Folk and traditional arts music and dance throughout August
OLYMPIA – July 17, 2014 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to the Peace Arch International Concert Series at Peace Arch State Park on the U.S.-Canadian border in Whatcom County.
The free one-hour concerts are scheduled for 2 p.m. on the first four Sundays in August, beginning August 3 and continuing through August 24 at Peace Arch State Park, 100 A Street in Blaine. In celebration of the Pacific Northwest’s diverse cultures, the series features music and dance performances by Anglo-American maritime, Afro-Brazilian, Croatian, and Irish American artists. The Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the concerts.
Performances schedule:
• Aug. 3: “Songs of the Sea” with fisher poets and storytellers Jon Campbell and John van Amerongen.
Jon Campbell lives just up the road from the East Coast fishing port of Point Judith, R.I. He owned a boat before he owned a car. His music and stories are about life along the coast, the fishermen, the food, the history, the tourists and all the events where the land and the water meet. His songs, stories, and poetry are at times humorous, and at times poignant, and—of course—all true!
John van Amerongen has kept one foot in the saltwater since he took his first job on the purse seiner Estella in 1970. John is currently the Communications and Chief Sustainability Officer for Trident Seafoods. For 22 years he worked as Editor in Chief of Alaska Fisherman’s JOURNAL. He has also earned his living as a professional shipwright on commercial crab vessels and, with his wife, Clare, operating a salmon troller out of La Push. One of the original performers at the annual Fisher Poets’ Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, his songs are aired regularly on the local Columbia River “Ship Report” broadcast by public radio KMUN.
• Aug. 10: Show Brazil!
Celebrate the culture of Brazil with music, martial arts and dancing. Eduardo Mendonça and his exciting group will perform many different music and dance forms from Brazil such as bossa nova, samba (music & dance associated with Carnival), MPB (Brazilian popular music), ijexa (the music and rhythm from Candomblé religious rituals, adapted for street parades), baiao (rural music from the state of Pernambuco), dances and elaborate costumes associated with Carnival, maracatú (an ancient Carnival tradition), and capoeira (a Brazilian martial art form performed to music).
• Aug. 17: Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble
Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble was founded in 1975 in Anacortes. One-quarter of the residents of this unique community are descended from immigrants from another fishing village: Vela Luka, on the Island of Korcula, Croatia. The performers in Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble represent four generations of Croatian Americans who have introduced their culture’s extraordinary choreography, music and instruments to people all over the world. Forming a cross-cultural link between the Puget Sound region and Croatia, the company strives to preserve Croatian folkways and culture for generations to come.
• Aug. 24: Crumac, with the Tara Academy Dancers
Crumac is a trio of musicians who perform traditional Irish tunes and songs. The founding members are Tom Creegan on the tin whistle and the intriguing Uilleann pipes—the Irish version of the bagpipes—and Irish fiddlemeister Dale Russ. Mike Saunders, a long-standing singer/guitar player in the Northwest, joins Creegan and Russ. Since 1989, together and in various combinations, they have played from coast to coast—including the largest Irish music festival in the country—and as far west as Alaska and as far east as Japan.
Joining Crumac for this performance are members of the Tara Academy of Irish Dance. The Tara Academy of Irish Dance, established and run by the Raney family, has a 20-year tradition of excellence. From their countless performances alongside such artists as Magical Strings and The Chieftains to their successes at the World Championship level of competitive Irish dance, the Tara dancers are proud to share in the heritage of Irish dance in the Pacific Northwest.
All concerts are accessible to persons with disabilities. For special accommodations, please call the park at (360) 332-8221 or the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service (800) 833-6388. Requests must be made in advance.
The Peace Arch International Concert Series is part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures and presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program. The program is a partnership between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Northwest Heritage Resources, with funding provided by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Washington State Parks Foundation. For a full schedule of Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program events, visit www.parks.wa.gov/calendar.aspxAbout Peace Arch State Park
Peace Arch State Park is a day-use park that commemorates treaties and agreements that arose from the War of 1812. Celebrating the unguarded United States/Canadian border that stretches from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, Peace Arch State Park features horticultural exhibitions and the giant commemorative concrete arch that straddles the border of the two nations. The United States and Canada co-maintain the monument.
The park is located at 100 A Street in Blaine, adjacent to the Peace Arch Port of Entry, where Interstate 5 and British Columbia Highway 99 connect. From the American side of the border, take Exit 276 from I-5. From the Canadian side, enter on foot through Peace Arch Provincial Park from the parking lot at the Highway 99 Beach Road exit. Canadian residents entering on foot may attend the concerts without customs or border-crossing formalities. More information about the park is at: www.parks.wa.gov/562/Peace-Arch
About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Media contact:
Debbie Fant (360) 902-8635 Toni Droscher (360) 902-8604
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service:(800) 833-6388
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