August 21, 1996
(Tourism, Culture, and Recreation)

Province's finest musicians invited to perform in the Big Apple

Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that The Irish Descendants, Great Big Sea, and The Punters are among the first Canadian bands invited to perform at the Lincoln Center's outdoor concert and the Bottom Line in New York City.

"The Lincoln Center will stage an open-air concert on Saturday, August 31," Ms. Kelly said. "This festival is one of North America's largest and oldest free festival extravaganzas. This is the first time in the festival's 26-year history that Canada has been showcased to this extent."

The Punters and The Irish Descendants will take to the stage at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively during Saturday's performance entitled Canada! Atlantic and Beyond. Attendance for the day is estimated at between 30,000 and 35,000.

"This project is spearheaded through the Canadian Consulate in New York, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Air Canada/Air Nova, and Canadian Heritage," the minister said. "This event will not only give these local bands tremendous international exposure, it will also showcase this province's music and tourism industries."

In addition to the Lincoln Center festival, The Irish Descendants, Great Big Sea and The Punters will perform at the Bottom Line on August 28. A famous nightclub, the Bottom Line has proved to be a launching pad for now-famous musicians including Prince, Bruce Springsteen and Jann Arden.

The minister will be accompanied by representatives from Great Big Sea, The Punters, and Air Nova/Air Canada for a photo shoot on Signal Hill on Wednesday, August 21 at 4 p.m. Members of the media are welcome to utilize this photo opportunity. In the event of unsuitable weather conditions for an outdoor photo shoot, the location will change to Cabot Tower.

Photo Opportunity date: Wednesday, August 21, 1996
Location: Signal Hill (near "distance/directional" sign)
Time: 4 p.m.

Contact: Laura Cochrane, Public Relations Director, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928.