HFA unveils summer season and new Friends of the Festival membership perks

Main photo: Dan Watson, HFA Executive Director (right), and local musician Tobin Spring at the launch of the festival’s 2019 summer season. Pictured on the screen in the background are some of this year’s festival performers and events (top from left) Bahamas, Jim Cuddy, Jeremy Dutcher, Kyung-A Lee; (bottom from left) Jill Barber, Taktikz Hip Hop, Nuit Blanche North, and Colin James.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) revealed its summer season lineup at a special onstage event at the Algonquin Theatre last night.

The performances this year run the gamut from local talent to award-winning Canadian greats, returning favourites to new offerings, and indoor shows to outdoor events on the street and on the water.

Dan Watson, the HFA’s executive director, said that since taking the reins of the organization last fall, he has really discovered “what a big deal the Festival is and how important it is to so many people.”

The summer season runs from June to September, with 28 different concerts and events lined up so far and more still to be announced.

To kick off the season, the Festival has partnered with Band on the Run for its post-race music festival in River Mill Park on June 8.

An exciting and diverse lineup follows in July and August both at the Algonquin Theatre and beyond.

“The Algonquin Theatre is our home, and we love this home, and we treat Huntsville as our stage and we’re going to have some shows and events not just in the theatre but in other places. And it’s going to be the bomb,” said Watson to laughter from the audience.

Returning festival favourites include Juno-award winning artists Bruce Cockburn and Jim Cuddy, guitar virtuoso Jesse Cook and blues master Colin James.

Add to that boundary-pushing Canadian musicians including Grammy-nominated Bahamas who
brings his unique mix of laid-back folk infused with R&B and Soul; 2019 Juno Award-winner Jeremy Dutcher, a member of the Tobique First Nation who recorded and transcribed Wolastoq songs from 1907 to create an original album that includes the voices of his ancestors; folk rocker Danny Michel; jazz/pop icon Jill Barber; troubadour Royal Wood; and performances celebrating the music of Nat King Cole, Stax Records and a special performance by the Queer Songbook Orchestra that celebrates Queer voices through pop music — it will be a season to remember.

Also watch for the Huntsville Theatre Company’s Broadway After Dark, hosted in the soon-to-be-open Canvas Brewery, for a funny and edgy show featuring songs from musicals such as Rocky Horror, Avenue Q and the Book of Mormon; Mad Raven Productions musical, Huntsville: A Choral History; the Algonquin Outfitters Paddle On Comedy Festival, a mid-river comedy show; and the NyDock Movie on the Docks, a screening of JAWS that can be viewed from the shore or, if you dare, a canoe or boat in the river. Award-winning local talent Taktikz Hip Hop will headline a night of some of the region’s most exciting up-and-coming talents. And the ever-popular Nuit Blanche North street festival will continue its tradition of summer fun after dark.

: Mark Rodriguez and Lauren Saunders from the Huntsville Theatre Company gave the audience a sneak peek at Broadway After Dark with a performance of the irreverent song “Schadenfreude” from Avenue Q

: Taktikz Hip Hop showed the crowd what they can expect to hear when they headline an upcoming show at the theatre

(Above left) Mark Rodriguez and Lauren Saunders from the Huntsville Theatre Company gave the audience a sneak peek at Broadway After Dark with a performance of the irreverent song “Schadenfreude” from Avenue Q; and (above right) Taktikz Hip Hop showed the crowd what they can expect to hear when they headline an upcoming show at the theatre.

Then in September look for a stop by Canadian country music legend George Canyon along with Doc Walker and Charlie Major.

See a full list of the festival’s summer programming at the end of this post.

“Without a doubt, our 2019 season will feature some of the most diverse and entertaining shows that we have ever offered,” says Watson. “Our goal is to offer an eclectic and diverse line-up and pushing the boundaries by bringing shows to the region which otherwise wouldn’t be accessible.”

This year’s festival artisan, Helena Renwick, also unveiled the image she created for the Festival brochure, a vibrant dragonfly that she says symbolizes the transition the Festival is undergoing under Watson’s direction.

Festival artisan, Helena Renwick, created this dragonfly painting for the 2019 Festival

The Festival has also launched a new membership program that gives “Friends of the Festival” the opportunity to purchase tickets ahead of the general public, discounts of up to 20 per cent on all Festival shows, a ‘bring a friend for free’ option on some performances and other perks. Memberships are available now and can be used immediately to purchase tickets for this season either at the Algonquin Theatre box office or by calling 705-789-4975. (Memberships cannot be used to purchase tickets online.)

Tickets will go on sale for the general public starting on April 25 at 10 a.m.

For more information on the 2019 summer season or to learn more about memberships, visit huntsvillefestival.ca. See the full list of shows and events below.

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Huntsville Festival of the Arts summer season:

HFA unveils summer season and new Friends of the Festival membership perks

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