This Week In Art/Culture/Entertainment
By John Swartz
The 46th annual Orillia Scottish Festival is happening July 20 at Couchiching Beach Park. Well, most of it. Some of the activities take place at the legion.
The parade starts at noon from Peter and Mississaga Streets, proceeding down to the park where the opening ceremony begins at 1 p.m.
Following the opening, the 78th Fraser Highlanders will perform on the field. At 2:15 p.m. Meaghan Miller’s Highland Dancers will perform on the Jim Campbell stage, which is located where the beer tent has been traditionally located. The beer tent this year is set up near the beach. It’s bit of a hike, but they’ll also perform at the beer tent at 2:45.
The OPP Commissioner’s Pipes and Drums will be at the legion at 2:30 p.m. followed by the 48th Highlanders Military Band at 3 p.m.
The band Fiddlestix plays the Campbell stage at 2:30 and 4 p.m.
The OPP vs. EMS games start at 3:30 p.m. on the main field and then the closing ceremony starts at 5 p.m.
There are activities for kids in the play area near the bandstand, and they have a pirate theme for those. The festival honours a clan every year and this time it’s Clan Fleming.
Race To The Bottom
This is not about the City of Orillia’s new nonsensical policy about reviewing shows at the Opera House. The annual Cardboard Boat Race is happening soon. August 11 to be exact, though that is the only measure of exactness involved owing to the seaworthiness of any of the boats.
It’s also happening on the weekend (Aug. 9-11) of the Orillia Waterfront Festival at the Port of Orillia and Centennial Park.
There is no fee to participate but teams must register. No experienced is necessary, which is evidenced by not one of the boats from previous races surviving.
Evan Devine, who has designed many previous race winners, and crewed them (it’s kind of like Roman engineers vouching for the quality of their work by voluntarily standing under their impressive arches and bridges as the supports are removed) has made a video tutorial about how to make a cardboard boat.
Also I just happen to know of someone who has an industrial strength cardboard box they were going to put out for recycling – and I do mean industrial strength. I don’t think I’ve ever seen cardboard that could be used for bomb shelter construction. It’s approximately 4×4 ft. in size on each side. If you want it, email info@sunonlinemedia.ca and we’ll coordinate picking it up.
The festival also has live entertainment, a beer tent, vendors and the Dock Diving contest. Hold on, don’t get too excited, it’s not for you; it’s for your dog.
The chamber’s Saturday night live music at the Port of Orillia has Signature 11 playing July 20 from 5 to 7 p.m.
CommunityFest
I stopped by second annual CommunityFest, which happened in Couchiching Beach Park last Saturday mid-afternoon. This was an event for the Black community to get together. There were about 100 people at the pavilion and the filling up of plates for the potluck dinner had already begun. I asked if the crowd turnout was as good, or better than last year.
“They are probably on African time, or Caribbean time; somebody said West Coast time,” said organizer Alasoba Kelsy-Braide.”As time is going, you’ll see more people coming.”
Indeed on my way out I saw dozens of people walking in from the parking lot, and more getting their stuff out of cars. People came from Coldwater, Barrie and Innisfil top enjoy a great sunny day, and they collected food for the Sharing Place.
Arty Things
I was early, for once, to the Art Walk held downtown in the Arts District last Saturday. So early there were still cars parked on the street, but, the artists were setting up and anticipating showing their work to prospective buyers. Five galleries and the artist/members they have had work to see.
Cloud Gallery has The Great Big Summer Show opening July 27 at 2 p.m., all pieces are larger than 36×36 inches. Many of the gallery artists will be in attendance.
July 20 is the last day to see the art in the Orillia Museum of Art and History’s 27th Annual International Women’s Day Art Show. OMAH has new exhibits opening July 27 at 1 p.m.; see Pawtraits, items from the permanent collection with people and their pets; Jeanette Luchese has a solo show, The Process Informs Me: Contemporary Abstract Frescoes – I’ve always liked her work, so this one will be interesting. Reflections Of Our Roots Orillia From 3,000 BCE To 2024 has been up for a while but it’s included in the reception.
Still up is solo exhibit by Stacey Tyrell called Backra Bluid .
The walking tour, Gangs, Guns and Grog, happens every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. leaving from OMAH and ending at Couchiching Craft Brewing. You’ll see some of the spots where our most infamous establishments and people did their thing. There is a registration and ticket to get, but it does end at the bar and your first drink is included.
Hibernation Arts has a lot of new work to see. Margaret Paradis and Mary Lynne Atkinson are the featured artists in July. There is also a collection of work by Susan Field to see.
