Ode'min Giizis Festival (Strawberry Moon Festival) June 16 to 21 in Peterborough

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Public Energy and O'Kaadenigan Wiingashk bring the third annual Ode'min Giizis (The Strawberry Moon Festival)—see promo video above—to Peterborough's downtown and Del Crary Park from June 16 to 21, with more than 200 Indigenous artists participating.

 

The city of Peterborough lies on the traditionally lands of the Anishinaabe. These lands have been long known as a meeting place among the rapids where ideas and knowledge were exchanged. Hence, it’s the perfect home base for a cultural festival like Ode'min Giizis.

 

The festival takes its name from the sweet and generous strawberry, which is harvested at this time of year. It is said to also represent the human heart. As well, the festival falls on the longest day of the year: the summer solstice.

 

Ode'min Giizis is a diverse six-day festival of indigenous art which marks the beginning of summer. The festival takes its shape via a selection of multi-disciplinary arts spread out across multiple venues (Historic Red Dog, Artspace, The Art Gallery of Peterborough, Gordon Best Theatre, Kubo Lounge and Confederation Park, to name a few) in the downtown area. Featured is a cross section of disciplines, including visual art, dance, film, storytelling, music and theatre.

 

Opening ceremonies on Wednesday, June 16th, kick off with a traditional gathering and Powwow at Del Crary Park. One of the featured performers there will be Mihirangi, otherwise known as the “Queen of Loops”. Singing in both Maori and English, Mihirangi blends sultry jazz, ska and rap with her incredible vocal range. Mihirangi’s music has taken her around the world, and that experience, and energy, will be ours to witness during this festival.

 

Among the other artists taking part include the likes of musician Lester Alfonso, artist Jason Baerg, musician Samantha Crain and local musical personality Sean Conway.

 

On the Saturday night (June 19th), the stars come out to Del Crary for a night of music and dance. Featured performers include local musician Missy Knott and world renowned throat singer Tanya Tagaq.

 

The event comes to an end with a wonderful Powwow on June 21st at Del Crary Park. This gathering takes the form of a procession which makes its way from City Hall down George Street to Del Crary Park for more music and festivities. The parade will feature many dancers, large puppets and music.

 

—Jeffrey Macklin, PtboCanada contributor

[If you are interested in volunteering for the festival, call 705.740.9189 or email volunteer@okw-arts.ca. The festival headquarters are located at 400 Hunter St.]

[Ode'min Giizis 2010; Ode'min Giizis - Strawberry Moon Festival] 

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Spotlight: Peterborough Singer-Songwriter Andrea Gauster

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Singer-songwriter Andrea Gauster, who attended St. Peter's Secondary School in Peterborough, is now recording her first full length album—it's due out early August—and an Eastern Canada tour will follow in August, along with a CD Release Party at Supermarket in Toronto on August 26th.

Gauster, who is also in med school at Queen's University, explains to PtboCanada how her music career got started:

"I always played guitar and sang but rarely did so publicly (major stage fright)... until my sister asked me to sing at her wedding, for which I wrote my first song, 'I Knew', in 2008. The recording studio Euphonic Sound in Toronto was offering free studio time... I went in to record 'I Knew' so my sister could have a tangible copy of the song.

I met James Pew (my producer) at the studio and he liked what he heard, asked for more, and encouraged me to do an EP with him. My first album Reverie was born! The rest is history."
Gauster, who's back in Peterborough for the summer (when not recording or touring), says it's tricky juggling her music career with school but plans to continue to pursue both. In September, she returns to Kingston to begin her second year of med school but hopes to continue playing live shows within Ontario until next summer when she can tour again.

Here's a promo video that looks at the making of the new album:



And here's this cute song, "Follow Me", Gauster wrote about Twitter that we're totally digging:



[Andrea Gauster back in the studio; Follow Me - Andrea Gauster's Twitter Tune; Andrea Gauster on Twitter; Andrea Gauster on Facebook; Andrea Gauster on MySpace; Andrea Gauster - CBC Radio 3; YouTube - andreagauster's Channel]

[Related: Peterborough's Music & Arts Scene Rocks (Exhibit A: Bear Trees)]

Peterborough's Sean Cullen Playing Smee in Stratford's Peter Pan

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As the Examiner reports, actor/comedian/singer/author Sean Cullen—who was born here in the Peterpatch August 29th, 1965, and is a graduate of PCVS—is playing Smee in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of Peter Pan, which is opening this Saturday at the Avon Theatre. Here's some production clips with Cullen from the play:

 



And below is a great interview conducted with Sean where he talks about his idea of perfect happiness, his greatest fear and more:

[Peter Pan with Sean Cullen opens at Stratford Saturday; Sean Cullen's website; Sean Cullen on Twitter]

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Sarah Harmer's New Album "Oh Little Fire" Is Coming Out (And She plays Peterborough This Weekend!)

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Sarah Harmer's new album Oh Little Fire is coming out June 22, and she's starting her new tour in—where else!?—Peterborough, with gigs here this Friday and Saturday (June 11 and 12th) at the sold-out Gordon Best Theatre.

For those lucky enough to have tickets to hear her play her new and old material, enjoy!

 


Here's an excellent YouTube video where she talks about the making of Oh Little Fire :

  

And here's some of her music!



[Sarah Harmer's website; Sarah Harmer on Twitter]

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Peterborough Weather Nerd Jay Scotland Rocks

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We're big fans of CHEX Newswatch weather anchor Jay Scotland, who makes local forecasts fun and educational. Jay is entertaining, self-deprecating and informative all at once, and he's obviously passionate about his work. And crafty. On his TheWeatherNerd's channel on YouTube, his latest video (see below) teaches us about downbursts using flour, water and toothpicks. You can also follow him on his blog and get his regular weather updates on Twitter @jayscotland.

[Jay Scotland; Jay's Weather Blog; All About Downbursts; TheWeatherNerd's Channel]

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The Summer Anthem of 2010 in the Patch Is...

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Could it be that "The East Wind" will be this year's summer anthem? We're going to go out on a limb and say... Yes! Certainly The Wolf has been playing it a lot, and it is a pretty darn infectious tune.

Agree? Disagree? If you have other suggestions or predictions, fire away in our comments section below!

[Related: Gord Downie And The Country of Miracles—The East Wind; Gord Downie; The Wolf interview with Gord Downie; Gord Downie says family life influenced new solo disc]

Peterborough Artist Creates The Fastest Painting Ever!

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Every Hump Day: The Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market!

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Don't forget to check out the Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market on Wednesdays (8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.). It's at a new location this year in the Louis St. Parking Lot, just off of Charlotte between Louis St. and Aylmer St. N.

Market-goers can find a wide assortment of local produce and meats, coffee, fresh-cut flowers, perennial and annual plants, veggie and herb seedlings, lunches to go and much more from the 30 or so vendors.

For more on the downtown market, check out this excellent YouTube video:

 



[Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market]

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Peterborough's The Spades Rock. Just Sayin'

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And they're playing the Historic Red Dog this Saturday! Bring it.



[The Spades website; The Spades on twitter; The Historic Red Dog]

[Related: The Spades lucky to survive latest road tour]

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Platinum Blonde Playing The Montreal House

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Since Platinum Blonde is playing the MOHO this Friday, we got a little nostalgic:





 
[Platinum Blonde, The Montreal House]

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