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• Irf 1*1* V Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, July 16,-2003 - 5 Country jamboree returns to Havelock with talented lineup By Mark Hoult Havelock - Jack Blakely is a happy man. New grass is growing on the site of the Havelock Country Jamboree; the 2003 lineup is being hailed by some industry insiders as the best in the festival's 14- year history. Although Havelock is small, the country music festival festival it generates each year has grown large, attracting tens of thousands of people each year and attracting the attention of major sponsors like Chevy Truck, which now supports country music events across Canada. There are few events in Ontario outside the Exhibition in Toronto that attain the same level of exposure as the Havelock Jamboree, Blakely says. And yet, he maintains that "the best kept secret in Northumberland and Peterborough counties is the fact that this jamboree is one of the best musical events in Canada." "There will be more and more things to do here in the community this year for people people coming in and camping or holidaying in the area for the week," Blakely observes. "Even cottagers will be aware that there will be a full week of music. And I think the local talent showdown will be an amazing show. "It's good to see the community become more involved in the week leading up to the jamboree; I think it'll benefit everybody. It's good for tourism, and it's obvious that tourism is more and more becoming the ultimate ultimate goal." After enjoying the best of Ontario's amateur country talent, talent, music fans will be primed to plunge into a Havelock Country Jamboree lineup headed by last year's big hit, Neal McCoy, who is "back by popular demand." McCoy, who is influenced by the music of Charlie Pride, has been an American fan's choice award winner twice in the past three years, and has extended his popularity to Canada, performing in Manitoba and Ontario. The recent signing of east coast performer Rita McNeil "is big news," Blakely says. "This is her first time ever to play our show. People from eastern Canada support this show in a big way, and I think that Rita McNeil will be a big addition." The 2003 jamboree will also see a modern folk music legend grace its stage. Arlo Guthrie, son of another legend, legend, folk singer Woody Guthrie, will perform Sunday afternoon. The veteran of the 1960s Woodstock music festival festival is expected to perform classics such as "Alice's Restaurant." And then there are the Peterborough area's own musical prodigies, the Leahy family, who will take the stage August 15 at 10 p.m. Leahy has acquired worldwide fame and will be performing for the first time at the Havelock Jamboree, Blakely says, noting that "their fiddling fiddling will be a big addition to the show." And after years of trying, jamboree organizers have landed Lorrie Morgan, a big Nashville star who is married to performer Sammy Kershaw. The 2003 Havelock jamboree jamboree will wrap up with a special special treat for local country fans. Their very own Gord Hull, of the Stony Lake region, will bring to the stage a sound influence by Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr. and Stompin' Tom Conners. Hull, also known as Stomper, has released a CD contains both original material and renditions renditions of Stompin' Tom songs. At this year's jamboree country fans will also get to see well-known artists who have not ventured out of their Branson, North Carolina theatres theatres for a number of years. Among them is Ronnie Milsap, who has 50 number one hits to his credit and measures his record sales in the millions. "We're really looking forward to having him here," Blakely says. Returning to the jamboree are the Good Brothers, with a recently released blue grass album added to their already considerable musical credentials. credentials. And Dallas and Travis Good will make a second appearance in Havelock, carrying carrying on the family country music tradition with an alternative alternative twist. Also making another appearance at the jamboree jamboree is the venerable Tommy Hunter, another performer who is "back by popular demand," says Blakely. "Everybody loves the Tommy