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The Halifax Daily News (Nova Scotia)
June 13, 2004 Sunday
Much more than three B's;
Something for everyone, including beer, barbecue, belly-dancing, at
annual party
by Rodenhiser, David
The best annual event in Nova Scotia celebrates its 20th anniversary
this week, and you really shouldn't miss the party.
No other event in the province delivers the quality and variety of
entertainment and food, complete with fun activities for kids and a
beer tent for adults, as the Nova Scotia Multicultural Festival.
It's a blast, it's educational, and it's cheap.
The festival - www.multifest. ca/2004 - takes place at Alderney Landing
on the Dartmouth waterfront. Even for those Haligonians who loathe
leaving the peninsula, it's well worth the trip. There's literally
something for everyone. And, this year, there's more of everything.
"There are a lot of add-ons. We've got two full evenings added to
the agenda," says Moka Case, the festival's artistic director. "We'll
have more than 700 performers on the stage in 1/2ve days, representing
over 40 different cultural groups."
The festival starts Wednesday evening and runs through Sunday, plus
sneak previews noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday at
Halifax's Grand Parade. To tie in with Acadie 400 - the celebration
of the 400th anniversary of the 1/2rst French settlers' arrival -
the festival will feature three Acadian music groups: two traditional
bands and a hip-hop trio. Aboriginal Canadians are represented by
Kanenhi:io, a women's quartet from Ontario, and Inuit throat singer
Tanya Tagaq Gillis.
Now, I have no idea what any of these performers sound like, which
is actually quite exciting. Hearing them will be a completely new
experience. And, even on the off chance that I don't like them,
there are plenty of other bands playing that I know I'll love.
Returning from last year are two top-notch local reggae bands:
Halfway Tree, boasting former Bob Marley and the Wailers bassist Bryan
Atkinson, and Verbal Warning, which features a phenomenal guitarist
who morphs reggae choruses into metal riffs. The always spicy Salsa
Picante and Alma Latina will heat things up with Latin grooves, and
perennial favourite Afro-Musica will lead you on a musical tour of
the birthplace of humanity. I dare you to try not to dance to any of
these bands.
Last year, the festival attracted 45,000 visitors - almost 20 times
the 2,300 who turned out in 1985 for the inaugural showcase at
what was then called the Technical University of Nova Scotia. The
event has grown through the dedicated work of its organizers and
participants. This year, it's getting $7,500 from the province for
the 1/2rst time, and Ottawa is kicking in $10,000. Compare that
to provincial funding for the Tattoo ($153,300) and Celtic Colours
Festival ($125,000).
The dozens of cultural communities that make the multicultural
festival an annual success take great pride in their contributions,
be it traditional dance, colourful costumes or succulent food. This
year, the Korean Association of Nova Scotia is going the extra mile
by paying to import the Myungji Traditional Dance Company from its
homeland; the Atlantic Jewish Council is co-presenting the Flying
Bulgar Klezmer Band, billed as "Yiddish folk-rock at its 1/2nest";
and the Armoyans, the land developing family, are sponsoring Haik!,
a children's dance troupe from Armenia.
Besides the entertainment, you'll get to peruse 50 exhibit booths and
feast at 28 food booths - shish-kebabs, sushi, jerk chicken, samosas,
sausages, spring rolls, tabouli, baklava and Portuguese sardines
(a steal at 75 cents a head).
Finally, for all you guys who still think it sounds about as fun as
reading a year's worth of National Geographics, let me leave you with
the three B's: beer, barbecue and belly-dancing.
You can thank me at the beer tent.
June 13, 2004 Sunday
Much more than three B's;
Something for everyone, including beer, barbecue, belly-dancing, at
annual party
by Rodenhiser, David
The best annual event in Nova Scotia celebrates its 20th anniversary
this week, and you really shouldn't miss the party.
No other event in the province delivers the quality and variety of
entertainment and food, complete with fun activities for kids and a
beer tent for adults, as the Nova Scotia Multicultural Festival.
It's a blast, it's educational, and it's cheap.
The festival - www.multifest. ca/2004 - takes place at Alderney Landing
on the Dartmouth waterfront. Even for those Haligonians who loathe
leaving the peninsula, it's well worth the trip. There's literally
something for everyone. And, this year, there's more of everything.
"There are a lot of add-ons. We've got two full evenings added to
the agenda," says Moka Case, the festival's artistic director. "We'll
have more than 700 performers on the stage in 1/2ve days, representing
over 40 different cultural groups."
The festival starts Wednesday evening and runs through Sunday, plus
sneak previews noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday at
Halifax's Grand Parade. To tie in with Acadie 400 - the celebration
of the 400th anniversary of the 1/2rst French settlers' arrival -
the festival will feature three Acadian music groups: two traditional
bands and a hip-hop trio. Aboriginal Canadians are represented by
Kanenhi:io, a women's quartet from Ontario, and Inuit throat singer
Tanya Tagaq Gillis.
Now, I have no idea what any of these performers sound like, which
is actually quite exciting. Hearing them will be a completely new
experience. And, even on the off chance that I don't like them,
there are plenty of other bands playing that I know I'll love.
Returning from last year are two top-notch local reggae bands:
Halfway Tree, boasting former Bob Marley and the Wailers bassist Bryan
Atkinson, and Verbal Warning, which features a phenomenal guitarist
who morphs reggae choruses into metal riffs. The always spicy Salsa
Picante and Alma Latina will heat things up with Latin grooves, and
perennial favourite Afro-Musica will lead you on a musical tour of
the birthplace of humanity. I dare you to try not to dance to any of
these bands.
Last year, the festival attracted 45,000 visitors - almost 20 times
the 2,300 who turned out in 1985 for the inaugural showcase at
what was then called the Technical University of Nova Scotia. The
event has grown through the dedicated work of its organizers and
participants. This year, it's getting $7,500 from the province for
the 1/2rst time, and Ottawa is kicking in $10,000. Compare that
to provincial funding for the Tattoo ($153,300) and Celtic Colours
Festival ($125,000).
The dozens of cultural communities that make the multicultural
festival an annual success take great pride in their contributions,
be it traditional dance, colourful costumes or succulent food. This
year, the Korean Association of Nova Scotia is going the extra mile
by paying to import the Myungji Traditional Dance Company from its
homeland; the Atlantic Jewish Council is co-presenting the Flying
Bulgar Klezmer Band, billed as "Yiddish folk-rock at its 1/2nest";
and the Armoyans, the land developing family, are sponsoring Haik!,
a children's dance troupe from Armenia.
Besides the entertainment, you'll get to peruse 50 exhibit booths and
feast at 28 food booths - shish-kebabs, sushi, jerk chicken, samosas,
sausages, spring rolls, tabouli, baklava and Portuguese sardines
(a steal at 75 cents a head).
Finally, for all you guys who still think it sounds about as fun as
reading a year's worth of National Geographics, let me leave you with
the three B's: beer, barbecue and belly-dancing.
You can thank me at the beer tent.