Mozart in the Meadow

If you are in Regina this Sunday (August 27), make your way to the meadow just east of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum to check out this year’s edition of Mozart in the Meadow.

Children’s activities start at noon.

Three bands will provide pre-concert music.

Hecho en Cuba will, at 12:30 p.m., start off the afternoon’s musical fare with Latin and Afro-Cuban flair. From Trinidad, Cuba, Hecho en Cuba finishes their two-month tour of Western Canada this Sunday afternoon. So, if you had not seen them yet, this will be your last chance.

Then expect to hear traditional Celtic songs and high energy East Coast music from Squeeze of Scotch.

True Jive Pluckers round out the entertainment before
the Regina Symphony Orchestra takes the stage around 3:00 p.m.

The RSO concert will feature a wide-ranging selection, with music from current movies, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Tchaikovsky, and, of course, Mozart.

Take in the music and all the fun with an upcoming speech project in mind. Expect to hear both joyful excitement and solemn introspective through the afternoon’s oeuvre.

Regina Folk Festival

If you are in Regina this upcoming weekend (August 11 – August 13), mosey over to the Victoria Park.

The Regina Folk Festival starts late Friday afternoon and wraps up late Sunday evening. Every evening the main stage performances start around 6:00 pm. and end just before midnight.

Bedouin Soundclash and Ani DiFranco perform Friday (August 11) evening.

Steve Earle closes Saturday (August 12) evening.

Utah Phillips and Feist perform Sunday (August 13) evening.

For me, the highlight will be Mr. Philips’ performance.

I discovered him a decade ago when I ran across The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere, which has Phillips recounting his Depression-time anecdotes of riding the rails and working as a labour organizer. DiFranco produced the album and provided the backing music to Phillips’ spoken word. On my May vacation, I ran across any treasury of Phillips’ work, a four-CD box set, Starlight On The Rails: A Songbook.

The performers also jam on three stages Saturday and Sunday afternoons (11:30 a.m. to 5:15) – one of the stages is set up specifically for childrens’ performances. Check the full schedule to see who is playing when.

I recommend you soak in all the music and fun with an upcoming speech assignment in mind.

I also recommend checking out the food court. Once more, I will take full advantage of it; anything to avoid cooking for myself.

Buffalo Days

If you are in Regina before the August long weekend ends, mosey over to the Exhibition Grounds (now known as Ipsco Place and Brandt Centre).

Buffalo Days are on (August 2 – 6). Plenty of carny games, and midway rides, plus a fringe festival, where playwrights and buskers try out new and experimental stage material.

I recommend you soak in all the experiences with an upcoming speech assignment in mind. Anyone at last night’s (August 3) outdoor Prism concert will have a lot to talk about, given the blackest of black clouds above, wind, rain, lightning, and thunder. “Armageddon carry me home” indeed.

I recommend you make a special effort to catch local performers Frontier Girls. I saw them last night at the SCES (Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange Society) Club. As fine as their Johnny Cash covers are, their originals are even better.

And, of course, make sure to see, and listen to, Pemmican Pearl, the belle of Buffalo Days.