Media Release

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For immediate release
July 27, 2006

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer plays outdoor concert at The Banff Centre

Tuesday, August 15, 7:30 p.m.
Donald Cameron Hall Amphitheatre, The Banff Centre
Tickets: Adult $27.50, Senior/Student/Child: $25.00
The Banff Centre Box Office: 1-800-413-8368 or 762-6301
Presented as part of the 2006 Banff Summer Arts Festival

Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer and her acoustic band bring their electric mix of folk, country, bluegrass, and roots music into the great outdoors on August 15 at The Banff Centre. Harmer will serenade concertgoers against a Rocky Mountain backdrop at a concert to be held in the Donald Cameron Hall outdoor amphitheatre.

Critics praise Harmer’s introspective, exquisite lyrics, and her burnished, enchanting voice. Writing about her latest album, I’m a Mountain, Time magazine described Harmer as one of “five voices you need to hear”, and in 2000 the magazine dubbed her album You Were Here “best debut of the year.” Harmer’s 2005 collection, All of Our Names, won a Juno Award-for best alternative adult album.

Harmer says the songs on I’m a Mountain are “inspired by country music and bluegrass bands, singing for the joy of it, and telling new versions of old stories in song.” Many of the lyrics are based on nature themes, most notably “Escarpment Blues” which tells the story of a land-use conflict in southern Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment. After writing the song, Harmer and her band hiked the Bruce Trail, which winds through the area, performing in community halls to raise funds and awareness to preserve escarpment lands from development by the quarry industry.

Due to the outdoor venue, we suggest concertgoers bring extra clothes in case of inclement weather. The concert will take place rain or shine, but in the case of extreme bad weather, the event will move indoors to the Centre’s Eric Harvie Theatre.

Tickets for all Banff Centre events are available through The Banff Centre Box Office: 1-800-413-8368 or 403-762-6301. The Playbill Series at the Banff Summer Arts Festival continues on Thursday, August 17  when Baka Beyond plays the Donald Cameron Hall outdoor amphitheatre.

The Banff Centre’s Fall 2006 Playbill Series opens with a trio of shows in late September, including Fiamma Fumana (Sept 24); Sarakasi – The Amazing African Acrobats (Sept 29); and Sons of Maxwell (Sept 30). The full fall line-up will be released soon.

For high resolution downloadable images of Sarah Harmer: http://www.banffcentre.ca/media_room/images/playbill/

For more information on the Banff Summer Arts Festival:
http://www.banffcentre.ca/bsaf/