Sue Foley is headlining the upcoming Sounds of Downtown fundraiser. The event begins at 6:30 pm on September 8, 2007. All of the details have been outlined in our latest Arts Alive article, so take a minute to check out all of the details!

Sue Foley to headline Sounds of Downtown fundraiser for Arts Carleton Place on September 8th!
By Carol A Stephen

Well, we can finally share our news with you about the concert headliner for this year's Sounds of Downtown event. It all starts on Saturday, September 8th at 6:30 p.m. Entertainers will be performing at various locations on Bridge Street till about 9:30 p.m., followed by Sue Foley at the Town Hall Concert, 10 p.m. All performances will take place simultaneously this year, no staggered start times. Start at either end of Bridge Street to enjoy the entertainment and free munchies at each location.

Photo credit: Andrew MacNaughtan

Passport sales opened on Saturday, August 4th at the Bridge Street Bazaar. If you attended last year's event you know to expect a great time, but remember, it was a sell-out. We wanted to tell you about the wonderful lineup of entertainers so you can get your passport early. Passports to all venues including the concert at 10 p.m. are $25.00. Secondary passports for $15.00 will also be available permitting entry to all venues except the final concert.

What does your passport get you? Here's the programme:

Lux Gallery will feature Aestival String Quartet, along with the dynamic glass art of Craig Angus, one of our database artists, whose work will be on display at Lux from August 12 through September 29th. This show, "Celebrating Women Around the World: Elegance and Beauty", features Craig's unique glass art jewellery. The Heritage Inn hosts Odd Man Out, a Classic Rock group featuring Mike Maher from Page & Turners. You'll be dancing your toes off to their tunes. Local favourites, the Mississippi Blues Society will offer up great blues riffs at The Thirsty Moose. Just across the street, the duet of Robert Catalfamo and David Lajeunesse at The Good Food Company entertain with violin/fiddle, guitar, mandolin and bodhrán, a form of ancient Irish drum.

The Virtual Art Market and Surrounding Memories will feature exhibits of Arts Carleton Place artists, with original art and collectibles for sale along with live music and scrumptious desserts.

At the new Mexican Emporium, drop in for a refreshing drink, listen to music and view the beautiful pottery and art from down south. Olé!

St. James Gate keeps up the tempo with the jazz duo of Mick Collins on trumpet and David Paton on piano. Further along Bridge at Screentex, the Mississippi Mudds gives us "Mississippi Mudds Sing OUT!" highlighting songs from previous shows and favourite gospel songs. In between Mudds' sets, another favourite, Parvaneh Rowshan entertains with her interpretive Middle Eastern dance.

Make sure to stop in at Page & Turners for some rap, hip-hop style Spoken Word from the Ottawa Poetry Collective, returning to Carleton Place with their Slam style poetry. If you managed to catch their show here last April at Read's Book Shop, you already know how fantastic they are. For those of you who missed it, come out and see what the fuss is all about! Of course, our local poets and writers will also be participating in the literary event of the evening.

A new venue this year is Ballygiblin's featuring Fandango, a Latin/World Music trio that I hear is quite wonderful!

Other new locations: The historical Moore House is now just across the street from the Town Hall. Out front, the Carleton Place and District Community Band have organized an 8-member ensemble called Gesundheit! to offer German-style music. Polka, anyone? At this location as well, the Carleton Place and Beckwith Historical Society will offer information about the Mississippi River, Town Hall, and the Moore House itself. Look for the red tent where you will find the Chamber of Commerce offering goodies and promoting their year long photography and literary contest, "Reflections and Perceptions of Carleton Place".

The grand finale of the evening, of course, is the Town Hall concert featuring Sue Foley. Arts Carleton Place is very pleased to present her in concert as our Sounds of Downtown headliner!

Sue Foley is an internationally renowned blues/roots performer: singer, songwriter, highly accomplished guitarist and Juno award winner, considered to be a leading talent in contemporary blues. Born and raised in Ottawa, Sue's first gigs were at local clubs.

In 2000, Sue won FIVE trophies from the Maple Blues Awards as well as the Trophée de Blues de France for Best Female Guitarist. In 2002 she took another five trophies from the Maple Blues Awards.

This is going to be a fantastic evening. Last year's event was a sell-out. With a headliner like Sue Foley, and all the other entertainers on board, you’ll want to pick up your passports as soon as possible!

Passport locations: Page & Turners Bookstore, 135 Bridge Street, and at Lux Photographic Services, 11 Lake Avenue West. Cash or cheques only.

Don't forget to check out our artists on display around town this month:

Gayle Marshall is featured at Page & Turners, Jan Gilbert and Donna Naprstek are showing at Ballygiblin's after August 14.

For more information on the local arts scene check out www.artscarletonplace.com or drop by the Arts Café get together at Page and Turners, third Thursday of the month, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.