By David DeRocco

Art installations, live music, children’s theatre, poetry and sculpture are just a few of the reasons to attend the upcoming CARMEL FINE ARTS FESTIVAL, Niagara Falls’ biggest celebration of local arts and culture scheduled for Firemen’s Park September 14 – 16. However, it’s the Saturday night salute to an award winning film that is bound to cause the biggest “rumble.”

One of the highlights of this year’s festival will be "Rumble: The Concert," an exclusive live musical staging of the Sundance and Hot Docs acclaimed film, “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World.” The 2017 documentary features such influential indigenous music icons as Charley Patton (blues), Mildred Bailey (jazz), Buffy Sainte-Marie (folk), Robbie Robertson (rock), Jimi Hendrix (rock), and the legendary Link Wray, whose song “Rumble” inspired the film. That 1958 instrumental utilized largely unexplored distortion and feedback techniques to fuel a power chord that gave the song a feel so menacing it gained notoriety as the only instrumental song to be banned from the radio in the United States.

Like the film, “RUMBLE: THE CONCERT” will celebrate the story of how Indigenous musicians helped influence popular music. Featuring Native American Music Award-winning band The Ollivanders and other celebrated musicians, this vibrant stage production mixes live musical performances with an inspiriing narrative designed to reflect the rich history that unfolds in the film. This special performance is a lead-in to a series of five similar concert showcases planned to celebrate the documentary's important message. 

“As we continue to celebrate the largely unrecognized yet influential role that indigenous artists have played over the years and the impact they’ve had on pop culture and the music industry, we hope through this live performance to showcase their music,” said Michele-Elise Burnett, Artistic Director for the Celebration of Nations festival. “The Carmel event is really a quiet kick off to what will be a five-city concert series. We're excited to be able to present this special performance, and a chance to show how indigenous artists have been active in contemporary music for centuries, shaping and scoring some of the soundtracks of our lives. People will definitely walk away with an ah-ha moment.”

RUMBLE: THE CONCERT was work-shopped under the direction of Tim Johnson in partnership with the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Kakekalanicks Indigenous Arts Consultancy, and the Niagara Parks Commission. This year’s staging happens Saturday September 15^th at 8:45pm. More information about The Carmel Fine Art and Music Festival can be found at: www.CarmelFineArt.ca

MUSIC LINE UP:

Friday September 14th, 2018
Marquis Event Tent

6:15pm-7:00pm – Cory Cruise
8:15pm-9:00pm – Liberty Silver
9:15pm-10:00pm – Nezqwik
10:15pm-11:00pm – John Taylor

Saturday September 15th, 2018
Outdoor Amphitheatre

11:00am-11:45am – Soul Jam
12:00pm-12:45pm – Jana Teovano
1:00pm-1:45pm – Vertigo
2:00pm-2:45pm – Valerie Borghesi
3:00pm-3:45pm – Kayla Diamond
4:00pm-4:45pm – Katey Gatta
5:00pm-5:45pm – Mel Monaco
6:00pm-6:45pm – Gravely James
7:00pm-7:45pm – The Midnight Sons
8:00pm-8:45pm – Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold
9:00pm-9:45pm – In My Coma
10:00pm-10:45pm – Ascot Royals

Marquis Event Tent:
8:45pm-9:30pm – Rumble, The Concert           

9:45PM-11:00PM –EdM Evening Featuring: MC Zee, S1Nc3R3, DJ Marinko

Sunday September 16th, 2018
Outdoor Amphitheatre

10:30am-11:15am – SING! Niagara
11:30am-12:15pm – Sarah Boulton
12:30pm-1:15pm – Wendy Lynn Snider
1:30pm-2:15pm – Jay Diem Band
2:30pm-3:15pm – Chris Strei
3:30pm-4:15pm – The Maureen Brown Band
4:30pm-5:15pm – Jessica Wilson
5:30pm-6:15pm – Ryan Langdon

Marquis Event Tent
1:30pm-2:15pm – Tim Atherton w. Guest Mike Dixon
2:30pm-3:15pm – B4 Midnight
3:30pm-4:15pm – The Hired Hitmen
5:00pm-5:45pm – Ol’ Child