Celebrating 25 years of music in nature, Westben in Campbellford has announced its anniversary summer season featuring 23 events, including an original musical theatre production, concerts ranging from classical to indie rock to jazz, comedy, a nature walk, storytelling, and more.
In 1989, soprano Donna Bennett and pianist and composer Brian Finley were pursuing international careers in music when they moved from Europe to Bennett’s hometown of Campbellford to start a family. Ten years later, the couple founded the not-for-profit Westben Arts Festival Theatre among the hills of Northumberland County.
Westben’s 25th anniversary summer season begins in June with The Selfish Giant’s Garden, an original musical by Finley and Campbellford musician Ken Tizzard based on on Oscar Wilde’s short story “The Selfish Giant” and starring Bennett, Robert Longo, Gabrielle Prata, and more. The musical will be followed at the end of June with a concert and garden party celebrating Westben’s 25th anniversary.
July’s concerts include Andy Forgie & Big Black Smoke performing music from the 1960s (July 5), Indigenous musician Jeremy Dutcher (July 6), Celtic band The Barra MacNeils (July 7), indie rocker Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene (July 13), classical pianist Angela Hewitt (July 18), former Barenaked Ladies lead singer and guitarist Steven Page (July 19), The New Zealand String Quartet (July 19 and again on July 20 with tenor Colin Ainsworth), singer-songwriter Sarah Slean (July 21), and bass-baritone Gerald Finley (July 31).
Also featured during July are a guided nature walk and forest bathing experience with Curve Lake spoken word artist Sarah Lewis (July 6), an evening of music, art, and storytelling with Dave Mowat and friends from Alderville and Curve Lake First Nations (July 11), a comedy show with Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath (July 12), a Performer Composer Residency Alumni Concert (July 14), a movie night featuring curated short films (July 17), a campfire dinner and concert featuring The New Zealand String Quartet (July 20), and the Best of Barnful of Broadway musical theatre presentation featuring guest artists (July 23 to 28).
August’s concerts include Toronto’s Big Smoke Brass (August 2), jazz singer Holly Cole (August 3), and jazz vocalist Seyblu a.k.a. Chelsey Bennett (August 3). Capping off the summer season on August 4 are jazz singer and actress Jackie Richardson and jazz pianist and composer Joe Sealy, with Richardson singing and narrating Sealy’s Africville.
Here’s the complete list of what’s on during Westben’s 2024 summer season:
- The Selfish Giant’s Garden (July 14 to 23 at The Barn, with 7 p.m. performances on Fridays and 2 p.m. performances on Saturdays and Sundays). Tickets are $45 adults, $43 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- 25th Anniversary Concert – Celebrating the Garden (Sunday, June 30 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $25 adults, $25 seniors, $5 for under 18.
- Andy Forgie & Big Black Smoke (Friday, July 5 at 7 p.m. on Willow Hill). $45 adults, $43 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Sounds in Nature: Forest Bathing (Saturday, July 6 at 4 p.m. at Mary West Nature Conservancy). $68 adults, $66 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Jeremy Dutcher (Saturday, July 6 at 7 p.m. on Willow Hill). $68 adults, $66 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- The Barra MacNeils (Sunday, July 7 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Natural Balance featuring Dave Mowat with friends from Alderville and Curve Lake First Nation (Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m. on Willow Hill). $45 adults, $43 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Laughs with Colin Mochrie & Debra McGrath (Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m. at The Barn). $68 adults, $66 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Kevin Drew (Saturday, July 13 at 7 p.m. at The Barn). $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Music of Many Gardens: A Performer Composer Residency Alumni Concert (Sunday, July 14 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). Pay what you can.
- Film Night (Wednesday, July 17 at 7 p.m. at The Barn). $25 adults, $23 seniors, $5 Under 18
- Angela Hewitt (Thursday, July 18 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $110 adults, $108 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- The New Zealand String Quartet (Friday, July 19 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Steven Page (Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. on Willow Hill). $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Colin Ainsworth and The New Zealand String Quartet (Saturday, July 20 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Strings around the Campfire with Dare to Pair: A Taste of New Zealand (Saturday, July 20 at The Campfire). $110.
- Sarah Slean (Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Best of Barnful of Broadway (Tuesday, July 23 to Sunday, July 28 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $58 adults, $56 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Gerald Finley (Wednesday, July 31 at 2:00 p.m. at The Barn). $110 adults, $108 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Big Smoke Brass (Friday, August 2 at 7 p.m. at The Barn). $48 adults, $46 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Holly Cole Saturday, August 3 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Seyblu a.k.a. Chelsey Bennett (Saturday, August 3 at 8 p.m. at The Campfire). $35 adults, $33 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
- Jackie Richardson and Joe Sealy present Africville Stories (Sunday, August 4 at 2 p.m. at The Barn). $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 for under 30, $5 for under 18.
Tickets for Westben’s 25th anniversary summer season are now on sale for members, with tickets going on sale for the general public on February 20.
For more information about each event during Westben’s 25th anniversary season, to become a member, and for tickets, visit westben.ca.
