Wakefest 2010 takes place August 26th to 29th in Wakefield, Quebec, along and around the banks of the Gatineau River. Music. Literature. Film. Theatre. Dance. Performance. Vernissages. Workshops. Engagement. Join us and help bring the festival to life.

Bienvenu et bon festival!

Wakefest Coordinators: Elizabeth Logue (Artistic Director), Roberta Bouchard, Martin Comeau, Scott Duncan, Alasdair Gillis and Jessie Pratt.

(**Interested in Volunteering some of your time during the festival? Scroll down for more info.**)

CHECK THE EVENTS SECTION REGULARLY FOR UPDATES. IN THE MEANTIME HERE’S A SAMPLING OF WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO:

THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL: A number of artists are turning the gallery idea inside-out, as the village itself becomes the locus for installation pieces. Local art rebelles, cj fleury and Johanna Nousiainen are coordinating an arboreally-inclined, multi-artist, contemporary exhibit entitled, TréeDressing. A companion exhibit tracing each artist’s process, from conception to execution, will be on display upstairs at Café Molo during Wakefest. Environmental and mixed-media artist, Marc Walter, will also have a number of new works shedding fresh perspectives on some of Wakefield’s nooks and crannies. Keep your eyes peeled and your mind open.

THURSDAY. Café Molo at Maison Earle hosts NAKED LAUNCH, an evening that has become a tradition: our kick-off as well as the ‘unveiling’ of the 2011 Nudes of Wakefield Calendar. A special guest that night will be lauded wordsmith Ian Keteku, (relatively) fresh from his triomphe in Paris. Be among the first to see the highlights of the Festival and get a taste of what’s to come.

FRIDAY. Under the musical direction of Bruce Cawdron (Godspeed You! Black Emperor / Esmerine), Wakefest present’s Terry Riley’s IN C with whomever wants to come make it happen. This will be followed by Mike Essoudry’s fresh live score for Buster Keaton’s 1927 film THE GENERAL. Both take place on the Wakefield Covered Bridge. Night owls are asked to gather at the late night Cabaret/Improv happening at Café Le Hibou with hosts Norman Nawrocki and Annie Lefebvre.

SATURDAY. The beautiful Wakefield Farmer’s Market will host music, stilt walking and Ottawa’s ‘mini cirque’. Guerilla dance ‘happenings’ will hit the town with dancers from La Barn’s Exclusive Intensive. There’ll be readings on the Solstice lawn, workshops and theatrical performances. Award-winning theatre company Mi Casa is back with a new work in the early evening. And as the sun sets, the Black Sheep Inn hosts Montreal’s Cabaret sensation Norman Nawrocki and the return of Mike Dubue and the internationally renowned Hi Lo Trons.  There is also the late night FAIT MAISON with contemporary performance artists including Theo Pelmus and Sophie Castonguay at Le Moo Ice Cream Shop.

SUNDAY. After morning workshops, we urge people to attend the Wakefield Grannies concert on the Covered Bridge at noon. Lynn Miles leads a songwriting workshop after lunch. Late afternoon at Kaffe 1870, Wakefest’s 2010 musical muse, Gordon Downie, will be feted by local and not-so-local artists. His music at work, indeed. Wakefest will wrap up with an extra special performance by Chris Brown, Kate Fenner and Tony Scherr from NYC at the venerable Black Sheep Inn.

VOLUNTEERING FOR WAKEFEST

If you would like to volunteer for Wakefest and help make this festival run like a well-tuned bicycle, let us know! There are loads of possibilities. And to thank you for your valuable time and energy we’re going to have a big ‘ol party for you! And every event you volunteer for gives you a free pass to an event or half price on a workshop. Let us know what you would like to do and which day you are available: help set up and take down gear, take donations and tickets at one of the events, assist with sound/technical details, help direct traffic and keep people safe (and orderly!) on the Covered Bridge…and more. Call Jessie at 819-459-1877 or email jeprattster@gmail.com.

Le festival a lieu du jeudi au samedi à Wakefield (Québec) sur les rives et aux abords de la rivière de la Gatineau.  Musique, littérature, films, théâtre, danse, représentations, vernissages, ateliers, excitation.

Cette année …

JEUDI.  Au Café Molo à la Maison Earle, le LANCEMENT NU, la soirée traditionnelle du lancement de notre calendrier LES NUS de Wakefield.  Soyez parmi les premiers à découvrir les hauts-faits du festival.

VENDREDI.  Nous présentons “In C” de Terry Riley, suivi du Film “The General” de Buster Keaton accompagné d’un orchestre sur le pont couvert de Wakefield; puis, une fin de soirée au Café Le Hibou vous offrant Cabaret/improvisations/burlesque.

SAMEDI.  Au marché frais de Wakefield, vous pourrez écouter de la musique par les Dube Brothers, admirer les artistes sur échasses et le Mini Cirque.  La danse arrivera en ville avec le « Ten Gates Dancing » ainsi que de la littérature, des ateliers et des présentations théâtrales.  La compagnie de théâtre primée, Mi Casa, est de retour et présentera une nouvelle œuvre en début de soirée.  Puis, au coucher du soleil, le Mouton Noir accueillera la sensation Cabaret Norman Nawrocki ainsi que le retour de Mike Dubue en plus des Hi Lo Trons, de renommée internationale.  Il y aura aussi une présentation de fin de soirée par les artistes du FAIT MAISON à la crémerie Le Moo.

DIMANCHE.   Après les ateliers, lectures et activités pour enfants présentés en matinée, nous encourageons tout le monde à assister au concert des Grannies de Wakefield présenté sur le pont couvert à midi.  En fin d’après-midi, il y aura Musical Muse au Kaffee 1870 qui placera l’accent sur les œuvres de Gordon Downie du Tragically Hip ainsi que celles des artistes locaux et moins locaux.