This Friday award-winning folk artist Abe Drennan will return to his hometown from above the Arctic circle to head up the United by Music fundraiser at the Bancroft Village Playhouse.
Drennan, a winner of the Fan’s Choice award at the NWT Music Awards, pens heartfelt songs that are known to tell stories and connect with audiences. He cites influences from James Taylor and Bob Dylan to The Barenaked Ladies.
Drennan is currently recording in the Northwest Territories and his latest EP, Natural Tendencies, is set for release in Winter of 2024.
Moose Fm spoke with Drennan about why this United Way show is so special to him:
“The Playhouse is where I first found my love of performance” said Drennan, “It was many years ago in their production of Grease. To get to come back and reconnect with my community again is just so exciting, and we’re raising money for United Way. I used to work in the nonprofit sector in Bancroft, working with young people, and so i’m just so happy to give back in that way a little bit.”
United By Music will bring together some much-loved musicians of North Hastings, including local legend John Foreman’s “Appalachian Celtic”, Janet Whiteway of The Coe Hill girls and the Algonquin singing and drumming group Shawashkong Ikwe singers.
The event was spearheaded by United Way volunteer Stephen Petrick and is in partnership with Tweed and Company. United Way of Hastings & Prince Edward supports several North Hastings groups, including North Hastings Children’s Services, North Hastings Community Cupboard, Care North Hastings and Youth addictions and substance use programs based out of North Hastings High School. According to United Way HPE, they support 1 in 4 people in the local community.
A few tickets are still available and can be purchased on the Village Playhouse website.
