ECMA Winners to Launch Sherbrooke Concert Season

The Sherbrooke Village Courthouse Concert Series kicks off its most ambitious season with the first concert of 2003 on Thursday, June 26. The opening three weeks of the season will feature acts that have garnered East Cost Music Awards (ECMAs).

This is the seventh year for the series, which features a weekly program of folk and Maritime music in the acoustically marvellous surroundings of Sherbrooke's historic courthouse.

Birchmountain Bluegrass will get the year's events underway in fine style when the group brings its two-time ECMA winning sound to the courthouse. Comprised of brothers, husbands and wives, the Birchmountain Bluegrass Band treats its audiences to intricate acoustical patterns and rich harmonies - the trademarks of great traditional bluegrass.

The Road to Stanfest will once again lead through Sherbrooke as multi-award winning artist Terry Kelly makes a stop at the courthouse on Thursday, July 3. Kelly, a member of the Order of Canada, has won a total of seven East Coast Music Awards including Roots Artist of the Year at the 2003 ECMAs. This will be Terry's first appearance at Stanfest, and also his first visit to Sherbrooke Village.

Three-time ECMA winner and Juno nominee John Gracie will return to one of his favourite venues on July 10 with another Courthouse Celebrity Concert. Gracie has made seven appearances at Sherbrooke Village, including one that was featured in a made- for-TV Christmas special filmed in the courthouse in December of 2002.

The series continues Thursday evenings until the end of August, at which time the concerts switch to weekend evenings. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. For ticket or scheduling information call toll-free 1-888-743-shervil (1-888-743-7845) or visit the Sherbrooke Village Web site at museum.gov.ns.ca/sv/ .