KINGFIELD – The Maine Arts Commission has awarded the Kingfield POPS a “Celebrating Traditional Arts” grant to assist with presenting two of the performers in the lineup for the June 25 concert.
The two ensembles that inspired the grant are the Burnurwurbskek Singers, a men’s drumming and singing ensemble from the Penobscot Nation, and Boréal Tordu, a band whose music represents a continuation of musical traditions passed down from the Acadians, the Québécois, and the unique French-speaking people of the Republic of Madawaska and mill towns all over New England.
The purpose of the “Celebrating Traditional Arts” grant is to promote traditional arts statewide and to find innovative ways to support traditional culture and artists living and working in Maine.
According to Deborah Sutton Robie, the POPS executive director, “This grant was a perfect fit for our 2011 concert because the overall program represents a panorama of Maine’s musical landscape, from its earliest roots in the Penobscot Nation, through its Acadian and Franco-American heritage, its New England fiddle traditions, and its modern blues, folk and pops expressions. We very much wanted to feature some of the state’s finest traditional musicians, and this grant has made it possible.”
Other performers in the lineup include legendary folk singer Dave Mallet, R&B/Soul singer Leah Tysse, and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.
“We are grateful to the Maine Arts Commission for supporting our efforts,” said Robie. “This concert is on a bigger scale and has more performers than any other we’ve presented. The financial boost and the recognition from the Commission are a tremendous help.”
