muezzin prayer-call, A Tribe Called Red ’s multi-media Electric Pow-Wow ; • The North American premier of Susuriwka – Willow Bridge , a collaboration between Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Yokohama Noh Theatre and Ainu (Japan) musician Oki; • A multi-disciplinary Opening Night Spectacle hosted by Wab Kinew and Sarah Podemski; • Visual artist Raymond Boisjoly ’s take on the roots of “Toronto” and several group exhibitions; • Comedy night at Woodland Cultural Centre featuring Don Burnstick and Charlie Hill ; • …and much more! A portion of the listings information for events at Harbourfront Centre and Woodland Cultural Centre is below, with more to follow in the coming weeks. More info is available at the festival website, harbourfrontcentre.com/planetindigenus . For additional information and complete event listings, the public may visit harbourfrontcentre.com/summer or call the Information Hotline at 416-973-4000 . Harbourfront Centre is located at 235 Queens Quay West in the heart of downtown Toronto’s waterfront. ABOUT HARBOURFRONT CENTRE SUMMER FESTIVALS Harbourfront Centre is an innovative, non-profit cultural organization which provides internationally renowned programming in the arts, culture, education and recreation, in the heart of Toronto's downtown waterfront. Our summer festival season runs from Victoria Day weekend through Thanksgiving weekend, and features over 20 festivals and events that offer The World in One Place . For more information visit harbourfrontcentre.com/summer ABOUT WOODLAND CULTURAL CENTRE The Woodland Cultural Centre is a non-profit organization which preserves and promotes the culture and heritage of the First Nations of the Eastern Woodland area. -30- Media Contact: Jon Campbell | [email protected] | 416 973 4655 For listings info, hi-res images and more media resources, visit Planet IndigenUS’s media page : harbourfrontcentre.com/summer/media/planetindigenus To unsubscribe from Harbourfront Centre's media database, please email: [email protected] Media Contact: Jon Campbell 416-973-4655 [email protected] media.harbourfrontcentre.com PLANET INDIGENUS HIGHLIGHTS HARBOURFRONT CENTRE EVENTS MUSIC Celebrating The Crossroads – Opening Night Spectacle Friday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. Produced by the multi-talented Jennifer Podemski, the evening will engage audiences and evoke a sense of transformation about Indigenous cultures. Hosted by Anishinaabe hip hop artist and CBC producer/host Wab Kinew and Ojibway/Israeli actress Sarah Podemski, the evening features a range of performers including: hip-hop impresario Plex, singing sensation Fara Palmer, multi-award-winning blues rocker George Leach, hoop dancer/musician Dallas Arcand, a performance from Beijing-based Mongolian folk act Hanggai, plus an Indigenous Café hosted by singer/storyteller Eddy Robinson. Hanggai (China) Saturday, Aug. 11 at 3 p.m. Veterans of Beijing’s rock scene and hyper-urbanization, the members of Hanggai embody the new generation of Chinese at the crossroads between their future and their heritage; a generation yearning to reconnect with its roots in the face of a dominating mainstream culture. They employ not just electric guitars and drums, but horse-head fiddle, tobshuur (two-stringed lute) and throat singing, melding the traditional and contemporary into something new. In partnership with the Consulate General of China in Toronto. Pacific Curls (New Zealand) Saturday, Aug.11 at 4 p.m. With a cornerstone of Pacific rhythms, vivacious fiddle playing and evocative Maori instrumentation and lyrics, Pacific Curls have pioneered a fusion sound that seamlessly blends their indigenous roots. The trio has accumulated an impressive instrumental collection featuring the ukulele, cajon, fiddle, taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments), guitar, stomp box, kalimba, various percussive instruments and sing in Te Reo Maori, Rotuman and English. In partnership with Creative New Zealand (Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa). Kinnie Starr Saturday, Aug.11 at 8 p.m. The tri-lingual MC, singer, musician, producer, poet, actress, and artist Kinnie Starr releases her sixth album this month. More than just a hip-hop-folk-fusion musician and producer, she was cast in Cirque du Soleil‘s famed x- rated show, Zumanity ; published a book of poetry and artwork; is a yoga student, teacher and advocate; teaches at the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association; co-founded Vancouver’s Aboriginal Music Lab; and promotes literacy and authentic expression through hip hop and poetry through ArtStarts. Digging Roots Saturday, Aug. 11 at 9:30 p.m. Co-headlining along with Kinnie Starr in an evening of Indigenous beats, blues and rhythms is blues- roots-rockers Digging Roots. The band’s latest Juno-winning album, We Are , was co-produced with Starr and features carefully crafted songs, tight studio arrangements and soulful performances. Media Contact: Jon Campbell 416-973-4655 [email protected] media.harbourfrontcentre.com A Tribe Called Red in Concert Saturday, Aug. 11 at 11 p.m. DJ Bear Witness, DJ NDN and DJ Shug bring their infectious mix of traditional drums, Jamaican dub and urban beats – what they call Pow Wow Step – back to Toronto. The group, whose debut album is on the Polaris Music Prize’s long list, is committed to showcasing Native urban culture through their music as well as their Electric Pow Wow , which features a rotating cast of guests. Their Planet IndigenUS show marks the finale of First Peoples Cinema film programme at TIFF Bell Lightbox, and features brand new video for the visual component to their live multi-media experience. ATCR will also lead a video and music mixing workshop in the afternoon prior to the concert. In partnership with TIFF. OKA (Australia) Sunday, Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. Australian trio OKA explore and embrace new technologies in the creation of their sound, blending earthy, tribal tones alongside modern sounds. Between computerized beats and samples, didgeridoo, haunting melodies, bamboo flutes, harmonica, slide guitar and more, they create tribal music for the digital era. Benny Walker Friday, Aug. 17 at 9 p.m. Indigenous singer/songwriter Benny Walker is establishing himself as one of Australia’s most charming and engaging independent artists. Nominated for Most Promising New Talent at the Deadly Awards and at the 2011 National Indigenous Music Awards, his soulful voice and love of diverse musical styles sees him combine blues and roots with reggae to create a unique experience. Robbie Robertson Tribute Show featuring Derek Miller and Special Guests Friday, Aug. 17 at 9:30 p.m. Multiple Juno-Award-winner Derek Miller celebrates the work of one of Canada’s most iconic Aboriginal songwriters, Robbie Robertson. Emerging Talent Showcase: Ali Fontaine, IsKwé and Cris Derksen Saturday, Aug.18 at 4:30 p.m. Ali Fontaine Ali Fontaine is a 17-year-old country artist from Manitoba’s Sagkeeng First Nation who won her first singing competition at age 8 and hasn’t looked back since. She scooped up three awards at the 2011 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and saw her first single go to the top of the National Aboriginal Music Countdown chart. In partnership with Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs. IsKwé Coming from a mixed background of Irish and Cree/Dene ethnicity, Winnipeg native IsKwé pulls from both of her cultures and beyond to create a unique trip-hop-meets-eclectic-soul sound. Having just wrapped up a US tour with the infamous NYC collective FreakNasty, she remains committed to giving back to the Native community, promoting positive change and education through facilitating youth workshops and supporting various native youth organizations, both in Canada and the USA. Cris Derksen Cellist Derksen is known for captivating solo performances that combine her classical training and Aboriginal ancestry with new-school electronics, building layers of sound into dance music. While she has performed with hip hop star Kanye West, Kinnie Starr, Lightning Dust (Black Mountain) and many more artists, her solo work has been turning heads. Her 2011 debut album, The Cusp , was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award, and won a 2011 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award;