2011 Atlantic Fiddlers' Jamboree
A 3-day music celebration in Abram-Village, PEI
July 29 - 31, 2011

 “One of Canadian folk music's best kept secrets is the Atlantic Fiddlers Jamboree featuring local Acadian musicians and stepdancers, some of Canada's best and most exciting.This is a chance to attend a real Maritime community celebration, not a typical tourist show!''
 

Ranald Thurgood
PhD, Folklore
Ottawa, ON.
 

Our 24th Edition features an excellent blended line-up of experienced and young talent

ABRAM-VILLAGE – Cape Breton’s well-known fiddlers Brenda Stubbert and Kimberley Fraser, Maine’s pride and joy Frank Ferrel, Magdalen Island’s young duo, Alexandre Deraspe and Louis-Charles Vigneault, PEI’s ever-energetic Melissa Gallant, Island-bred Nathalie Arsenault along with her husband Pepeto Pinto, and this year’s tourism award recipients, Peter, JJ, Kevin and Brent Chaisson, will top the list of performers at this year’s Atlantic Fiddlers Jamboree slated for July 29 to 31st, in Abram-Village.

Staged at the Centre Expo-Festival, this popular weekend event will also feature the talents of an incredible line-up of performers from PEI, including a number of professional and amateur fiddlers, along with several interesting workshops on step dancing, fiddling and accompaniment.

“We will have the great pleasure of being entertained by some very experienced fiddlers from PEI, Quebec, New-Brunswick, Maine and Nova Scotia,” says Colette Aucoin, chair of the jamboree’s organizing committee. “Even more amazing to audiences will be the fact that fiddle music is very much alive in this community as the line-up will also feature young and talented musicians who have great determination of keeping the tradition going on forever.”

This year’s other performers (fiddlers and backup musicians) will include Anastasia DesRoches, Peter Arsenault, Louise Arsenault, Keelin Wedge, Trevor Profit, Samantha Gallant, Brandon Arsenault, Jessie Francis, Ian MacInnis, Ten Strings and a Goat Skin, Rémi Arsenault and Roger Arsenault. Several step dancers and dance troupes will also take to the stage during the weekend.

The event begins on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with an official opening and reception, followed by a musical jam at 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s fun kicks off with concerts from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 10 p.m. with a suppertime jam and barbecue under the roof. Sunday’s schedule of events begins with a Musical Brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.. And finally, the Sunday afternoon concert, running from 1 – 4:30 p.m., wraps up the jamboree’s events.

Jamboree participants will be able to take an active part in the festival on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. as they are invited to participate in workshops in fiddling with Brenda Stubbert, in piano accompaniment with Kevin Chaisson, as well as in guitar accompaniment with Louis-Charles Vigneau.

This will be the 24th edition of the Atlantic Fiddlers Jamboree. It promises to keep your toes tapping and your hands clapping while enjoying our Atlantic fiddlers, musicians and step dancers. Plenty of serviced sites available for RV camping.

Thank you to our generous sponsors : Sobeys, Maritime Electric, ADL,Évangéline Credit Union, Bell Aliant, the Bottles Houses, Boutique À Point, Fédération culturelle de l'Ï.,-P,-É., Collège Acadie Ï.-P.-É. and RDÉE Ï.-P.-É. and our project funders Tourism PEI and Heritage Canada.

The Atlantic Fiddlers Jamboree is supported by Canadian Heritage and Tourism PEI.

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For information:
Colette Aucoin
Chair, Organizing Committee
Atlantic Fiddlers Jamboree
(902) 854-2769 (home)
(902) 888-7857 (cell)

Press release - 2
 

Young Duos and an even younger Trio will perform at the 24th Atlantic Fiddlers Jamboree 
A sure sign that traditional music is live and well !
 

A new event has been created for the 24th Atlantic Fiddlers Jamboree. On Saturday, between the two shows, we will feature under the Big roof outside while spectators can enjoy a BBQ, they will be entertained by talented young duos and a even younger trio. 
Alexandre Deraspe, a young energetic young fiddler from the Magdelen Islands of many talents takes us to a place where tunes flow to the music of the sea. Alexandre is proud of his roots. His performances are a reflection of the joie de vivre of his ancestors, notably his grandfather, Arnold Deraspe. His bowing and his style of playing is authentic to his origins and perfectly reflect the style of the Islands where cottillons, rabeustants, waltzes and reels brings movement to your feet. He will be accompanied by Louis-Charles Vigneau, also a young experienced musician was born in the Magdelen Islands from a musical family. With guitar, mandolin, banjo and his voice he approaches his art in connection with his roots from Acadia and his many trips around the world. He has evolved over the past three years alongside the band Vishtèn, a great experience on national and international scenery. Now works as accompanist for many solo musicians, Louis-Charles also sharing his passion workshop in schools and teach in music camps.

Originally from Jamaica, Pepeto Pinto is a professional steel drum player. He builds himself his instruments with a unique melodic and rhythmic sound. After spending 3 years in Cheticamp, Cape Breton, Pepeto became the first steel drum player in the world to interpret the "tunes" of fiddle. He is now making a career of his music in Montreal where he lives with his wife Nathalie Arsenault. Growing up in a family of musicians, Nathalie Arsenault quickly learned stepdancing and playing tunes in the kitchen parties. She has won provincial championships in stepdancing several times. Nathalie shared the stage with many renowned artists as Natalie McMaster, Richard Wood and Angèle Arsenault. Nathalie never leaves home without her violin and she shares Acadian music wherever she goes, whether in France, Africa, Jamaica and now in Montreal.

Sharing a passion for traditional music, this young bilingual trio is riding a new wave of pride in the Acadian, French and Irish cultures they share and are exploring ways to bring new life to well-worn and much-loved standards and songs. Jesse Periard, Caleb Gallant and Rowen Gallant are TEN STRINGS & A GOAT SKIN. 
Organisers of the events are inviting everyone to join them in this musical BBQ under the big roof from 5 to 7 on the festival grounds. The audience will be able to purchase barbecued food and enjoy the great outdoors while being entertained by these great young musicians. This new activity will no doubt be appreciated by all!
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Contact :
Colette Aucoin
Chairperson
(902)888-7857