Nouvelles

Fantastic concerts and shows for all tastes at 2018 Acadian Festival

ABRAM-VILLAGE – Aug. 13, 2018 – Acrobats, intelligent dogs, a magician, pole climbers and, of course, traditional and modern singers, musicians and dancers will entertain the thousands of people who come to the Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival in Abram-Village from Thursday, Aug. 30, to Sunday, Sept. 2.

“Again this year, we’ve assembled a vast array of concerts and shows of all kinds to satisfy all tastes,” says festival president Jeanne Gallant. “We will however still place a particular emphasis on our beautiful Acadian music. You can therefore expect lots of fiddling and stepdancing. And the part that’s most impressive is that you’ll see a number of shows presented by young, talented artists, who, of course, represent our next generation of performers.”

The entertainment begins Thursday night at 7 p.m. with the Acazing Talent Contest at the Evangeline Recreation Centre. Cash prizes will be given to winners in three age categories. Ordinarily, audiences can expect to see singers, dancers and musicians, but one never knows what kind of surprises will make it to the stage.

FRIDAY

Teenaged magician Jérémie Buote of Rustico will amaze children and adults alike Friday at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. This young man’s show proved to be a huge hit at the 2017 Festival when he was part of the “Carnaval en promenade” tour.

Next at 2 p.m., the talented local group Les Éloizes will hit the outdoor stage. Band members Jaden McInnis, Andraya Gallant, Mia Bernard, Leah MacIsaac and Slaine McGuire, who are all 13 and 14 years old, have been playing together for more than two years. They’ve performed on various Island stages, serving up a repertoire of local French and Acadian songs. Its members play guitar, piano, bass, drums and ukulele. This past June, they earned the Culture Award during the Evangeline School Students’ Gala.

Next up at 2:30, on the mainstage, will be the provincial finals of the PEI Mutual Youth Talent Competition. Winners from numerous regional competitions will gather to try to win the provincial grand prize.

Finally, at 9 p.m. in the Acadian Musical Village, the Musicians’ Jam will offer an opportunity for all singers to perform a few songs.

SATURDAY

The Gym Masters, a group of acrobatic gymnasts aged 10 to 25 years from Quebec that had impressed the Festival crowds a few years back, are returning to Abram-Village to present four shows (Saturday at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 12 and 2 p.m.) and to give a workshop Saturday at 1:30 p.m. This year, their show is called “La Relève” (The Next Generation) and therefore focuses on the younger members of the troupe.

At 1:30, the fun and popular local youth trio Paloudes, composed of Dawson Arsenault, Gilbert Arsenault and Tianna Gallant, hits the outdoor stage. Through Gilbert’s famous fiddle, Dawson’s keyboard, accordion and voice and Tianna’s guitar and voice, they deliver a lively selection of traditional music. The band has had the opportunity to perform throughout the province these past few years. They won the first prize for their age category and the Public’s Choice Prize at the 2016 Acazing Talent Competition as well as silver medals at the 2016 and 2017 Finals of Les Jeux de l’Acadie talent show.

Well-known pole climbers Jerry, Marcel and Jeremy Arsenault will present their show of comedic stunts and acrobatics, jointly with the Woodsmen Competition, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The 2018 show is entitled “If You Want To Get To Heaven, You Have to Raise a Little Hell”.

A major two-part concert then hits the indoor main stage Saturday at 2 p.m. Firstly, three members of the local band Les 112 Accords – Britney Arsenault, Janelle Arsenault and Jenny Richard – will give a great boost of energy to the Festival with their upbeat songs and lively traditional music (some of which were recorded on their first album, L’Acadie est ma maison). They’ll be singing, dancing and playing fiddle, guitar and ukulele.

The headliners, the Haché Family, will then take to the stage. This new group is made up of Maurice Hashie, his wife Natalie Hashie, his adult daughter Marissa Hashie, his sister Angèle Haché-Rix and her adult children, Kristen and Ryan Rix. This is their first time presenting a show together although they all individually have lots of stage experience. They’ll perform beautiful music and traditional and Acadian songs.

Finally, at 8 p.m., at the Acadian Musical Village, the duo AH & EM (Allan Gallant and Marcel Caissie) will entertain.

SUNDAY

In addition to the Gym Masters and pole climber who will repeat their shows outdoors at 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively, a variety of other shows will greet visitors Sunday.

One of the highlights of the weekend will be performed on the main stage at 2:30 p.m. The traditional fiddling and dancing show will feature a number of local fiddlers – including Pascal Miousse, Keelin Wedge, Jonathan Arsenault, Louise Arsenault, Zakk Cormier, Samantha Arsenault and the trio Paloudes – as well as a variety of stepdancers who will without a doubt provide great entertainment.

The intelligent Flyball Dogs « Fast & FURious » will entertain the crowds, for the second year in a row, with their numerous tricks, starting at 4:30 p.m.

The theme for this year’s closing show, at 7 p.m. will be “Let’s Celebrate Our Families and Our Traditions”. Several local family groups will be featured. The Acadian of the Year Award and the Young Acadian of the Year Award will both be presented right before the show.

-30-


CUTLINE 1: The Haché Family will headline a Saturday afternoon show on the Festival mainstage. From left are band members Kristen and Ryan Rix, Maurice Hashie, Natalie Hashie and Angèle Haché-Rix.

CUTLINE 2: The Flyball Dogs « Fast & FURious » will entertain the Festival crowd with their fantastic tricks Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

CUTLINE 3: The Gym Masters, a young troupe of gymnast-acrobats from Quebec, will be returning to the Acadian Festival to present four shows (two Saturday and two Sunday) and to deliver a Saturday afternoon workshop

CUTLINE 4: The band Éloizes, made up of, from left, Leah McIsaac, Slaine McGuire, Mia Bernard, Andraya Gallant and Jaden McInnis, will perform on the outdoor stage of the Festival Friday at 2 p.m.

 

For more information:
Jeanne Gallant, president
Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival
Home: 902-854-3287
Cell: 902-432-0809
Email: gallant.jeanne22@gmail.com

Commentaires
0