Lowville Festival had both high spots and some low spots but there was nothing low about the talent.

By Pepper Parr

July 22, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

They began the evening singing O’Canada – I heard the voices as I was approaching the back entrance to St. Georges Anglican Church where the Lowville Festival was being held.

The first inaugural festival was a moving enterprise that worked its way from local to locale – the Saturday events were at the Lowville School house and the Sunday event at the Lowville United Church.

Loretta Bailey and Robert Missen on stage with the choir who later did Rise Again – which just blew the audience away.

The attendance Friday was – small but there was nothing small about the performances which ranged from two pieces done by Loretta Baily of Les Miserable fame, who kept forgetting her lines and turned to the audience for help; then there was Simone Caruso doing the laughing song from Die Fledermaus. The opera piece was followed by a Rachmaninoff piece done by Renee Barabash – her performance was superb
Allison Arends sang and Lawrence Cotton let us hear his voice.

Renee Barbarash – played Rachmaninoff

David Warwick tickled the ivories for several of the performers; his style reminded me of those days when the better clubs had men and woman who styled the music in a way that was all their own.

Lorraine Foreman did “From this moment on” and you knew you were listening to someone with great timing and style. Don’t hear that kind of voice live very often.

Simone Caruso, who sang the laughing song from Die Fledermaus, talks with an admirer.

Foreman used to work with Gordie Tapp and said she was looking forward to seeing him again – it had been 50 years  when they last worked together.

Lawrence Cotton reminded us what Frank Sinatra sounded like – “Its quarter to three…” The audiene knew the words that followed.

It was eclectic, there were several solid performances and a choir that had people on their feet when they finished Rise Again. Whew! Most people had to blink when they finished.

The audiences were small but that took nothing away from the quality of the performances. Bob Missen said what the audiences heard was some of the very best that exists in Burlington. “These were very, very good performers, some with national and international reputations. They are here, part of our community and we put on an event that let the public hear what we have amongst us.

Bob Missen and Loretta Bailey were two of the three event founders. Barbara Anderson-Huget was the third founder.

Making it happen was not easy. Loretta Bailey found that they were pretty thin on the ground when it came to getting the word out. “I think I put up two thirds of the posters we had printed.

“Getting the program put together and ready on time proved to be a herculean task and we found that people who wanted to help just weren’t able to do what they had hoped to do:, added Bailey

Andy Griffiths, who did an event for children Saturday afternoon, just may have launched a new niche in his career. Andy tends to do events for adult audiences in small bars and cafes. His program for the children at the School House in Lowville Park adds to the stylings of Sharon Lois and Bram. ”Raffi isn’t doing his work much more and Robert Munch doesn’t perform much anymore” noted Missen.

Loretta Bailey added that the fist Lowville Festival just may have launched a new act for children.

The Sunday evening event at the Lowville United Church – held on one of the hottest days of the year in a building that wasn’t air conditioned – isn’t going to be seen as a highlight of the festival.

But listening to Gordie Tapp tell jokes while the technicians beavered away at making the sound system and the recording equipment work was a highlight.

Tapp is a master performer and for those who were in the room it was an occasion they will not forget.

It is too early to define what the Lowville Festival will become or even if the event will grow roots.

Missen believes it is fair to say that “it was a wonderful evening and if you paused for a bit you would realize that you were experiencing the rural part of Burlington where events took place in church halls.

With the event over – it was time to take stock – how did it work; was it a worthwhile effort and should it continue?

That decision will get made by the three people who came up with the idea; got it off the ground and made it happen.

It is too early to hold the get together that will make some decisions and it may take a fund raiser to cover some of the costs.

An earlier promotional start will make a difference and finding a way to use the natural beauty of Lowville Park is something that can be thought about.

Is July too early for a corn roast – that would add to the rural touch.