By Sari Green, Community Contributor
If you’re looking for events to fill your Sunday afternoons, check out the concerts coming up on Ministers Island in July.
First, we have Nico Paulo & Band. Paulo, a Portuguese/Canadian songwriter, as well as a visual artist, came to Canada in 2014 to pursue her musical and artistic ambitions. She started in Toronto, but found her home in Newfoundland, becoming a vital part of the province’s music scene.
Paulo studied arts in high school, followed by Design at universities in Lisbon and Australia. She was in her early 20’s when she came to Canada. She was all alone in the big city, and nostalgic for her past. In fact, her longing for home has inspired her songwriting, along with the ocean and the “reality of love.”
Paulo appears at concerts all over the globe, as well as festivals and has even performed at Massey Hall. She had her first child early this year, and brings her baby to all of her summer shows. Paul will be performing on Ministers Island on Sunday, July 6 at 3:30 p.m.
On Sunday, July 13 at 7 pm, enjoy the sounds of Nadine Landry and Stephen “Sammy” Lind, members of the internationally acclaimed Foghorn Stringband from Portland, Oregon. Both musicians also play with the Dirk Powell Band, nd play with the Cajun Country Revival, along with many other popular Cajun performers.
Landry was born and raised into a musical family in Quebec, on the Gaspe Peninsula. She plays both the guitar and the upright bass, and plays everything from honky tonk to swing to Cajun and more. She has fans across the globe, from North America to the UK to Scandinavia and Australia.
Stephen “Sammy” Lind is considered to be one of the most critically acclaimed old time fiddle players in the United States. He is the co-founder of the Foghorn Stringband, and has played all over the world. He also teaches music from Appalachia and the Midwest. He spent many hours listening to and learning music from old recordings of fiddle players, and we guarantee you will be tapping your toes.
Rounding out July, enjoy the sounds of Theresa Melenfant and Scott Medford. Melenfant grew up in a very musical family, and was introduced to the music of the big band era at a very early age by her mother. From there, she absolutely fell in love with the blues, and would spend hours upon hours listening to records by her favorite blues artists to learn their techniques.
When she was 14, Melenfant had her singing debut at a high school variety show. The audience had no idea what to expect, and were shocked at the soulfulness and raw emotion in her voice. While still underage, she made her way into a local bar and asked to sing with Dutch Mason. Thus she began her illustrious in the world of music.
Throughout the years, Melenfant has released several albums, with impressive sales, and has received regional awards and nominations. In 2019, she was honoured with a Maple Blues Lifetime Achievement, and along with Scott Medford (lead guitarist of The Instigators) received a second place award at the International Blues Challenge, held in Memphis, Tennessee.
Tickets for all shows are available at www.ministersisland.net.
