RUMBLE AT THE FALLS
RUMBLE AT THE FALLS
Oakes Garden Theatre
FREE to watch
August 19th, 2017 at 7:30 pm
*Pictured Above: Derek Miller, a Two Time JUNO Award-winner that will headline the live concert*
This is a LIVE MUSIC concert that will reveal the significant contributions Indigenous musicians have made to North American popular music. RUMBLE AT THE FALLS will feature JUNO Award, Native American Music Award, and other celebrated award-winning musicians who will perform songs that tell the story of Native contributions to roots, blues, jazz, folk, and rock music genres.
The evening begins with an Annishinabe opening by Rick McLean, followed by Drums Across Niagara, showing peace, unity and friendship along the longest unprotected borders in the world.
“Not only is Niagara Parks invested in presenting the stories of Indigenous involvement in Canada’s history, as we do at a number of our heritage sites and natural attractions, but we are also excited to be involved in this project, highlighting the contributions that continue to influence our society today,” said Niagara Parks Chair, Janice Thomson. “As an agency of the provincial government, Niagara Parks has an important role to play in educating, enlightening and inspiring our visitors, and by producing an innovative partnership program like this, it helps set a new standard in the service of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.”
“The Oakes Garden Theatre, with its panoramic vista of Niagara Falls as its backdrop, is one of the most spectacular outdoor performance venues in the world,” said Tim Johnson, artistic producer of Celebration of Nations and producer of Rumble At The Falls. “We couldn’t be more delighted than to be extending our programming to the edge of the Niagara Escarpment where the thundering waters of Niagara will symbolically and literally power this incredible concert.”
Inspired by the Smithsonian Institution exhibit “Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians In Popular Culture," and featuring video clips from the Sundance and Hot Docs award-winning film RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World by Rezolution Pictures (Montreal), the concert will tell the story of a profound and, until now, missing chapter in the history of North American and worldwide popular music. Featuring songs written by Native music icons such as Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Peter Lafarge, Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Jesse Ed Davis, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Robbie Robertson, RUMBLE reveals the talented musicians who helped shape the soundtracks of our lives.
“I commend this partnership between Niagara Parks and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre,” said Michele-Elise Burnett, artistic director of Celebration of Nations. “This isn’t just a concert, it’s music history come to life. What can be more fascinating, and, in this case more entertaining, than coming to an awareness of the Indigenous influences in the development of North American popular music. It’s the hot FREE event of the summer season.”
Kicking off the concert will be a special program designed by Michele-Elise Burnett, Drums Across Niagara, whereby two Indigenous drum groups, one on the Canadian side and one on the American side, will alternate playing traditional songs across the Niagara Gorge and the international border in a spirit of unity and friendship.
Robbie Robertson, a subject of the documentary.
Buffy Sainte-Marie, a subject of the documentary.
RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World: Exceutive Producer Tim Johnson, Tony Bennett, Director Catherine Bainbridge, and Executive Producer Stevie Salas.
Link Wray, a subject of the documentary.
