I wrote a blog already covering the poverty and politics side of the recent
Riverwalk Commons held
International Day for The Eradication of Poverty event held in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. It touched on the arts side of the York Region version of the Internationally marked day, but did not dwell enough perhaps on the arts side was my thought so I've put this one together.
Each year, as the
event has evolved, we have slowly added more arts to the days planned itinerary and to that end for 2014 we emphasized youth and added more
hip hop and spoken word to the mix which all melded to the theme in a
very cool package, acting as the nights end with various acts taking to
the stage in succession, highlighted by a song from
Maurice Weeks and
Justin Harris /
AFM Fam JustFlow's track
Politics. Very fitting, and really added another notch vibe to an already vibe engorged outdoor event. Some mainstream
media coverage was welcome as well.
With Opening acts ranging from a Richmond Hill youth group's stage version of Stone Soup, that included a man returning from Afghanistan with post stress syndrome, to a 40 minute set by the unbelievable
The Yappers (anybody seen their stage sign? Lol ) who kicked out some rockin' slash country at times slash always reggae based tunes to the delight of some attendees who felt suddenly inspired to dance and sway to their dynamic original sound. Leader / Composer
Ray Yap from Aurora, fronting wacky Bassist
Stew Sparks, and Drum sensation,
Laney V, slashed out a mid-song solo, after jumping into the crowd, his wireless guitar seemingly leading him to reach his intense crescendo before returning to the stage in time to end the song with his mates. Small things, but stage time has obviously worked well with the band and I think they played with inflamed passion as well, without which, there is no "music' to me.
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| The Yappers perform at Riverwalk Commons Stage |
The
Open Stage also heard a touch of
Elvis, helped on by
yours truly, with an enthusiastic, but not too sure of the words accomplice, who wanted to sing - but hey like anyone he was welcome to give what he could and in that way, it too was an entertaining moment.
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| " I'm wea-ring Black, Because their's nothing Dar-ker" The Yappers |
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| Maurice Weeks |
The last part of the Int day event was reserved for Hip Hop Performers and Spoken Word Artists. If you look at the history of the roots of
hip hop music you don't have to look too far to find a connection to poverty in some way...or the results of it...and our life choices we make...and that all comes out in hip hop something I discovered over the past number of years whilst having been immersed in the entertainment industry. The 1st inkling I got was when I saw seniors up and dancing to hip hop - then I knew it was a market and some. Looking further, one discovers that the real
top hop if you will, is rooted in personal experiences, or perceptions of those experiences, and then relayed out through the spoken word on stage or in some cases as with the
Arthur Jr Music Family and
JustFlow are prone to do, crossed with
R&B music to add a whole other dimension - such as the perfectly themed and slickly performed at the event,
Politics.
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| JustFlow's Justin Harris |
Maurice and
Justin thrust out the beats with more vigour than I've seen from them in some time, which seemed to draw the remaining and enthusiastic crowd closer in, almost as if to get some of that music magic dust to rub off on them. The guys brought them to threshold before relenting the stage to some of the walk-on talent which too was splashed with intense participation, from the unique mind bending antics of Spence, a local Newmarket talent who stood out, as well as up and coming talents including a female MC / Hip Hop Artist -
Dean Wild of
Stay Blessed Productions.
With a few pumpkin smashed being the only casualties of the evening's events, and the seemingly unanimous vibe by all attendees including the earlier-set folk, that this was an inspiring event to make music and noise at, and a great fit to showcase ideas, talent, and new work. And I look forward to next years event for which
Oct 17 falls on a Saturday, and to perhaps expand the
music and arts portion of the event should there be enough interest to.
The event often inspires ideas, and one of which that seems to be grabbing hold of life was an idea of
a type of march to draw attention to the lives of those with disabilities and on low income in York Region to be called
Walk & Roll which would
roll out sometime in the spring of 2015 and would encompass having a march from
York Region headquarters, to the
Aurora /
Newmarket M.P.P.
Chris Ballard's office at
Yonge and St John's Side Rd, and could include walkers, wheelchair and scooter users, bike riders, skate boarders - however people get around without transit - and include music, amplified mics and opportunities to sing or rap out as we travel the route. At our destination we would meet with the M.P.P. and ask him to support a motion in parliament to give to raise disability support rates and stop putting the onus on them to find alternative income supports.
" 1%. What do they expect us to do with that? That's $12 to me. 3 bus rides." Dan Philion
The
Walk & Roll idea was inspired by
Dan Philion,
PACC's Vice-Chair and community volunteer award winner, who himself is confined to a wheelchair and has increasingly limited use of his hands. Tired of living in constant worry of having enough food without begging and having to live in isolation without being able to afford to go out,
Dan asked was there not something we can do?
Walk & Roll!? Stay Tuned!
Until next time..TPE Out!
