Campfires, Nature Walks, Animation and Sunday Discoveries

Three weekends of incredible music Sept. 9 to 25

Written by Donna Bennet, Westben’s Co-Founder and Marketing Director

Cool fall breezes, crisp-coloured leaves and incredible live music in the midst of an open meadow and a beautiful timber frame Barn - Westben’s Open-Air Fall Fest is back! Three weekends of incredible music Sept. 9 to 25 at The Barn, Willow Hill, the Campfire and in the Mary West Nature Reserve.

On Fridays at 7 p.m. gather around at the Campfire for great live music and smores with Showman & Coole (Sept. 9), Payne and Tizzard (Sept. 16) and Dave Gunning (Sept. 23).

On Saturdays at 2 p.m. hear three amazing concerts. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket on Sept. 10 and relax on Willow Hill to the music of folk icon Sarah Harmer and her quartet. Enjoy Westben’s new comfy theatre seats in The Barn and marvel at International Chopin Piano Competition finalist JJ Jun li Bui as he performs works by Chopin and Debussy on Sept. 17.

Bring the whole family Sept. 25 to the Global Orchestra- Kuné on Willow Hill. Tickets for Kids are free for this concert (accompanied by an adult) and bring them early at 1 pm for the “Let’s Make an Instrument workshop.”

On Saturday mornings Sept. 10, 17, 24 at 10 a.m. immerse yourself in Westben’s Sounds in Nature Experiences - a series of guided nature walks with special musical performances in the neighbouring nature reserve. Imagine your senses filled with the calmness of the forest, the joy of the giggling stream and winding forest trails; the rejuvenation of sound and movement. Birds, Breezes and a Quartet, Spirit of the Forest and Forest Soundprints are three music in nature experiences sure to rejuvenate and inspire.

What do Chocolate, Cardboard, Quill and a surgeon have in common? Meet at Westben for Sunday Discoveries and discover some of our area’s most uniquely talented and interesting people in our community, along with their passions, in three Sunday afternoon gatherings. Art, cuisine, film, animation and music all surrounded by intimate, live performance and lively conversation. On Sept. 11 come taste the music with chocolatier Angela Roest of Centre & Main Chocolate in Warkworth and local opera singer/author Chris Cameron for a sonic-food pairing like no other. But what about the taste of music? How do music and chocolate resonate with one another? Can one influence the other? Find out, as these local experts, are joined with live performances by tenor Keith Klassen and Artistic Director and pianist Brian Finley and explore the delicious possibilities.

Another inspired combination this Fall is the performance on Sept. 18 of award-winning animator bekky O’Neill and the Los Angeles Dessert Quill Quartet. These two incredibly creative worlds join to create music and animation before your eyes! Local surgeon, Dr. Adrian Hobart, was a modern renaissance man: surgeon, boxer, writer of musicals, poet, author, actor, radio host, pilot – he did it all, and more. But just as fascinating is the 30-minute movie “Final Flight” created by local filmmaker and recording engineer, Andy Thompson. The movie follows Adrian’s ashes up in a weather balloon while recounting the incredible story of this hometown hero.

On Sept. 25, 2 p.m. come to the free viewing of the film (reservations required). Adrian’s wife Barb Hobart will be on hand to share some memories, along with some of Adrian’s favourite musicians including tenor Keith Klassen, clarinetist Peter Shackleton and others, on this, the tenth anniversary year of Adrian’s passing.

A fitting tribute to a local hero, and a great opportunity to thank all our amazing local health care providers for their ongoing care of the community.

Visit westben.ca for more information on Westben’s Open Air Fall Fest.