Peter Street Fine Arts has Kate Greenway’s art featured in July. There are new artists hanging and new work by the rest of the gang to see.
MarshMellow (Raune-lea Marshall and Deby Melillo) have organized an outdoor art show, Twilight Piazza, happening in the courtyard at Era 67 July 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. The other artists participating are Barbara Schmidt, Linda Gidora, MJ Pollak and Norman Robert Catchpole. Ian Chaplin will be playing music. It’s not going to rain, but they have a backup date of Aug. 3 for some reason.
A Couple Of Notes
Have you heard the new stuff Deep Purple has out? Ian Gillan, Ian Paice and Roger Glover are still in the band. You can listen to three of the tunes, and watch the videos on Youtube, I think you’re going to like them.
Zachary Lucky was able to crowd fund recording his new album, The Wind, due in September, with advance orders for vinyl and CD copies. He’s been on the road to the Prairies the past few weeks playing a few festivals, and he racked up 52,000 streams of his tune Jasper on Spotify earlier this month. You can also listen to all his work, and buy it on Bandcamp.
Award Season
The nomination period is now open for this year’s ORAH Awards. You have until October 11 to nominated artists and arts groups for an award. The awarding will happen on November 27 at Creative Nomad Studios.
There are 5 categories:
- Education in Arts, Culture and Heritage
- Emerging Artist
- Heritage: Restoration, Renovation and Publication
- Event in Arts, Culture and Heritage
- Qennefer Browne Achievement Award
I think it would be awesome is someone nominated Steve Orr in the Quennefer Brown award. He has for years sponsored just about every fundraiser the Youth Centre has done, Roots North, the Orillia Concert Band, and the Orillia Silver Band, and I’m sure I’m missing about a half dozen or so other musical events.
There are others who are regular sponsors of events, but Steve is usually the first on board, and has consistently been one the arts community can count on. Plus, he’s a nice guy.
Chuck Swire
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago Chuck died. He was the band leader of Rellikdog and a friend to many in the music community. There will be a celebration of his life July 28 at ODAS Park. There will be live music starting at 1 p.m. played by Cadillac Blood, Tangents, Demolition Rage, NoDevilliveDoN, and Paupers Grave. It’s free to attend.
I Had A Little Luau
A free pat on the back to anyone who knows where the line used in the sub-header comes from, and no it’s not about the kind of Luau the Hawaiian Glow Party fundraiser Derick Lehmann is putting on July 27 at ODAS Park. This is the 4th of these dance parties Derick has organized, but the first with the Hawaiian theme. The crowd for the first three ranged from 500 to more than 700 people. Tickets are $20 in advance and you can also get them at Alleycats Music.
The last one, the 90s Video Dance Party raised enough money to buy 40 bikes for kids in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. The beneficiary of the fundraiser this time is Green Haven Shelter for Women
The Shorts
- The next Music in the Park concert at the Aqua Theatre is July 21 at 6:30 p.m. with the Barrie Concert Band; July 28 the Orillia Big Band plays.
- Anne Walker has Wendell Ferguson playing the Coulson Church concert series July 28. Aug. 25 it’s Anne Walker playing and Sept. 29 Blair Packham. You can get tickets online.
- The Orillia Youth Centre has a bunch of concerts happening in September with artists like Matchedash Parish, Skye Wallace, Roger Harvey, Zachary Lucky, The Ronnie Douglas Blues Band and many more. See the complete list and get tickets online.
- Battlescarred has entered Rolling Stone’s America’s Next Top Hitmaker contest. They were first in voting for the top 20 and now must get enough votes to make the top 15 list. The prizes include $10,000, a spot in the magazine and playing at the Future of Music Showcase in Austin, Texas. You can vote at this page.
- Couchiching Craft Brewing has James Gray playing July 20; Boomer Babies are in July 26; Valerie Burns and Dave Chun play July 27; Madison Mueller plays July 28… Quayle’s Brewery has Jared Stafford playing July 20 Samantha Windover is in July 21; July 25 it’s Choir Revolution; Caitlin Gale plays July 26; Jakob Pearce is in July 27… The Hog ‘N Penny has an Open Mic Sunday afternoons with Sean Patrick, Michael Martyn John MacDonald, Jessica Martin and whoever else shows up… Picnic has Amber May in July 21… The Sunken Ship has Johnny Toonice playing July 26 and The Band Excel July 27… Barbara Jordan and Don Guinn play Lot 88 July 25
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia and Images Supplied) Main: 2023 Orillia Scottish Festival.
