Country, rock and more at Turtlefest
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Turtlefest has expanded to three full days this year - June 17-19 - and its stage entertainment has grown with it.
Saturday's entertainment, set up by Nicole Nascimento, includes music from the Doug Clayfield Trio, United Snakes, Wendy Lynn Snider and One Ugly Cowboy.
"I am actually quite excited about One Ugly Cowboy," said Nascimento. "She does a really does a great job with that song, Better Dig Two. And she also does a great Girl Crush. They've got a CD that just came out this year, Get Yer Ugly On. And they have a song that actually mentions a turtle, so I thought maybe that would be a good one for Turtlefest.
"And United Snakes, because they are coming here from Windsor and Michigan. The main guy, Mark Chichkan, from Windsor, he used to be the lead guitarist for Helix (1996-99). And half of the band is from Michigan.
"Wendy Lynn Snider... I haven't heard perform (live) but I heard she's really good. She's like a classic country. So I'm putting a classic country going into a more 'rock-ish' country."
Local dance studio Danscene kicks off entertainment at 11 a.m. in Memorial Park, dancing in front of the stage from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
"We won't have anyone dancing on stage because there's too much equipment in the way," said Nascimento.
Doug Clayfield Trio, who Nascimento compares to Bryan Adams, takes the stage at Memorial Park around 12:15-12:30 p.m. until 1 p.m.
"If you know Bryan Adams, you know what his music's like. The Doug Clayfield Trio was supposed to perform last year at the Ribfest, but got rained out. He's coming back, actually twice, he's coming back for Turtlefest and Ribfest."
A puppet show - Images Puppet Productions - will entertain families at 1:30 p.m.
Then United Snakes, a 1970s rock tribute band, takes the stage from 2-3 p.m.
"They (United Snakes) really wanted to play here," said Nascimento. "The way it worked out.. they heard about the Turtlefest and contacted me."
Brooks Academy of Dance follows in front of the stage from 3:15-4 p.m.
The puppet show returns, then Imagine Dance and Fitness from 5-5:30.
"Maybe even 6 p.m.," said Nascimento, "because at 5:30 Wendy Lynn Snider is going to start setting up. Imagine Dance might be dancing while they're setting up on stage. They're really good - they were at Ribfest last year."
Wendy Lynn Snider takes the stage from 6-6:30.
"When they finish at 6:30, One Ugly Cowboy is going to start setting up, doing sound checks. They need to do all that before they can start at 8 p.m. They will go till 9-9:30 p.m., and they might go a little longer."
The show will end, however, when it's dark - and the outdoor movie begins.
"I'm saying 9:30 they'll stop."
Nascimento also arranged for a free RV trailer for the acts Saturday from Ace Auto in Ingersoll, which she said might also be available for Sunday entertainment.
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
Sunday's Turtlefest entertainment lineup at Memorial Park, arranged by David Wells, starts at 11 a.m. with Tom Massiah and Patrick Campbell.
Campbell is a finger-style guitarist whose style and love of acoustic music was initially influenced by John Renbourn and Bert Jansch and inspired by the early singer-songwriters. He primarily performs these days as a solo artist (vocals and guitar). Campbell has accompanied an opera singer and choir in concert. He has been a regular performer at numerous open stages in the Uxbridge area and, since moving to Tillsonburg with his wife in October 2015, has appeared at sessions around Oxford and Norfolk Counties. Both Campbell and Massiah are active in the Tillsonburg Guitar Circle that meets once a month.
Massiah, from Otterville, is a fine finger-style guitarist and singer. His influences include James Taylor, Bruce Cockburn, Paul Simon, and Ron Sexsmith.
His song “Does Anyone Ever Grow Up?” was a winner in CBC radio’s All For a Song lyric writing contest. Gordy Sampson set the lyrics to music.
Judy Rideout and Mark Foley play from 12-12:30. Rideout is a singer songwriter from southern Ontario who writes songs about ex-husbands, boyfriends and truckers. Her band is called 'the ex-husbands' and sometimes contains one or even a few, of her ex-husbands. And maybe a trucker, or a boyfriend.
Will Carson & The Branchwater Bandits take the stage from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
"Just some good ole boys that love country music and country living," with a mix of both old and new, the Branchwater Bandits will have you honkytonkin' and yelling yeeeh ha!
David Wells plays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Wells is a singer/songwriter whose lyrics reflect life in Southwestern Ontario. Early influences include Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty. He also produces ambient music.
Finishing out Sunday's entertainment are Long Story with Faith James and James Kennedy.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
A country concert has been planned for Friday's Downtown Block Party by Country 107.3 featuring Mark Leforme, Genevieve Fisher, and The Lovelocks. For more on Friday's entertainment see www.country1073.ca/turtlefest2016 online.