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Submitted Middleton resident Maureen MacLean is the 18th annual recipient of the Valley Arts Award, which has been given since 2004 by the Deep Roots Music Cooperative. The award recognizes someone who has worked for the development or promotion of Valley artists, arts events, or culture, and has made a significant long-term contribution to the Arts in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. MacLean was raised in Liverpool, where she received her early music training. Following high school, she continued her musical studies at Mount Allison University. After two years teaching in Shelburne, MacLean became the grade P-6 music teacher at Middleton…
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François Côté After producing a series of Acadia Performing Arts virtual concerts in 2020-21, we can’t wait to re-engage with our audience and present live performances again in Acadia University’s two largest venues: Convocation Hall and Festival Theatre. At this point, we are committed to the presentation of six performances during the 2020-21 season. For a few months already, we have been eager to announce this series, planned to begin with a November 21 concert. However, given the still uncertain timeline and terms of access to our Acadia venues, we are still holding back from officially announcing our series and…
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Heidi Kalyani I was standing in the tunnel at the Atlantic Festival Theatre with my camera up to my eye capturing moments from the Deep Roots Music Festival when I started to cry. Arguably, I was going through a rough time (as I had recently exited a long and painful relationship), but as is the unfortunate custom in our culture, I had been “nobly” holding in my emotions and getting on with my role of taking photographs. That is until Coco Love Alcorn stepped on to the stage and began to sing, “Out of the hard times in life comes…
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Submitted The Deep Roots Music Cooperative is planning a weekend of five concerts September 24-26 in the gorgeous UNESCO Landscape of Grand-Pré. They will create a magical performance space on the grounds of the Grand-Pré National Historic Site, formed by three interlocking Nordic Kata tipis. The music begins Friday, September 24 at 7:00pm with the soulful sounds of Ian Janes, Owen ‘O’Sound’ Lee, as well as folk-pop sensation, Gabrielle Papillon. Saturday afternoon features Jennah Barry, Mary Beth Carty, and local favourites The Hupman Brothers. Saturday night showcases J.P. Cormier, Daniel James McFadyen, and rising Mi’kmaq star, Morgan Toney & Keith…
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Kim Barlow Music In Communities is a non-profit cooperative that advocates for music literacy, engagement and inclusivity in rural Nova Scotia. We’re getting ready to bring loads of music your way this summer! First, we’d like to introduce our two awesome Canada Summer Jobs employees, Maisie and Reuben Gilbert. They’re young, but they bring a lot of skill and experience to the positions. Reuben just finished his second year at Acadia University in the School of Music and Maisie will begin studies post-pandemic. They have won awards with their family band, The Gilberts, (with brother Frieden) and have accumulated an…
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Sarah McInnis is a singer/songwriter, accredited music therapist, and end-of-life doula living in Port Williams, Nova Scotia. She is passionate about helping people to navigate end-of-life processes and grief through music, and started The Legacy Song Project earlier this year. This initiative is designed for individuals nearing the end of their life, and for those who have lost loved ones. After a detailed conversation, Sarah writes and records a personalized song, to honour, reflect on, and preserve the memory of a loved one. The Grapevine (GV): What was the impetus behind your creation of The Legacy Song Project?Sarah McInnis (SM):…
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