NB Crafts Council is hosting their Fine Crafts Festival in Officers’ Square (downtown Fredericton) August 29-31

This will mark the 50th Anniversary of the New Brunswick Crafts Councils Fine Crafts Festival and features original works by award winning NB crafts people. They invite you to discover for yourself locally made craft including pottery, jewelry, sculpture, glassware, and wood. The festival will also feature live art demonstrations, live performances from local musicians, a kids craft corner, local food vendors, henna and face painting, and a beer garden sponsored by Picaroons.

Locally made crafts! Locally made food! Locally made beer! and local musicians (& a couple from a ways)! 

The festival runs Friday, August 29 from 12 noon – 7PM, Saturday, August 30 from 10AM-7PM, and Sunday, August 31 from 11AM-5PM in Officers’ Square. Admission is $3 (free for children under 12)

The musical line-up looks like this:
Friday
12-1pm Calithumpians
1:30-2:30 Sarah Beth Shiplett
4:30-6:00 Tomato/Tomato

Saturday
10am-11am Sarah Beth Shiplett
11:30-1:00pm Old Cabin
2-3pm Calithumpians
4:30-6pm Sugarbomb

Sunday
11:30-1pm Pat LePoidevin
2-3pm Calithumpians

Sugarbomb is a local favourite and they don’t play often so I’d suggest you don’t miss the 6-piece musical party with a mission to bring about the joyful revival of Motown & Soul.

“Old Cabin- stage pseudonym of Yukon singer/songwriter Jona Barr – is soulful, sincere folk music, gently steeped in old-time traditions without re-treading tracks. This is folk music done without pretension”

and check out the bio for Pat LePoidevin who describes his style as ‘looped orchestra of folk’: …uses a looper pedal to create a blend of sound using guitar, ukuleles, percussion, violin, and his notable deep melodic vocals. Carefully capturing one instrument at a time, he creates a complex multi-layered orchestra of folk. LePoidevin has toured Canada vigorously, making it sure that his sound of space-traveling wolves and mountain men is heard throughout the country.

Looks like a pretty good way to spend some time this long weekend! Get yourself downtown and wander through the exhibits, grab a bite of something delicious, enjoy a local brew and give a listen to some fine music!

Have you made your plans for next weekend? FREDROCK will have downtown Fredericton revved up next Friday and Saturday night and I think you’ll want to be part of it!

Check out my previous posts on the Fredericton Tourism site by clicking here and here for more details.

And check out the website www.fredrockfest.com for more details

Fredericton Tourism’s summer series of free concerts in Officers’ Square start tomorrow at 7:00 pm featuring Thom Swift. The series runs every Tuesday and Thursday evening providing you an opportunity to hear great music in a great setting!  Here is a look at the Officers’ Square schedule:

June 17 – Thom Swift (Singer/Songwriter)
June 19 – Easley/Stevenson/Arsenault (Jazz/Blues)
June 24 – Society of St Andrew Pipe Band (Pipe Band)
June 26 – Downtown Blues Band (Blues/Jazz)
July 3 – Scotty & the Stars (Children)
July 8 – 8 Track Mind (Retro Pop/Rock)
July 10 – Fredericton Concert & Marching Band (Marching Band)
July 15 – Shaun LeBlanc (Pop/Rock)
July 17 – Mandy Silk & Overdrive (Power Country)
July 22 – Kathleen Gorey-McSorley (Celtic)
July 24 – Society of St Andrew Pipe Band (Pipe Band)
July 29 – Alan Jeffries (Bluegrass)
July 31 – Mossie Scanlon (Sean dos)
Aug 5 – Krista Touesnard (Celtic)
Aug 7 – Fredericton Concert & Marching Band (Marching Band)
Aug 12 – Mozart in the Park (Classical)
Aug 14 – Doux Zephyr (Francophone)
Aug 19 – Nick’s Dixies (Dixieland)
Aug 21 – Paula Tozer & My Alibi (Country)
Aug 26 – Jaclyn Reinhart Band (Pop/Rock)
Aug 28 – Ross Neilsen (Roots)
Sept 2 – Cross Cut (Rockin’ Blues)
Sept 4 – Andy Brown (Folk)

And on Wednesday nights check out Business Fredericton North Inc’s free concert series at the Nashwaak Commons Ampitheatre.

June 18 – Classic Country (Country)
June 25 – George Street Project (Blues)
July 2  – Keith Facey (Maritime / Folk)
July 9 – Cross Cut (Country)
July 16 – Scotty and the Stars (Children)
July 23 – Common Ground (60’s 70’s 80’s and Country Rock)
July 30 – Cathy Hutch (Country)
August 6 – Katherine Moller (Celtic)
August 13 – 3 ½ Men (Classic Rock)
August 20 – Jared Lutes (Modern Adult-Contemporary)
August 27 – After 30 Years (Country / Classic)

Click here for the full schedule.

Next Friday and Saturday (June 13 & 14) will have everyone tapping into their country roots and heading to Officers’ Square in downtown Fredericton for the Maritime CountryFest!

Friday night’s line-up is themed “Oh Canada!” and will feature Steve Waylon, Tim Hicks, Alan Doyle and Doc Walker. Click here to check out my post on the Fredericton Tourism site for more details.

Saturday’s program is stellar featuring Small Town Pistols, Chad Bownlee, Deric Ruttan, Kellie Pickler and Trace Adkins. Click here for another Fredericton Tourism post with even more information.

I’ll be looking for you out there expecting to see you kickin’ up your heels to some pretty amazing music in a very terrific location!