AMP Festival, Wolfville, NS

Videos from AMP 2010

Here’s a playlist for Performances at the AMP Festival 2010…

Press Release

For Immediate Release

The AMP Festival – a buy local Musical event!

On the weekend of May 7th, 8th and 9th, Wolfville, Nova Scotia will host a music Festival with 98% local talent. The AMP Festival, which is a bit of a misnomer, stands for Acoustic Music Producers. It’s an original hundred mile musical diet! “Why bother spending thousands of dollars and energy to get musicians to come from who knows where when we have the talent right here” says Andy Flinn, festival organizer. “Last year was the first year and we had a full house at most of the shows. Nova Scotia is rich in talent so we decided to try to organize an event that reflects that.” “The whole idea behind it is quite brilliant.” says Marie Jardine, a visual artist who will be MC’ing the Saturday night lineup. “It’s not just about music it’s about community and sharing as well.”

The main events take place at the Al Whittle Theatre at 450 Main St. Wolfville. The musicians must perform only original music and no electrified instruments will be used. The venue is geared up with only a few microphones and a great sound system – that’s it! There are more than 25 performing acts, who will perform up to three songs each. “It’s a smorgasborg – a musical buffet!” quips Jardine. “It’s a great set up – fast paced as there’s very little stage crew and gear to set up for each act. The stage isn’t full of cords and microphones and there isn’t any check, check checking!”

The concerts will be recorded and the performers will receive audio and video footage of their performances. Local photographers are also involved and there will be a display of their photography throughout the festival in Jack’s Gallery (which also functions as the lobby for the Al Whittle Theatre). In the theatre, there will be screenings of local videos and artwork starting 30 minutes prior to each show.

This is a festival that is about our local musicians and artists. It features a couple of newcomers among seasoned local performers, working musicians and recording artists, with award winning recordings to their name and brand new or upcoming CD’s. (Hupman Brothers, Ryan MacGrath, Heather Kelday, t@b, Jack McDonald, John Tetrault… see the complete list at the bottom)

The Festival begins on Friday night at 8pm with a show featuring some of Nova Scotia’s finest songwriters (Kev Corbett, Ryan MacGrath, Chris Robison, Jenny MacDonald etc…). Some free performances will take place at the Wolfville Farmers Market on Saturday Morning. Saturday night will feature blues/roots music (Caleb Miles, Hupman Brothers, Darren Arsenault, Heather Kelday etc). The festival will end with an astonishing Mother’s day concert on Sunday Night with more than 20 performers.

For more information, please consult www.ampfest.ca. Tickets cost $12 for each of the three evening shows ($10 in advance) and can be purchased at Box of Delights in Wolfville or from t@b at the Wolfville Farmers Market.

Join us at the AL WHITTLE Theatre on Mother’s day weekend for an excellent diet of local music.

Performers at AMP:

Friday Night: 8pm at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville:

Andy and Ariana (t@b)
Chris Robison
Jenny MacDonald
John Tetrault
Kev Corbett
Mike Milne: MC
Rick MacNab
Russel Sawler
Ryan MacGrath
Sugarloaf Mountain

Saturday Night:8pm at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville

Sunday Night

Andy and Ariana (t@b)
Beer in the Headlights
Ben Veneer
Bruce Clarke
Dewey Dunnington
Dungaree Brothers
Russel Sawler
Heather Kelday
Jack McDonald
Jenny MacDonald
John Tetrault
Kadijah
Kimberly Matheson
Sarah Pound
The Hupman Brothers
Zenigma

Grapevine Insert, April 29, 2010

Here’s an AMP Festival program for your fridge. It’ll be available with the Grapevine of April 29, 2010.

AMP Festival 2010, May 7,8,9

Yes, It’s on again! The AMP Festival will feature 3 ticketed shows (every evening of the festival). The festival will also be a guest at the Wolfville farmers market on Saturday morning (May 8th). Saturday and Sunday afternoons will feature free workshops and performances at the Al Whittle Theatre.

Thank You All

To our musicians, photographers, staff and audience,

It has been a thrill and pleasure to share the mother’s day weekend of 2009 with you all. During the 7 events of the Innovative Systems AMP Festival 2009, we heard the songs of more than 30 songwriters and ensembles. In workshops provided by KingsCountyTV and K-Rock, we learned about video, radio, about interviews and performing rights. As performers took the opportunity to help each other out on stage and invited each other to take part in their songs, we saw many new combinations of artists perform together. Freshly minted Acadia graduates, faculty and Valley players from Bridgetown to Windsor mingled with guests from Halifax, Antigonish, the South Shore and Toronto. Caleb played with Scott, Scott played with Adam, Adam played with Ariana, Ariana played with Ronley, so did Ryan. Roman played with Andy, John played with Heather, with Jack and Andy, with Kim and with Carol. Chris played with John, Gib played harmonica, Bill and Caleb played a trumped duet with only one trumpet, Ian joined the Hupman Brothers and Molly, and the old, outta-tune piano was being used once again by some enthusiasts.

We, of the various festival committees and sub-committees, would like to thank you all for making this happen: A real grass roots musical gathering, by ourselves, for ourselves, including anyone who cared to join.

Thanks!