Spotlight on Music: Valmy
Date: Aug 5
2:00 pm
- 4:00 pm
Where: Level 3 Atrium
Spotlight
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.
August 5 - Valmy
Valmy is a St. John’s-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from who’s been following the ocean and making home on the East Coast. Her debut album, “The In Between”, weaves nature-inspired melodic swells and atmospheric harmonies with her contemplative writing and arrangements. Exploring the complexities of relationship, loss, and healing, Valmy uses her folk-influenced music to tell stories about loving and stumbling your way through the dark.
August 12 – 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 19 - Jing Xia
Jing Xia is an award-winning guzheng (Chinese zither) artist based in Newfoundland, Canada, renowned for her dynamic performances and genre-blending approach to music. Born and raised in Hunan, China, she began her musical journey at the age of six, mastering the guzheng and eventually earning degrees in Music Performance (B.A.), Arts Management (M.A.), and Ethnomusicology (Ph.D.).
With a deep foundation in traditional Chinese music, she pushes artistic boundaries by incorporating elements of world music, jazz, and experimental sounds, creating a unique sonic experience that transcends cultural and musical barriers. Jing’s performances are more than just concerts—they are immersive journeys that bridge the past and the present, the East and the West. Whether on stage as a soloist or collaborating with orchestras and ensembles, she brings an unparalleled depth of emotion and technical mastery to her music. Xia's recent accolades include winning the 2023 East Coast Music Award "Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year" and the 2023 MusicNL Award "Album of the Year" for her solo album, The Numinous Journey. She was named the 2023 MusicNL “Solo Artist of the Year” and 2022 MusicNL "Rising Star of the Year”.
August 26 – Fergus O’Byrne
Fergus O'Byrne is widely acclaimed for his musical legacy, as a member of Ryan's Fancy, Tickle Harbour, and as a solo artist or as a duo with Jim Payne. He proudly celebrates the songs of Ireland, England, Scotland, the Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador in his performances.
He has received many awards acknowledging his contribution to folk music including an ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Folk Arts Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, an NLAC Arts in Education award, and most recently The Inaugural Premier’s Medal for Arts and Heritage. Besides touring nationally and internationally, he works extensively mentoring young folk music enthusiasts and students throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.