Dave Gunning Kicks Off NOTES 5th Season in Manitouwadge

MANITOUWADGE, ON – Sunday, October 21st, Dave Gunning, accompanied by Allie Bennett, kicked off Manitouwadge’s Nite on the Town Entertainment Series (NOTES) to a sizable audience.  In her opening address, NOTES Chair Natalie Labbee shared with those in attendance that, on this opening night, there had already more than double the number of Series Passports (tickets for all 5 main shows) sold last year. Labbee seemed confident there efforts to increase ticket sales were paying off “We must being doing something right!” said the NOTES Chairperson.

A large part of what Labbee and her volunteers are ‘doing right’ is her choice of acts each season. 1st class award winning canadian talent many of which Labbee meets and sees perform during a week she spends at Ontario Contact (Learn more about Labbee’s work for NOTES in her release about the 2012-13 season by CLICKING HERE) a conference for entertainment industry professionals including booking agents like herself.

I attended Dave Gunning’s show on Sunday accompanied by my father and my daughter and though the three of us usually have different musical tastes, our positive reviews were unanimous. In fact, I have not heard from anyone in the audience who did not thoroughly enjoy themselves. Gunning’s deep, smooth voice is very enjoyable, an acoustic delight, but the entertainment doesn’t stop there… The Singer/Songwriter shares his wonderful storytelling skills between songs, going far beyond the typical “this is why I wrote it” stories (though there is a bit of that as well for those interested) that nearly all folk singers include in their performance.

Gunning had literally ‘set the stage’ for an intensely intimate performance which, in my opinion, felt a lot like a house concert though the theatre’s incredible acoustics, and audience numbers, diffused this reverie.  The performer had the stage curtains closed behind he and Bennett with each having all the instruments they might use fanning out on their flanks. The on-stage chemistry between he and Bennett was fun to watch and quite contagious, attendees clapped their hands, tapped their feet and sang along to most of the songs played without any prompting needed. When he did make a point of inviting fans to sing along to “These Hands”, those who had purchased the accompanying childrens book during the intermission were quick to open it and add their voices.

Enhancing the evening for many attendees was the choice by Gunning and Bennett to use the intermission for meeting with audience members, signing their copy of Gunning’s book or CDs (each of the artists had CDs available). This was a bit out of the norm for regular attendees of NOTES as typically, , though most performers are very willing to do meet and greet after the show, the intermission is reserved for personal time.

I will not attempt to describe the musical quality of the performance, other than to repeat that it was my favourite of all those I have enjoyed presented by the ‘Nite on the Town Entertainment Series’ in Manitouwadge, for concern that words could not possibly convey the enjoyment I derived from the  experience (I will be uploading a mix of clips from the evening’s performance to OntarioNewsNorth.com’s English youtube channel at www.Youtube.com/KarinaHunter subscribe to be notified when new videos are uploaded).  Gunning described his music as folk though I am not certain I agree that even the label of folk is inclusive enough to do justice to the variety of genres performed.

The evening ended with Gunning and Bennett receiving a standing ovation; the audience’s request for an encore performance which the musicians indulge with 2 more songs; a Gunning original and a cover (the only one of the evening) of Stompin’ Tom Connors appreciated and enjoyed by all.

If Gunning is any example of the caliber of performances NOTES attendees will be treated to this season, those who missed Gunning’s show will want to make it the last they are absent from! Next on the roster, is the Juno Award winning Newfoundland duo of Kim Stockwood and Kevin Fox, November 22nd. In Manitouwadge advance tickets can be purchased at Two Doors Down in the Hallmarket Square; in Marathon tickets are available at Crossover Video. Series passports are still available and represent a significant discount from purchasing tickets for each show and of course, keep reading OntarioNewsNorth.com as shows approach for your chance to win tickets!

LEARN MORE

• Visit Dave Gunning online to purchase his book, CDs or learn about his newest CD “No More Pennies”
• Visit Allie Bennett online to learn more about the incredible, multi-talented, Canadian artist

Tags: Allie Bennett, Chair Natalie Labbée, Dave Gunning, Dave Gunning in Manitouwadge, Dave Gunning Kicks-off NOTES Season in Manitouwadge, Dave Gunning performs, Emeraude Charron, Natalie Labbée, Night on the Town Entertainment Series, nite on the town entertainment series, NOTES, NOTES 2012-13 Season, NOTES Manitouwadge, Sheldon Plummer
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Community Events, Manitouwadge/Marathon, Municipal, National, Northern Ontario Headlines | 1 Comment »

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