Hunter show." The Havelock Country Jamboree will carry on its tradition tradition of mixing old and new country, alternative country, blue grass, folk, rockabilly and even blues. The Cameo Blues Band and the Downchild Blues Band provide provide something a little different different for music fans "who like blues as well as country." Returning to the jamboree stage are Charlie Major and Ambush. Major, who made his first appearance at the jamboree jamboree five years ago, is a popular popular Nashville artist even though he hales from Ottawa. Ambush, also from the Ottawa area, performs top 20 country. John Landry also performed at the jamboree five years ago and returns with songs from a new CD. Shirley Myers, an east coast performer, will launch the 2003 jamboree on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. Also appearing on Thursday will be Don Williams, "the gentle giant." Jake Mathews is "an upcoming Canadian star," as is Belleville artist Robyn Scott. Rio Drive, Saturday's first act, is an American band that plays both old and new country, and Big A1 Downing is an artist who plays both blues and country. Sunday's schedule will begin with the gospel sound of Paul Oliver, and continue with the bluegrass-playing Backwoodsmen, a band that includes Lome Buck and Jimmy Ellis. The all female Quartet features Sylvia Tyson, Caitlin Hartland, Cindy Church and Gwen Swick. Blakely acknowledges that the 2003 lineup seems to be resonating with fans, if brisk ticket sales are any indication. "You always doubt yourself, but it seems like we're on the right track for what the people in Ontario want to hear. The interest is high and I feel pretty pretty positive. The phone has been ringing steadily, and there has been an overall increase in ticket sales of about five per cent over last year." Blakely says his goal this year "is to have a happy, trouble-free trouble-free event like we had last year." . And of course he is looking forward to seeing the grass planted last year on 40 acres of newly opened campground flourish and grow green and strong. "Our campgrounds will be nothing but better than they were a year ago, with all the grass seed that we've planted. We're in good shape at the grounds." Heart and Stroke! Support the Heart and Stroke Foundation. HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF ONTARIO Orono Weekly Times Subscription Renewals Call 905-983-5301 fs (St ftp; Orono Country Ctffe JSL Full Menu Üf y Main Street., Orono, Ontario • 983-9009 9$ Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home THOUGHTFULNESS, SERVICE & CONCERN A Family Owned Business, Offering: Traditional Funeral Services Pre-arranged & Prepaid Services - Cremation Arrangements Alternatives to Traditional Funerals - Out of Town Shipping CORY KUIPERS - PRESIDENT 53 Division Street 905-623-5668 Bowmanville, Ontario LIC 2Z8 OFF STREET PARKING • Air Brushing ESTHETIC STUDIO • Eyelash Tinting • Electronic Muscle Stimulate (EMS) • Paraffin Wax Brigitte,, Brown *** Available 15% DISCOUNT with coupon 171 Mill Street, Orono, ON LOB 1M0 • 905-983-8169 ■ '" ii V : !l| Iii|!| |i : : i i ii it i If: '.til 1 8 III fi ■ ÜÜ ' Ê « -I \\vA j » Ml I I ' .1 I "ll r*. yvm '■ i i iiiii!ii-,:ii|!>:!i' 1 - •'müîiül i-Hy: ! iili yi . V# üiiijii'ijiniii! " r ! 111!§ I ! I 111 p!®'f lilil!*::® >■ .. ' ' ' yT.V:' !•!.•' . • • I i « . I !» 1 U1, Ini ÇT7TX TT7Q Ojj/JV 1 mjvl 'Ijiimmiijiimjj!)} • ihii»:!: i fljli PÉŒlFSj "■ :T' ■ Friday, July 18th: SI » lü ipi !|fp! Hi! LIVE MUSIC & ENTER TAINMENT IZZ Uf£ Durham Benefit Wind Ensemble Torsion ijiiiij#: ! il iitiiljili!!; IS Jfiiüife üiiipÜ! m SanMurataTazz ... - J mm B' ,< / . ■ ü '"'P-P® ill iiii! il !ii! m pip ipp ill! 1 " ; f-s rill! Inin 1 ill Thneed .... Pi:!!! riiSIri I pi! ■ Sipper Break " ! ' ,IUIi A11 concerts begin at 7:00 PM ,, iii'i!** • it:* i!| !l Et, ' 1 * * ' ' ' • |Pi! : w ■ i; All umtcrw otxm illrjjwt; Rt tlie Oroao Ubr,ry Lawu ~ Please bring aVlawri'l'iisn^aiioElbliitiltet (in case of rain, concerts will be at Orono Town Hall) Coticcrt Series made possible by the generous donations of the following: Municipality of Clarington Stutt's Pharmacy, Charlie Rold, Clifford Francis/Pro Painting, Orono Lumber. 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