The Mont-Carmel Summer Concert Series is underway every Sunday night until August 25.

The fifth show of the season will take place on Sunday, August 4, and will feature New Brunswick Blues singer-songwriter JP LeBlanc, Island singer-songwriters Brad Milligan and Brooke MacArthur as well as the traditional music duo Ivan & Vivian Hicks from New Brunswick.

Originally from Bathurst, New Brunswick, JP LeBlanc discovered Blues music at the age of 12, and was dubbed "Baby Stevie Ray Vaughan" by Radio-Canada as a teenager. He has toured Canada and Europe, winning awards and representing Atlantic Canada at the International Blues Challenge in 2024. Fresh from recording with Grammy winner Colin Linden in Nashville, JP unveils Mon Acadjan Blues with Clinton Fernandes on drums, a fusion of his Blues roots with the sounds of Louisiana.

Brad Milligan is an award-winning singer/songwriter from Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island.  He is known for his powerful voice, and impassioned stage presence. After having performed in bands like Arsenal Mills and The Love Junkies, Brad started his solo career.  After having received a Music PEI Award and performing at Sound of Music Festival in Ontario, in June 2023, he released his much-anticipated solo EP entitled "Gettin' Better".  The first single, "Go or Bust", found success on college radio across Canada, as well as in the United States, hitting the #1 spot on several stations and amassing over 40k streams. Brad has opened a string of shows for artists like Our Lady Peace, The Trews, Buckcherry, as well as performed his first ever arena show opening for Brett Kissel at Charlottetown's Eastlink Centre. Most recently, Brad was part of the productions “Country Roads” and “Anything For Love: The Music of Meatloaf” presented by Craig Fair Music Productions.

For her part, Brooke MacArthur is a country singer/songwriter who was recently a triple nominee at the 2024 Music PEI Awards. Over the last year, she released two singles, performed during the Cavendish Beach Music Festival and had the honour of sharing stages with artists such as Alan Doyle and Tim Hicks. Driven by her passion for songwriting, Brooke has been refining her skills in the studio, collaborating with songwriters across the nation and evolving her sound.

Ivan Hicks has been playing music for over 75 years.  This renowned composer is an ambassador for Atlantic Canada’s heritage and is the co-founder of the Riverview Arts Centre. Ivan has been sharing the stage with his wife Vivian for a number of years.  Together, they have received numerous awards and prizes.  Among these are the prestigious Stompin’ Tom Award handed out by the East Coast Music Association (ECMA) in recognition of their long-term contribution to the East Coast music industry and the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Award.  Both are members of the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame. Ivan was inducted in the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame in 1990, was the founder of Fiddles of the World (Halifax 1999), was the recipient of the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 and was the recipient of the Order of New Brunswick in 2014.  This couple’s music will get hands clapping and toes tapping.

The show will start at 7:00 p.m. and the doors of the Mont-Carmel Parish Hall (5786 Route 11, Mont-Carmel) open at 6:15 p.m.  During the evening, spectators will be able to buy 50/50 tickets, and the canteen will be open. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for members of our Cooperative, $8 for students and free for preschoolers. Given that seating is limited, folks are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at  www.cooperativeculturelledemontcarmel.com.  If any tickets are left, they will be made available for purchase at the door on the night of the show.  

The mandate of the Coopérative de développement culturel et patrimonial de Mont-Carmel is to showcase, develop and promote the rich cultural heritage of Mont-Carmel.