sakihiwe news
Laura Otman, Lido Pimienta bringing new music to Spence Neighbourhood
Aboriginal Music Week and the Spence Neighbourhood Association are partnering on a big community event at the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre on Sunday, August 24. The celebration, dubbed the Spence Neighbourhood Block Party presented by Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation, will feature an outdoor concert, community BBQ, music workshops, and activities for the kids. Best of all, it’s entirely free.
Apache violinist Laura Ortman and Colombian music maverick Lido Pimienta are set to bring something new to the neighbourhood. They’ll be joined by local country singer Frannie Klein and Logan Staats, who’s from the blues-rich territory of the Six Nations of the Grand River.
"The Spence Neighbourhood Block Party will be the final event for Aboriginal Music Week 2014 and it’s going to include some really interesting music" says festival chairperson Alan Greyeyes. “I think Lido Pimienta is going to blow people away. She’s like Tanya Tagaq or Bjork with even more electronic flare. It might be challenging for some folks in the audience, but I think it’s also going to be inspiring for any younger women who might be interested in expressing themselves through music.”
The Spence Neighbourhood Block Party will be completely free. Audiences can expect a family friendly environment (no beer gardens) with great sound and exceptional music in a great community setting. Aboriginal Music Week produces concerts in neighbourhoods throughout the city in an effort to make it easier for families to walk to the venues, but music lovers from outside the neighbourhood are more than welcome to attend.
"This is such an amazing event for our community," says Jamil Mahmood, Executive Director of the Spence Neighbourhood Association. "The Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre is a hub so to be able to bring such talented artists together with the community to celebrate music, culture, and the neighbourhood is awesome. I especially like the fact that we're giving our young people a window into what is possible through music and what you can achieve if you have passion for what you do."
Anishinabemowin hip hop emcee Tall Paul will be on hand to answer questions about his music and mentor young folks interested in becoming hip hop artists. Logan Staats will provide a similar opportunity, focusing on guitar playing and songwriting in his workshop.
The BBQ menu will include hotdogs, drinks, and snacks. It will begin at 12pm and conclude when the food runs out.
“Dreamcatcher is proud to work with organizations that commit themselves to working with communities and youth," says Sara Awdish, Executive Director of the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation. "Dreamcatcher is proud to be a sponsor of Aboriginal Music Week and wishes the event much success.”
Aboriginal Music Week 2014 is set for August 20 - 24. It will include three big community celebrations, a lunch hour showcase, two big concerts at The Cube, two nightclub concerts, and two of the only networking events for the Aboriginal music community in Canada.
Performances by JUNO Award winners George Leach and Leela Gilday, Anishinabemowin emcee Tall Paul, prehispanico music creator DJ Javier Estrada, Métis fiddle legend Darren Lavallee, Diplo-approved music producer Astronomar, funk-rockers Burnt-Project 1, champion drum group Spirit Sands Singers, hip hop duo Mob Bounce, local party legends Primetime Empyre, Opaskwayak Cree Nation's DJ Miss Vee, cinematic electronic music producer Exquisite Ghost, and The Mosquitoz have been announced for Aboriginal Music Week 2014 to date.
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Aboriginal Music Week celebrates the fact that Indigenous artists around the world are creating music that crosses almost all musical and physical borders, without regret.
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