Songs & Stories of Ghosts and Spirits | First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity
Arts
Back by popular demand: On October 19th, join us for “Songs and Stories of Ghosts and Spirits” to hear four incredible storytellers, as they work together to give you a fright! Logan Staats, Dale Gilbert Jarvis, Rebecca Sharr, and Amena Harlick will appear together for the first time ever, to take turns sharing scary stories and spooky songs on the big stage!We will also be celebrating our annual Pumpkin Gallery at this event. Any audience member is welcome to bring their freshly-carved pumpkin to enter in a contest! Three winners will recieve $100 grocery gift cards as a prize. Flameless candles will be provided, so that everyone's creation can become a part of the spooky atmosphere for the show. Prizes will be given out at the end, and everyone is welcome to take their pumpkin home with them again after the show. Doors Open at 7pm Show starts at 7:30pm About The Artists:Logan Staats (Ontario) Mohawk folk and soul musician Logan Staats began as a diamond in the rough on the streets of Brantford, Ontario. He had no formal musical training, just a good ear and raw lyrical talent. He played the local circuit for years before his 2015 debut release ‘Goodbye Goldia’, an unvarnished yet hard hitting folk album. He went on to win CTV’s ‘The Launch’ in 2018, gaining commercial success and touring across North America and Europe. But travelling the world can really open your eyes to what's going on right at home, and the fight for Indigenous sovereignty has become a focal point for Staats in recent years. It all intermingles with the music; the passion, the rage, the love, and most of all the healing. He's making roadtrippin music for those travelling the red road, a path towards reconnecting and relearning indigenous ways. This is the philosophy behind his sophomore album ‘A Light In The Attic’, released 2023. These songs are a healing salve, contemplatively composed and offered to listeners in need of comfort. Nowadays, he is busy at work recording his third album in Nashville. Dale Gilbert Jarvis Dale Gilbert Jarvis is a storyteller, author, and folklorist, living and working in Newfoundland, Canada. By day, he works as the Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Officer for the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, helping communities to safeguard traditional culture, the first full-time provincially funded folklorist position in Canada. By night, Dale is the proprietor of the St. John’s Haunted Hike ghost tour and raconteur of local tales. As a storyteller, he performs ghost stories, stories of the fairies and little people, tales of phantom ships and superstitions, and legends and traditional tales from Newfoundland, Labrador and beyond. His repertoire includes long-form folk and fairy tales from the island, with a wide-ranging knowledge of local legends, tall tales and myths. Author of several books on Newfoundland and Labrador ghost stories and folklore, he is a tireless promoter of local culture. Rebecca Sharr Rebecca Sharr is a self identified Indigenous woman who is a proud Fancy Shawl dancer and founding member of ECMA-winning group Eastern Owl. She was born and raised in St. John's Newfoundland where she grew up with the love and passion for singing. At 13 years old, Rebecca began attending the after school program at the St. John's Native Friendship Centre, now known as First Light, where she was introduced to the beat of the drum. She was immediately drawn to fancy shawl dancing, and has now been dancing at the Miawpukek First Nation Powwow every summer for the past 17 years. Her passion for music has been a great attribute to her involvement in community work serving as an arts educator in the community, demonstrating traditional song and dance through cultural presentations, and community programs rooted in drumming and traditional dance. Rebecca is also a huge fan of all things spooky, and has been a champion of First Light's haunted house and other Hallowe'en initiatives for over ten years. Amena Harlick From the vibrant downtown St. John's, Amena Harlick is an emerging Inuit artist with family ties to Nain, Nunatsiavut. Over the past four years, Amena has embarked on a creative journey that celebrates her rich heritage and the beauty of Inuit culture.Inspired by the stories and landscapes of her ancestors, Amena blends traditional elements with contemporary influences, creating a unique artistic expression that resonates with audiences. Her work reflects a commitment to cultural preservation and a desire to foster connection and understanding through art.As she continues to explore new mediums and themes, Amena invites you to join her in celebrating the vibrant tapestry of Inuit culture, where each creation tells a story of identity, resilience, and community. Venue Information Donations of non-perishable food items and toiletries are accepted at the door. Donations go directly to tenants of First Light’s Indigenous-priority affordable housing units. Parking: We are located in the heart of Downtown St. John’s at 81 Cochrane Street, and there is no dedicated parking lot. However there is on-street parking throughout the neighbourhood between April-November. For blue-zone pass holders, there is one accessible parking space on the ramp that leads up to the front doors. Accessibility: Although we strive to be fully accessible in the future, there are some features of our building that may be challenging to navigate for some audience members. There is a ramp leading up to the main door that has undergone some recent repairs/upgrades. The floor seating is all one level and there is one row with extra leg room that we designate as accessible seating because it has more room for placement of mobility aids. There is a ramp to the newly-renovated washroom area as well, but not all doors are button-operated. Please note that the balcony seating area is only accessible via staircase. If you have any other questions or concerns about accessibility, or would like to request specific accommodations, please contact lauren@firstlightnl.ca and we'll do what we can. Songs and Stories is a special series created to highlight cultural diversity in our arts communities, in the spirit of friendship. This event is made possible by the support of the Government of Canada, and ArtsNL.
Information Source: First Light Arts | eventbrite