Spotlight on Music
Date: Aug 5
2:00 pm
- 4:00 pm
Where: Level 3 Atrium
Enjoy performances by local outstanding musicians as they fill The Rooms with music and songs from our province’s rich musical history. Be prepared to sing along, tap your toes or just sit back and delight in the moment. This is a free, drop in event.
July 29 – Sherry Ryan
On her fifth album, Shout for More, Sherry Ryan blends folk-pop with country and Irish-Newfoundland roots, affirming her place among Atlantic Canada's beloved singer-songwriters. Her pure voice, adorned with lush arrangements by producer Mark Neary, carries each song's soul into listeners' hearts. Born in Middle Cove, NL, Sherry's acclaimed career includes accolades from the ECMA, MusicNL, and CBC. Compared to Lucinda Williams and John Prine, her vocal style is unforgettable. Her 2018 release, Wreckhouse, featured the celebrated single "Stop the Trains." Shout for More showcases her fresh energy, new stories, and ability to captivate audiences.
AUGUST 2024
August 2 and August 30 - Port-Aux-Poutines:
Port-Aux-Poutines is a MusicNL Award winning French-Canadian duo based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, formed by Jenna Maloney and Axel Belgarde. Since 2022, Port-Aux-Poutines fuses French-Canadian and Newfoundland musical traditions. Through original songs, folk songs, as well as translations of Newfoundland songs, the band celebrates the diversity of French-Canadian culture, tells stories and legends of the province, and celebrates the heritage of Francophonie in Newfoundland.
August 5 - Andrew Kagumba
Andrew Kagumba is a PhD student in Ethnomusicology at The Memorial University of Newfoundland. He also holds a PhD in Music Education from Texas Tech University. Born and raised in Uganda, Andrew's creative output is deeply influenced by the rich musical heritage of his Ganda culture
August 7, 14, and 28 - Jim Payne
From Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, Jim Payne is a leading performer and collector of Newfoundland traditional music. The multi-instrumentalist and singer, who has performed on six continents, is also one of the province's most prolific songwriters, known for creating musical mosaics that portray the lives of coastal people living on the edge of the Northwest Atlantic.
August 9 and August 21 - Maria Cherwick
Violinist and fiddler Maria Cherwick enjoys a diverse career, from symphony orchestras, to touring internationally with her Ukrainian speed-folk band, The Kubasonics. Twice named MusicNL “Side Musician of the Year” as well as “Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year”, Maria maintains a busy performing schedule, dividing her time between several country, folk and bluegrass bands, and is highly sought after as a session musician. This year, Maria released her first solo fiddle album (self-titled) with her band Jockey Special.
August 12, 19, and 26 - Ana and Eric
Ana & Eric are a Brazilian duo based in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador. Having performed in Brazil, Europe, and Canada, Ana & Eric offer a unique combination of Brazilian bossa nova and North American indie-folk. In 2020, the duo released two singles “Hope" and "Lights My Way" as well as their self-titled debut EP, which earned them one nomination at the 2021 ECMA Awards, and three nominations at the 2021 MusicNL Awards. In 2023, the duo released their debut album “Our House From Here” and the singles “I Can See Our House From Here” and “Manhã de Abril" (April Morning), which have received wide coverage in Brazil, Portugal, and Canada. The album was nominated as the 2024 Global Recording of The Year at the ECMA and received three 2023 MusicNL Award nominations.
August 16 and August 23 - Adrian House
Adrian House is a bilingual singer-songwriter from St. John's, NL. His music is an exciting, passionate journey through styles of folk, jazz and rock. Pêcheur de rêves, his first album in French, was released in June 2024, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.
Events & Programs
Get to know the artifacts and material culture from The Rooms Collections better through drawing. This new weekly series is designed for creatives who want to sketch independently and draw from a unique collection of artifacts and objects from our six vaults.
Each session of Drawing from Our Collections will feature a new curated selection of artifacts and material culture from our extensive archives, art gallery, and museum vaults. It will be a rare opportunity to observe and draw from items that are not usually accessible to the public.
This series is for those comfortable with drawing independently in a supportive and engaging environment. Bring your sketchbook and pencils and join us for a creative adventure that will deepen your connection to art and history.
4 sessions: October 29, November 5, 12, and 19 from 2 – 4 pm
Cost: $80 plus HST for 4 sessions. 10% discount for Rooms members. OR can be purchased individually for $20 plus HST per session.
Suitable for ages 15 and up. Spaces are limited. Register online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
Prefer an evening time slot? There is also a 6:30 – 8:30 pm session offered.
Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador
Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Get to know the artifacts and material culture from The Rooms Collections better through drawing. This new weekly series is designed for creatives who want to sketch independently and draw from a unique collection of artifacts and objects from our six vaults.
Each session of Drawing from Our Collections will feature a new curated selection of artifacts and material culture from our extensive archives, art gallery, and museum vaults. It will be a rare opportunity to observe and draw from items that are not usually accessible to the public. Prepare to gain valuable knowledge about our collections along with others who are keen to draw, sketch, and learn.
This series is for those comfortable with drawing independently in a supportive and engaging environment. Bring your sketchbook and pencils and join us for a creative adventure that will deepen your connection to art and history.
4 sessions: October 29, November 5, 12, and 19 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Cost: $80 plus HST for 4 sessions. 10% discount for Rooms members. OR can be purchased individually for $20 plus HST per session.
Spaces are limited. Suitable for ages 15 and up. Register online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
Prefer an afternoon time slot? There is also a 2 – 4 pm session offered.
Celebrating the release of two anticipated works of non-fiction from Breakwater Books, join authors Debbie McGee and Jen Winsor in conversation about the ups and downs of writing about personal relationships and representing real life in print. Debbie McGee’s intimate memoir Cautiously Pessimistic is one woman’s personal account of her husband’s death and what it means to die in the public eye. Jen Winsor’s collection Ship Moms tells the beautiful, complicated, behind-the-scenes stories of the lust, love, and pregnancy of cruise ship crew members and the babies they brought into the world.
This is a free event but a ticket is required. Register online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
Presented in partnership with Breakwater Books. Books will be available for sale in The Rooms Giftshop on Level 1.
About the Authors:
Debbie McGee made her first film in Vancouver in 1983, and her last film in St. John’s in 2013. In between those markers, she worked as a writer and director of short dramas and NFB documentaries before joining the Media Unit at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador as Producer/Director. She has been an active volunteer with arts organizations throughout her career, serving on many boards, juries, and councils. Debbie is a mother and a grandmother. She lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with her adorable puppy, Cammie.
Jen Winsor is an arts administrator who has worked in the Newfoundland and Labrador arts scene for almost 20 years, focusing on music and literature. Jen left the province to travel with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Arts and Entertainment Division, but her plans were cut short when she got pregnant, with a crew member 12 years younger than her. Returning to her home province, she happily became the Executive Director of WritersNL. When she’s not lost in a book or typing up funding applications, you’ll find her hiking the East Coast Trail, enjoying a drag show, or experiencing some live music. Jen lives in St. John’s with her son, Gabriel, and his Brazilian dad, Luiz.