Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival announce The Backstays, Digital Circus, Jerry-Faye and SHRIMP Ring as this year’s Stingray Rising Star finalists.
Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival have announced the artists performing in this year’s Stingray Rising Stars competition. Viewed by many as an important launch pad for emerging New Brunswick talent, the annual event has become a festival highlight for many patrons, providing a window into the wide range of performers making music in the province.
Not limited to just jazz or blues, the event brings together artists from several genres for an afternoon showcase before a panel of judges. The results are tallied together with the results of an online poll to decide the winner.
“Showcasing the best of up-and-coming local talent is one of our favourite Harvest traditions,” says Brent Staeben, Harvest’s music director. “For 17 years, we’ve put a spotlight on, and welcomed patrons to help crown, the next big act from New Brunswick.”
The winning act receives a $1500 prize and the opening slot for the Friday night show at the Atlantic Lottery Barracks Tent, and all participating artists receive a professionally shot video of their performance to use for promotional purposes.
This year’s Stingray Rising Star competition finalists are The Backstays (Saint John), Jerry-Faye (Fredericton), SHRIMP Ring (Saint John) and Digital Circus (Fredericton).
Online voting is now open at http://bit.ly/2wrj7dq
Learn more about this year’s finalists:
The Backstays
The Backstays, a tongue-in-cheek reference to moving back to the Maritimes, formed in January 2018 by Pete Johnston, Serenna Chapman, Keith Whipple, Derek Hilchie and Lorne Kirkpatrick. Their sound is a fusion of indie and roots rock genres with a style true to the East Coast. Lyrically, their songs talk about everything from love and loss to alienation in the workplace.
The Backstays | FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP
Digital Circus
Digital Circus offers an experience like no other. The Fredericton-based electro-rock band comprised of Shawn Randall, Anthony Gosselin, Nic Cliche and Lee Smith takes audiences to the fairgrounds of the future. Says the band, “Let’s get weird. Let’s have some fun.”
Digital Circus | FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP
Jerry-Faye
Jerry-Faye Flatt is a singer-songwriter from Saint John, now living in Fredericton, who’s been playing shows and music festivals around the Maritimes since she was a teenager. Her lyrics reflect real life experiences and her catchy tunes will have you singing along with her as she navigates through the real pain and joys of growing up. Flatt plays with bandmates Dylan Ward, Kevin Belyea and Liam Bunin.
Jerry-Faye | FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP
SHRIMP Ring
SHRIMP Ring is a new-wave space-goth synth-rock band from Saint John made up of veteran East Coast electronic musicians Dan Chamberlain and Philip Jaguar. SHRIMP Ring’s live show is a high energy, wireless romp where audience interaction is sought out, and always landed!
SHRIMP Ring | FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP
Stingray Rising Star Competition at Harvest 2018 | Friday September 14 | 2 p.m. | Atlantic Lottery Barracks Tent | Downtown Fredericton
