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2019 Acadian Festival to focus spotlight on young performers

ABRAM-VILLAGE - July 24, 2019 – Recognizing the fact that young people represent the future and the upcoming leadership of the local community, organizers of the Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival have made an extra special effort to highlight local young talent during the 2019 edition of their event, which runs from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 in Abram-Village.

"We also recognize that the level of talent of our young people has improved significantly in recent years, as evidenced by the creation of various new Acadian and francophone traditional music groups that inspire each other in their development," said Jeanne Gallant, president of the board of directors of this major cultural event.

In particular, visitors will be able to see and hear the fantastic folk music of the popular band Paloudes as well as the new i7 (pronounced "icette" in French) and Quoi de neuf? at various intervals over the long weekend. Young stepdancers, singers and musicians will also perform on the two stages of the festival.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to see many of the Island's adult francophone and groups during the various concerts held throughout the festival. This year, organizers have also invited comedian-juggler Patchouko (Gilles Villeneuve) from Quebec to present shows, crowd animations and circus workshops under the "Cirqsantrick" brand several times over the weekend (Friday to Sunday).

THURSDAY, AUG. 29

The first show of the weekend will be the Acazing Talent Competition, Thursday, Aug. 29, starting at 7 p.m. at the Evangeline Recreation Centre. A maximum of 18 artists or groups of all ages will perform for a chance to win fantastic cash prizes. The 2018 winners will also perform while the crowd awaits the judges' results. The mascot Acazing will also do a bit of stepdancing to kick off the evening.

FRIDAY, AUG. 30

During the official opening ceremonies of the Exhibition and Festival, Friday, Aug. 30, at 1:15 p.m., several musical acts will be featured on the main stage of the Evangeline Recreation Centre. These include the band Paloudes (Tianna Gallant, Dawson Arsenault and Gilbert Arsenault), young singer Britney Arsenault and Jeannita Bernard, who will perform the theme song. Once again, Acazing will give a few steps.

The provincial finals of the PEI Youth Talent Competition, sponsored by the PEI Mutual Insurance Company, will follow at 2:30 p.m. on the same stage.

The young band i7 (pronounced "icette") will then perform at 3 p.m. on the outside stage of the exhibition grounds. This group is composed of seven youngsters from Grades 3 to 5 at Evangeline School: Avery Arsenault, Mia Richard, Riel Arsenault, Cameron McCardle, Keera Gallant, Samantha Arsenault and Jaymie Hemphill-Richard.

A musicians’ jam will be held at 9 p.m. in the Acadian Musical Village musical next door.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31

On Saturday, Aug. 31, at 1:15 p.m., on the outside stage, the teen group Quoi de neuf? will perform its new show. The band is composed of Jaden McInnis, Andraya Gallant, Mia Bernard, Leah MacIsaac, Alyssa Gallant and Slàine McGuire, all students who were in the Grade 9 music class at Evangeline School. Some of these musicians were formerly part of the group Les Éloizes.

On the indoor mainstage, starting at 2 p.m., visitors will be able to watch a magnificent concert by Gadelle, composed of renowned singer-accordionist Caroline Bernard, exceptional bass player Rémi Arsenault as well as expert organist Hélène Bergeron and phenomenal fiddler Louise Arsenault, both formerly from the internationally renowned group Barachois. Various members of their families will accompany them for some of their numbers.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 1

The very popular fiddling and stepdancing show, featuring local and guest fiddlers as well as a number of stepdancers, will begin Sunday at 2:30 p.m. This traditional music concert is always considered a favorite event of the weekend.

Early in the evening, the Acadian of the Year and Young Acadian of the Year Awards will be presented to deserving individuals.

And to close off the annual event, visitors can take part in the fantastic closing show, presented under the theme "Mon chez-nous, c'est l'Acadie" (L’Acadie Is My Home), starting at 7 p.m. This evening will offer a beautiful retrospective of the year's local musical and theatrical activities. Paul D. Gallant will be the artistic director of this multi-colored and multidisciplinary presentation, which will feature well-known singers Marcella Richard, Caroline Bernard and Adrienne Gallant, young fiddler Gilbert Arsenault, the band Paloudes and the Acadie Danse troupe (composed primarily of dancers from former local troupes). The house band will be composed of exceptional musicians Jonny Ray Arsenault, Wayne Robichaud, Rémi Arsenault and Louise Arsenault, who will perform under the direction of Luc Déon from Nova Scotia. The extravaganza will also include a few excerpts from the 2019 dinner-theatre shows of the Acadian Musical Village, featuring actors Julie Arsenault, Debbie Rousselle-Montgomery, Dawson Arsenault and Tianna Gallant. The master of ceremonies will be Ryan Doucette, the Charlottetown stand-up comedian who is originally from Nova Scotia.

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CUTLINE 1: The young group i7 (pronounced "icette" in French) will perform Friday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. on the outdoor stage of the Exhibition grounds. The group is composed of (front row, from left) Riel Arsenault, Mia Richard and Avery Arsenault; (back row) Cameron McCardle, Keera Gallant, Jaymie Hemphill-Richard and Samantha Arsenault.

CUTLINE 2: The new group Quoi de neuf? will perform Saturday, Aug. 31, at 1:15 p.m. on the outdoor stage. The group is composed of, first row from left, Slàine McGuire, Mia Bernard and Alyssa Gallant; back row, Jaden McInnis, Leah McInnis and Andraya Gallant.

CUTLINE 3: The popular group Paloudes (Tianna Gallant, Dawson Arsenault and Gilbert Arsenault) will participate in at least two weekend shows at the Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival: the official opening Friday, Aug. 30, at 1:15 p.m. and the closing show Sunday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m.

 


For more information:
Jeanne Gallant
President
Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival
Residence: 902-854-3287
Cell: 902-432-0809
E-mails: expositionfestival@gmail.com or gallant.jeanne22@gmail.com

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