Once again Theatre Network has harnessed some of the most creative young artists in the area for the 15th annual Nextfest, which runs until June 13.
There’s a wealth of emerging talent — about 400 artists who strut their stuff in a series of invigorating theatre, music, visual arts, dance, film and cabaret performances. Among them are several St. Albert voices.
Local musician Doug Hoyer has switched artistic hats and is co-playwright of Call Me A Liar. Well-known choreographer Cheryl Fontaine, a former St. Albert high graduate, is curating Dancefest, and Legal’s Joelle Prefontaine dances in Co-conspirators: Wanted.
The performances are scattered throughout 15 venues across Edmonton. For a complete breakdown of show information visit www.nextfest.ca.
Individual tickets are $10. Day passes are $18 and festival passes are $40. There are also a variety of free events. Tickets can be purchased at Theatre Network, 780-453-2440.
Heart of the City Festival is one of the first festivals of the season and it launches with gusto this Saturday and Sunday at Giovanni Caboto Park, in the heart of Little Italy.
More than 50 musical acts have been tapped to perform non-stop on two stages. And anyone searching for a quiet corner can visit the visual arts tent with displays and crafts for kids.
Although this festival promotes musicians and artists from the inner city, several St. Albert performers working on joint projects will also perform. On Saturday, former resident and recording artist Jessica Jalbert sings at 12:20 p.m., Mat Halton, a local youth care worker, from the band pre post performs at 6:05 p.m. and rockers’ band Blazing Violets turn up the heat at 7:35 p.m. Set to perform during the 6 to 9 p.m. musical showcase is Rebecca Lappa, last year’s St. Albert Idol.
On Sunday, folk acoustic trio Painting with Ella churns it out at 3 p.m., followed by St. Albert Idol 2010 winner Quetzela Carson at 3:35 p.m.
In addition, assorted workshops will be held both days on hooping, dimensional sculptures, doodle games, mural imagery, printmaking and abstraction in photography.
For more information visit www.hotcmf.com. Giovanni Caboto Park is at 95 Street and 108 Avenue.
Sometimes a musician comes along that defines blues as no other. Crawdad Cantera is such a man. He has dabbled in the music scene for 30 years. When he whips out his harmonica people listen.
“He works with The Shade Tree Mechanics, Jimmy and the Sleepers, The Flying Crawdads and Front Porch Roots Review. His appearance at a lot of blues festivals have made Crawdad a household name on the blues scene,” said Mark Ammar.
Ammar is the host at LB’s Tuesday night jam. This week the featured entertainers are Cantera and his cohort Willie James Engle, a musician who started playing music when he was still knee-high to a grasshopper.
He turned pro in the seventies and is “currently fronting the band Blue Yonker with Winston Quelch and Canadian drumming legend Stu Mitchell.”
The jam starts at 9 p.m. LB’s Pub is at 23 Akins Dr. No cover charge.
