IlluminAqua…
On Friday, June 12th Welland’s Merritt Park Theatre hosts the first in a series of seven concerts. IlluminAqua is about to start its 3rd triumphant season. Helped by funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, this year’s “fire, music and water” season will be the best yet! The Destino Tenors are the first featured performer. “The three Canadian tenors, who make up Destino, combine the musical passion and power of opera with the accessibility (and boy-band good looks) of pop.” (Website: http://www.destino3.com/)

The second performance is on Friday, June 26th. Justin Hines is the featured performer. The brief bio on the IlluminAqua website says, “Justin’s is a blend of folk-flavoured music with a song writing and vocal style reminiscent of James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce and Harry Chapin.” (Website: http://www.justinhines.com/)

Performance number three is on Friday, July 10th. There are two features performers, David Francey and Kathleen Edwards. Francey's IlluminAqua bio says, “From carpenter to songwriter – Scottish-born Canadian, David Francey is recognized as one of today’s finest singer-songwriters.” (Website: http://www.davidfrancey.com/) IlluminAqua says of Kathleen Edwards, “Kathleen is an alternative country singer-songwriter from Ottawa. In 2008, she released her 3rd studio album Asking for Flowers and is touring this summer with stops at Toronto’s Massey Hall and London’s (ON) Rock The Park with the Tragically Hip.” (Website: http://www.kathleenedwards.com/)

Friday, July 24th is the fourth performance. The Joys are the featured performers. “London Ontario rockers, The Joys, were awarded Best Live Act and best female-fronted band at the Toronto Indie Awards. With the high-powered voice of Sarah Smith, the band produces a heavy rock sound, but some songs are lighter with emotional lyrics.” (Website: http://www.thejoys.ca/)

The Tom Fun Orchestra is the featured entertainment at the Friday, August 7th concert. This is the fifth concert in the series. “The Tom Fun Orchestra is a nine-piece cluster-rock ensemble from Cape Breton Island that has been impressing music fans and critics alike with their raucous stage presence and high-energy show.” (Website: http://tomfun.ca/)

The sixth concert will be held on Friday, August 21st and features Nikki Yanofsky. “Nikki Yanofsky is a 16-year-old musical prodigy. She is the youngest singer ever to be signed to the iconic jazz label, Verve Records.” (Website: http://www.nikkionline.ca/)

The seventh and final concert is on Friday, September 4th. The Leahy’s are the featured performers. Canada’s Juno awarding winning Celtic music group are known and loved around the world. Their bio on the IlluminAqua website says, “Canada’s Celtic Powerhouse - A musical group of brothers and sisters, a sound, a style of music, a way of life, a volcanic explosion of talent and energy, emotion, and passion.” (Website: http://www.leahymusic.com/index.html)

Each concert has two performances before the feature performance. The shows start at 8:00 PM and are held rain or shine.

Check out the IlluminAqua website at http://www.illuminaqua.com/EN/index.htm.

See you there!!