Shakespeare By The Sea Festival

Kelly Russell’s
TUNES & TALES

July 6—August 17, 2009
Mondays
Doors open at 8:00pm
Performance begins at 8:30pm
Crow’s Nest Officer’s Club
(click here to view Google map)

Tickets $10, cash only.  Please note, this venue has limited seating, so we advise that you arrive early to avoid disappointment - ticket sales begin 1/2 hour before performance time, sorry no reservations.


The Tales
Kelly recreates the character of Uncle Mose, reciting the stories of  the imaginary but typical Newfoundland community of Pigeon Inlet as written and told by his father, Ted Russell. The audience is brought back in time to the early 1950’s as Uncle Mose relates with gentle humour the goings on between Grampa Walcott, Aunt Sophy, Jethro Noddy, Skipper Lige Bartle and other residents of this small outport community. These Tales of Pigeon Inlet were a regular feature on CBC Radio’s Fisherman’s Broadcast  throughout the 1950’s and continue to be popular today. These stories not only entertain but provide a rare glimpse into rural Newfoundland life over 50 years ago.

The Tunes
Kelly spent many years traveling and performing with legendary Newfoundland fiddlers Rufus Guinchard & Emile Benoit, learning and transcribing their music as well as recording and promoting their CDs. His inherited legacy is one of both labour and love as these fiddlers were both his mentors and friends. Their music, and that of many other Newfoundland fiddlers, has been published in the 2 volume Kelly Russell’s Collection – The Fiddle Music of Newfoundland & Labrador. Audiences will enjoy a variety of authentic Newfoundland fiddle music while gaining some insight through stories and anecdotes about the lives and times of these Fathers of the Newfoundland Fiddle.

Kelly Russell
Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Kelly Russell has been a professional musician since 1974. An original member of such landmark Newfoundland Groups as Figgy Duff and The Wonderful Grand Band in the 1970's and more recently The Plankerdown Band and The Irish Descendents, he also spent 10 years working closely with Newfoundland’s late, great fiddle masters, Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit.  Today, as one of Newfoundland’s most prominent musicians, Kelly is recognized as an Ambassador of Newfoundland Music. As a solo artist, or teamed with various combinations of musicians he has worked with over the years, Kelly demonstrates the true essence of Newfoundland traditional folk music.  As the son of well known author Ted Russell, creator of Tales from Pigeon Inlet, Kelly has also been active in the resurgence of storytelling as a traditional art form.