The County Podcast and Blog

A Night at the Mustang Drive-in

Been to a drive-in movie theatre lately?  If not -- surprise, surprise -- some are reopening, others are expanding, and a handful are better and more popular than they ever were in their earlier years. That certainly applies to Prince Edward County's Mustang Drive-in. Picton-based illustrator extraordinaire, Carl Wiens, recently took his family for an evening of movies under the stars at the Mustang on County Road 1. Naturally, he brought his sketchbook along and scribbled down some notes about the experience. From Carl's blog, here's the end result: 

   

Celebrating French Canadian Music and Cuisine in the County

Rehearsals are in full swing for Les Chansons de Chez Nous, a French Canadian concert and luncheon scheduled for Sunday afternoon, June 8th, at the Waring House Restaurant & Inn in Picton. The event's co-producer and performer is well-known County entertainer Jeanette Arsenault (centre). Vocalists also include Jeanette's new business partner and co-producer, Micheline Lortie (right), and Monique Michaud (left). The threesome will be accompanied musically by County favourites Zeke Mazurek and Tom Leighton. For ticket information, call the Waring House at 613-476-7492. More details about Les Chansons de Chez are available by calling Les Productions Mija at 613-476-7945 or 613-399-3514.

To listen to Janet Davies interview Jeanette Arsenault and Micheline Lortie, and also to hear a song by Jeanette and Micheline, please click here:

or download the MP3 file here

Playing at the Regent

If you've been to the Regent Theatre in Picton over the last few years, you may have enjoyed a first-run film, a ballet performance, live theatre, an authors festival, a great jazz band, even an art auction. But are you aware that the Regent has a colourful rags-to-riches history dating back to the early 1920s? In that era, people often went to the Regent Theatre to see a live vaudeville act or a touring stage company.

In 1997 acclaimed Canadian writer/actor/playwright, Timothy Findley, visited Picton to capture the oral history of the Regent for a CBC Radio Ideas program. In this excerpt, Findley visits the theatre with the late Fred Juby, who recalls his teenage years as an usher at the Regent.

To listen click here:
   

or download the MP3 file here

Waiting to Welcome You

I'm certainly not the only one who believes that Jeanette Arsenault's singing and songwriting abilities continue to improve and impress with the passage of time. Here's Jeanette's new slide show version of her lovely song about Prince Edward County, Waiting to Welcome You. Enjoy.

Jazz Festival Grooves With More Dinner/Jazz Events

The Prince Edward County Jazz Festival has announced another two-event dinner series, featuring the Mike Murley/David Occhipinti duo at Harvest Restaurant in Picton on April 14, followed by Russ Little and friends at the Waring House on May 6.

"Mike Murley is a really great sax player, and to hear him with David Occhipinti on guitar will be a real treat," says Brian Barlow, the festival's creative director. "And then on May 6, we'll have award-winning trombonist Russ Little. Russ's music is a beautiful balance of jazz solos and rhythmic interplay that rates with the best in Canadian jazz."

For more information about the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival's spring series as well as the main summer event in August, click here.

To listen to a sample of the music of Mike Murley and David Occhipinti, click the player below.

County Jazz Festival Concert on CD

One of the highlights of last summer's Prince Edward County Jazz Festival was a big band tribute concert led by producer, arranger and drummer Brian Barlow. And did I neglect to mention that Brian was also the festival creative director?

Cherry Valley's Through the Cedars Music Productions was initially expected to provide only live sound reinforcement for the festival events staged in the Regent Theatre. But Paul Johnson and Rob Kellough loved the music so much, they also recorded some of the great performances. Brian Barlow was so impressed with the quality of the music tracks, he's now released the best of the big band tribute on a CD titled One Hot Summer Night.

Here's the Toronto Star's review of the CD: Drummer Brian Barlow and his top-flight Canadian jazzers were clearly ready to rumble at this big-band tribute concert at Picton's Regent Theatre, a highlight of last summer's Prince Edward County Jazz Festival. Tunes being played are vintage, but all nine sound as fresh as yesterday thanks to the efforts of the 15 players, who weren't aware the show was being taped – perhaps that's why everyone seems both relaxed and fired up from the opening medley. There's fine work from Guido Basso on trumpet and flugelhorn, trombonists Terry Promane and Russ Little, alto John Johnson and Barlow's rhythm pals, bubbling pianist Robi Botos and bass Scott Alexander, while vocalist Melissa Stylianou twice gets to exercise her lovely pipes. Glitches are rare, looseness momentary, but these are minor cavils given the superior playing. Listen out for "Stompin' At The Savoy" and a raucous "Sing, Sing, Sing."

You can hear a few tracks from One Hot Summer Night by visiting Brian's website. And you can pick up a copy of the CD at Books on the Bay in Picton. 
   

The County on YouTube

You'll find a lot more than Paris Hilton, farting babies, and Saddam Hussein's vertical exit on the current Web phenomenon known as YouTube. Video enthusiasts are even beginning to upload their homemade Prince Edward County content. Some examples are here, here, here and here. And just because it will give you the warm and fuzzies all over, here's another little YouTube treat to help you kick off 2007 in a positive mood.   

Jeanette Arsenault's new CD, Women of the World

Jeanette Arsenault's new CD, Women of the World, is a call to action, a celebration, a tribute and an affirmation of the power of women's voices in the world.

"All of the songs are written by women and are about women," Jeanette says, "but it's an album men can relate to as well. The issues that afflict the world are men's issues too. All I'm saying is that it's time for women to take the lead in trying to heal this world."

The Women of the World CD will be launched on Sunday, September 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Books on the Bay on Main Street in Picton. Guest performers are the Anahata Women's Drumming Group.

Angels in Disguise is a song from the CD written by Jeanette after hearing Stephen Lewis speak of the devastation AIDS is wreaking on women all around the world. Click to listen or download the MP3 file here.

Dog Days of Summer

Hot enough for you? It must be the heat that makes us ask such a dumb question. Of course, as Canadians we may moan about the temperature and humidity but we're really not complaining are we? Sometimes we can wait years for a decent summer.

Ever wonder why they're called the dog days of summer? Apparently it has to do with the star Sirius -- known as the Dog Star -- during this time of year.

But there's no doubt the hot and muggy weather does tend to prompt some bizarre behaviour. And you never know who will walk up to you on the street.

Click here to download and listen to the podcast.

Running time: 3:10                File size: 4.4 MB

You can find more information here on Coyle & Sharpe.

The Legendary Guide to Prince Edward County

It's been a 12-year wait, but Janet Kellough's classic compendium of Prince Edward County folklore is finally back in print in a lively and engaging new edition. The book was recently  launched at Books on the Bay in Picton, currently the County's exclusive distributor of the Legendary Guide.

At the launch, Janet read some of the authentic stories of Prince Edward County that she has collected over the years, while Zeke Mazurek provided some tasty fiddle accompaniment.

Click here to download the podcast.

Running time: 13:08     File size: 12 MB

To get your copy of the New Improved Legendary Guide to Prince Edward County, visit Books on the Bay on Main St. in Picton, or give them a call at (613) 476-3037.  For more information on Janet's first novel, The Palace of the Moon, her tapes and  CDs, click here to reach her website.