{"id":33230,"date":"2017-06-21T17:57:52","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T21:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=33230"},"modified":"2017-06-21T18:05:16","modified_gmt":"2017-06-21T22:05:16","slug":"algonquin-theatre-unveils-2017-concerts-on-the-dock-line-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/algonquin-theatre-unveils-2017-concerts-on-the-dock-line-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Algonquin Theatre’s Concerts on the Dock series shaping up to be another crowd pleaser"},"content":{"rendered":"

Concerts on the Dock is one of summer’s most anticipated entertainment events. The series – which runs every Wednesday evening in July and August from 7:00 \u2013 8:00 p.m. at the Town Dock Park, weather permitting – brings a variety of primarily local performers to the outdoor venue. It never disappoints and this year’s line-up will be no exception.<\/p>\n

On June 20, Algonquin Theatre manager Matt Huddlestone, accompanied by two of this season’s performers – Clayton Earl and members of the Northern Lights Steel Orchestra – unveiled the acts that will entertain young and old this summer.<\/p>\n

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The series has been running for 10 years, four in its current location which has proven a popular venue with the audience. “You’re within a hands-reach of the musicians,” says Huddlestone. “We have our regulars that come – like the steel drums, pipes and the concert band – and we’re introducing new (artists).” He advises people to arrive early to be sure they can find a seat.<\/p>\n

The Northern Lights Steel Orchestra<\/a><\/span> (NLSO) is an audience favourite. More than 30 musicians \u2013 all of them volunteers \u2013 play a variety of tunes from reggae and classical to Caribbean classic rock on more than forty steelpans. NLSO is a non-profit organization established by Mervyn T. Jordan, who hails from Trinidad and Tobago, in 1998 for the purpose of promoting the steelpan artform. His son Marlon helped him begin the organization. “It’s been in our family for a long time,” he said. “It’s a thrill to see people discover this instrument that’s been around for so long… it’s a unique instrument. People describe it differently – some people hear trumpets, some people hear piano, some people hear other instruments in there. It’s a fusion of sounds that you’ve never heard before yet is very familiar.”<\/p>\n

Jordan says the orchestra invites people to come up as close as they want without touching the instruments. “They feed off your vibe and your energy as you’re playing.”<\/p>\n

The crowd interaction is one of the things Jennifer Eberhardt loves about Concerts on the Dock. “The response we get from people, it makes it more fun. The more the crowd enjoys themselves, the more we enjoy ourselves.”<\/p>\n

Matt Moody said that the park lends itself well to the instruments. “The way the sound travels across the water… acoustically it’s a great venue.” Due to space constraints, only about half of the orchestra appears at Concerts on the Dock, but you wouldn’t know it from the sound.<\/p>\n

“The way our music is arranged, it is an orchestra, it’s not just a band,” says Eberhardt. “There are 10 different types of steelpans that play different sounds from high soprano to low bass.”<\/p>\n

The Northern Lights Steel Drum Orchestra plays Concerts on the Dock on July 19.<\/p>\n