Friday, September 27, 2013

Lunenburg Venues: the Main Stage

All of the evening performances and the Sunday morning "Gospel" were given in a commodious (2000 capacity) tent up on Blockhouse Hill. The entry corridor was lined with food and souvenir stalls, and a merch tent. We soon discovered that we could to help Lunenburg celebrate its German heritage by purchasing and devouring huge weinerschitzel sandwiches befrore the 7 PM performances.

The Friday night performances were hosted by Juno winner Rose Cousins, who also performed a guest duet with fellow Juno winner David Myles and his sidemen.

Killing time between acts, Rose challenged the audience to a high-kicking contest. Her challenge was answered by a tall, surprisingly limber gray-haired woman, and my shorter, somewhat less limber younger brother.

The contestants were supposed to kick on the count of three, but John, trying to counter the greater height and leg length of the competitors, went at two, causing Rose to foul and awarding victory to the woman in the middle.

None of the Sunday morning performers actually knew any Gospel music, but Berklee grad and sometime Session Americana member Laura Cortese gave a performance that left us all feeling spiritually enlightened.

We were able to take close-up photographs because, despite nightly sellouts, we never sat further away than the fifth row. Canadians, with their innate politeness, are no match for Americans when it comes to open seating.