It’s early August and the area is putting on as many shows as possible before the winter cold sets in. This week, Chatter takes a look at St. Albert performers at the Edmonton Fringe Festival, local CCMA award nominees and the upcoming Arden Theater season.
Marginal returns
The 41st Edmonton International Fringe Festival returns August 11-21 with over 160 uncensored shows across 27 venues.
There are every genre imaginable. Choose from comedy, satire, horror, history, tragedy, futuristic, indigenous, political, musical, cabaret and improv. Artists from around the world will perform at the festival for the first time in two years.
Some current and former St. Albert actors will add their talents to this event, which is expected to attract approximately 100,000 visitors. Visit www.fringetheatre.ca for more information.
Below is a partial list of St. Albert’s Theater voices:
• Barbara Hubbard and Rhonda Kozuska: I’m still here
• Christina O’Dell: Sweat Angelica
• Dallas Arcand Jr.: hoop dancer
• Josh Languedoc: Rocko and Nakota
• Kate Ryan: Ten and The dreamer’s cantata
• Lucy Haines: Charlie and the Siberian Monkey Goddess
•Owen Bishop: half the battle
• Neil LeGrandeur: The flying detective
• Paige Shots: The ladies of jazz
• Visionary Theatre: The enchanted forest
Arden Season Announced
The wait is over. The Arden Theater has announced its entire 2022-2023 season. While this is a slightly shorter 26-act lineup compared to pre-pandemic levels, it encompasses an exciting mix of past heavy hitters and a few new acts.
Whether it’s Scottish supergroup Skerryvore, African ensemble Black Umfolosi, Grammy Award-winning Latin artist Alex Cuba, or Indigenous dance group Northern Cree, the season is littered with a fascinating selection of world and roots music.
Anyone who likes the country-bluegrass vibe can expect The Slocan Ramblers, Barney Bentall & The Cariboo Express, Terri Clark, Aaron Goodvin and Hailey Benedict from St. Albert.
On the rock, blues and jazz front, Whitehorse, Serena Ryder, The Bros. Landreth, Ellen Doty, Suzie Vinnick, Lloyd Spiegel and Charlie A’Court step in with a mashup of sweet ballads, soulful tunes and/or electrifying guitars.
Some new shows are reserved for families. They include the breathtaking and popular Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour; an Axis theatrical production of Th’owxiya: The hungry feast dish; music by Beppie; and fantasy adventure live A dinosaur story.
Tickets go on sale Monday, August 15 at 10 a.m. Call 780-459-1542 or go online to https://stalbert.ca/exp/arden/
Congratulations to CCMA Nominees
The 2022 nominees from the Canadian Country Music Association have arrived and several artists with ties to St. Albert shine once again.
Tied for two nominations are newcomer Hailey Benedict and veteran artist Aaron Goodvin. Benedict is nominated for Rising Star of the Year and Artist or Interactive Group of the Year.
Aaron Goodvin is also competing for Interactive Artist or Group of the Year. The former St. Albert resident is also up for single of the year for boy like me.
Local singer-songwriter Dan Davidson was named Record Producer of the Year for Benedict’s single I wanted you to.
Former Social Code lead singer-turned-videographer Travis Nesbitt is recognized for his body of work over the past year. It includes Gord Bamford drink along song video; That of the Congregation End of the world soundtrack video; and two videos from Dead South: ChopSuey and People are strange.
Finally, Matthew Atkins, who received the 2021 Drummer of the Year award, is nominated once again this year.
Calgary is the host city for 2022. A gala announcing the winners will be held on Sunday, September 11 at the Scotia Saddledome. TV coverage will be live on Global starting at 6 p.m.
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