As a way of celebrating '60 years of Conservation’ Cataraqui Conservation is presenting a series of four live music events on the front lawn of the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area Outdoor Centre, as a way to bring together lovers of nature and live music for a fun afternoon outdoors.
Featuring local musicians, songwriters and performers, the shows are scheduled to take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month (fourth Sunday in June), from July through to September. Two artists per show will entertain audiences amidst the natural splendor of the conservation area, located at 1641 Perth Road, just north of Highway 401 in Kingston.
The concert series is part of Cataraqui Conservation’s 60th Anniversary celebration and a way of bringing together regular supporters and visitors to our properties with folks who appreciate live music. The former have the chance to hear some artists they may not otherwise have encountered, while the music lovers get the opportunity to visit a lush, vibrant natural space, mere minutes from downtown Kingston.
For the opening show, on June 23, popular local singer/songwriters Gerald McGrath and Jen Calder will perform solo sets. Both artists bring a sense of authenticity and compelling melodies to their original material and are regular performers in a host of area venues and at various festivals throughout the Cataraqui watershed.
The second show takes place Sunday, July 21 and will have a decidedly rustic and alt-country vibe as Emilie Steele (of Emilie Steele and the Deal) will be featured alongside the ‘notorious’ country and western outlaw, Clem Chesterfield (aka Tim Sheffield). Homespun tales of loss and longing will make you cry one moment, while upbeat rhythms and songs of frolicking and adventure will have you up dancing the next!
On Sunday, August 25, former Weeping Tile member and prolific performer Sticky Henderson will be onstage to start, followed by well-respected and well-travelled local singer-songwriter and recording artist Christopher Jackson. Jackson has enlisted multi-instrumentalist, and Kingston local legend Spencer Evans to accompany him on keyboards for his performance.
Finally, the last show of this special 60th Anniversary concert series, sponsored by the Cataraqui Conservation Foundation, will focus on kids and families, with a performance entitled 'What I’m Feeling - with Christina & Anna' led by local music educator and musician/performer Christina Foster alongside longtime collaborator, the multi-talented Anna Sudac. For this special show on September 22, the first set will feature family-oriented songs, while the second set is a fun, exciting and interactive presentation that will provoke sing-alongs and squeals of laughter.
The first three shows of the series will be licensed, with beer being provided by Mackinnon Brothers Brewing. Non-alcoholic beverages and snacks will also be available. Tickets are:
- $ 20 per person for the first three shows (June, July and August)
- $5 per person for the family show with Christina Foster. Children 5 and under are free.
Tickets are available online at https://cataraquiconservation.ca/collections/summer-concert-series and at the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area Outdoor Centre during regular business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays). All proceeds from the concert series will benefit the conservation education programs run out of the Outdoor Centre for learners of all ages.
Concert patrons are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets and in the event of inclement weather, the shows will be cancelled, with notice given 48 hours before showtime on www.cataraquiconservation.ca and all social media platforms.
For more information contact info@crca.ca or 613-546-4228 ext. 222.