Considering attending the Georgian Sound Festival April 25 to 27?
Well, make sure you save some energy for the festivities happening on Sunday, April 27!
Start your day off by heading to the Jazz Brunch at The Raven Grill at Lora Bay with the exciting sounds of the Bourbon Street Buskers. Starting at 11 a.m., the Raven Grill will serve up a themed brunch menu including southern inspired dishes of Creole Chicken, Jambalaya, Scrambled Eggs and Succotash, Baked Cheese Grits, Biscuits and Gravy, Cornbread and more.
As you enjoy your brunch, your toes will be tapping to the Dixieland/swing sounds of the Bourbon Street Buskers, a group of professional musicians that formed in 1991. They have performed at a variety of Toronto area jazz clubs, the CNE, and the DuMaurier Jazz Festival among many other venues.
Led by Michael Lawson, this exciting group includes Malcolm Higgins, Jack McFadden, Ted Roberts, Jim Purdie and Don Vickey. The Sunday Jazz Brunch cost only $35 and still lets you get to Gospelfest on time!
Starting at 2 p.m., at the Beaver Valley Community Centre, this year’s Gospelfest will be one to remember. The event opens with the Georgian Bay Secondary School Jazz Ensemble, a group of Meaford students that range in age from 14 to 18 who are members of the Georgian Bay Secondary School’s Intermediate or Senior Orchestra. Led by conductor Patrick Delaney, the ensemble will impress their guests with their musical quality and professionalism.
For the first time, the Georgian Sound Festival is very honoured to welcome Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale as the title performers at Gospelfest. These 23 fabulous singers and musicians will ignite the stage at the BVCC!
Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale were among the list of prominent musicians paying tribute to Oscar Peterson on January 12 at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto and in early March they performed Oscar Peterson’s Hymn To Freedom with Oliver Jones and Dione Taylor at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame gala event.
An alumna of Oakwood College in Alabama, Sharon Riley has over 10 years of vocal training including jazz and opera. In October 1990, Sharon survived a life-changing car crash, which left her physically challenged. The doctors said she would not be able to walk again. But Sharon's strong faith and support from friends and family changed the prognosis.
A special part of her recovery is found in the group she helped to establish called Faith Chorale. The choir was formed in 1992 with Robert Picart and Sharon Mcleod, and Sharon now oversees the auditions, teaches and directs the choir as well as singing lead vocal parts.
This group's firm grounding in the tradition of gospel music is strongly evident, as is their commitment to giving this tradition a contemporary flavour. Thick choral harmonies, rich instrumental backgrounds including organ and brass, and a funky driving rhythm section of drums, bass and keyboards make this a soul stirring experience. Arrangements are tight and hard hitting, with a good mixture of the chorale and Sharon's beautiful solo voice.
Tickets are still available for all events. Be sure to get your tickets for Friday’s Jazzmania, Big Band Saturday, Gospelfest and the Jazz Brunch today!
Festival tickets are available now online or call the Festival Hotline at 519.599.3223. Tickets are available in person at Riverside Graphics in Clarksburg, Jessica’s Book Nook in Thornbury or Stuff to Read in Meaford. For more information, please call Steph McLarty via the Festival Hotline at 519-599-3223.
