K'Naan headlines musical acts at Deep River Summerfest

Arts/Life

Updated 1 month ago

Deep River's Summerfest 2010 is quickly approaching (July 29-August 1) and whether youfre into gruelling sports competition or friendly team games, artistic expression or expanding your cultural horizons, or just good fun, Summerfest has activities for you. Check it out:

Live entertainment

Summerfest always takes great pride in presenting a variety of excellent live entertainment. This year the headline performer is the hugely popular rapper K'Naan, whose signature song "Wavin'Flag" was the FIFA world cup anthem. Preceding him on the Sunday night stage is the Montreal ska band The Planet Smashers, who are guaranteed to get the party going! Sunday night will also see Ottawa singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume, and the evening kicks off with a full-length family show presented by our own Roaming Horde. At the Yacht Club you can take in the Bricktop classic gypsy jazz ensemble, performing music from the '30s and '40s of Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, and the Company of Fools outdoor performance of Shakespeare's' "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The Deep River Community Band will also be heard at the Yacht Club, and the Deep River Players will be putting on their funny, quirky skit show. Other local performers will include Marion Arthur's classic solo cello at the new Riverbank stage, singer-songwriter Ann Chaplin on the main stage, and local musicians including Amy Sharp, the Deprivers, Wired for Fire, Sexual Leprechaun, Rock River, Passing Last Place, SIN, and The Niels Bohr Skiffle Band. The acoustic show will be happening at the new Riverbank stage, and local buskers will be showing their stuff downtown.

Back on the main stage, country band Switchin'Plates will be headlining Thursday night, and you'll hear Daydreams for Dollars on Friday. New this year is the "It Came From Deep River Songwriting Competition," a two-day event at the Yacht Club featuring rising local talent and exciting new songs. Finalists will perform on the main stage Saturday night for cool prizes!

Sports

At Grouse Park you can take in the Ultimate Tournament and the Three-pitch Ball Tournament. The Mountain Bike Scramble will feature two levels of challenge, for the experienced and the not-so-brave cyclists. The Tandem Canoe Race and Beach Volleyball are both happening at Lamure Beach, and new this year is the 3-on-3 pickup soccer games on the main campus. Although the town has decided to cancel its triathlon this year, the Kid's Triathlon goes as usual.

Family fun

The main campus will be a busy place this Summerfest. Our science show will feature the Canadian Raptor Conservancy Birds of Prey with three shows daily, and the Free Style Soccer experts will not only demonstrate some awesome footwork, but will invite anyone to come forward and learn some new tricks. There'll be two inflatables: a bouncer for younger kids and an all-ages obstacle course. The FEN children's area has its own mini-bouncer, and this area will include shelter for nursing moms. The Giant Tiger Train will be making its circuit around the campus, and you can check out all the cool cars at the Show n'Shine Car Show. Don't miss the Mighty Machines show, too! The Society for Creative Anachronism will be demonstrating medieval swordplay and costumes, and as always the Roaming Horde will be everywhere, with their circus tricks and stilt-walking. The Horde will be giving workshops for would-be circus performers, too. And of course, everyone will want to be at the stupendous fireworks display on Saturday night.

More family fun is happening at other locations: the Family Fun Beach Day will be at Lamure Beach on Saturday afternoon (rain date Sunday), and the Fancy Dress Parade will start its procession between Giant Tiger and The Health Haven on Friday. Saturday night all the teens will want to be in the Town Hall parking lot, for the Guitar Hero event followed by the Much Video street dance. At the Yacht Club on Saturday morning you can learn how to fight like a pro -or at least, like a pro actor -at the Stage Combat Workshop. Then on Sunday you can discover your inner fool at the Introduction to Clown Workshop. The euchre tournament will be taking place at the Legion, as will the Sunday Pancake breakfast.

Artistic and cultural events

The Potters Guild will again be offering you the opportunity to try your hand at Raku firing, and new this year are two other artisan events. Pottery throwing workshops will be taking place at Carol Grant's studio on Beach Avenue, and the Artists in the Garden will take place at 48 Huron Street. In addition, the Artisans Village will be offering wares for sale, near the food court. Summerfest is proud to present another multicultural show, this time featuring dancers and traditional dress from local ethnic communities, followed by the Suns Drum Inuit performers, who will also be giving a workshop in Inuit throat-singing and children's games.

If you feel the need for a spiritual or physical lift after all this activity, come to Yoga for all at the Marina on Saturday morning or evening, and the Riverbank Worship on Sunday morning.

Full details of locations, days and times will be posted on the website: www.summerfest.ca.