STARWALKER: A CELEBRATION OF THE SONGS, MUSIC AND LIFE OF BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE
Tribute performances by Canadian artists in a once-in-a-lifetime concert experience produced and presented by the National Arts Centre, for a later CBC and CBC Gem broadcast special on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
September 6, 2022 – OTTAWA (Canada) – The National Arts Centre (NAC) welcomes pathfinder and creative force, Buffy Sainte-Marie, for a special one-night only celebration on Friday, September 16th, 2022, 8 p.m. at Southam Hall.
“Starwalker: A Celebration of the Songs, Music and Life of Buffy Sainte-Marie" will be a momentous tribute to this Canadian-born influential singer-songwriter, who has been making music since she was three years old. Canadian musicians will take the stage to celebrate the timeless artistry and tremendous impact of Buffy Sainte-Marie. Buffy and special guests will be in attendance to witness these dynamic tribute performances acknowledging her lifelong artistic contribution.
“Buffy has been lifting up generations of artists and we are thrilled to be putting together a stellar group of performers to salute the life and art of one of our most respected icons” said Heather Gibson, Executive Producer of Popular Music and Variety at the NAC, and executive producer of “Starwalker: A Celebration of the Songs, Music and Life of Buffy Sainte-Marie".
SPECIAL TRIBUTES AND PERFORMERS
There is no one like Buffy Sainte-Marie. She is an Oscar-winning composer, musician, visual artist, activist, educator. Her body of work has and will continue to change the hearts and minds of generations. Here are some of the artists who will perform on the NAC’s Southam Hall stage:
SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS:
Crystal Shawanda
The Halluci Nation
Jeremy Dutcher
Leela Gilday
Logan Staats
Marie-Mai
William Prince
Zoey Roy
Other special tributes are to be expected.
APPEARANCES BY:
Tom Jackson - actor, musician, and activist
Sarah Midanik - President & CEO at The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
ShoShona Kish - producer, activist, songwriter
Alanis Obomsawin - filmmaker, singer, artist, and activist
Dr. Roberta Bondar - Canadian astronaut and neurologist
More surprise appearances to be expected.
Buffy Sainte-Marie: Pathfinder, a Retrospective Exhibition
Experience Buffy Sainte-Marie’s collection of large-scale digital paintings as well as never-before-seen personal sketches, artifacts and behind-the-scenes photos that speak directly to this respected icon’s unique perspective of her own multi-disciplinary life and culture and the experiences that inspired her to create this impactful body of work. This free exhibition is presented at the NAC from Saturday, August 27 to Sunday, September 18.
CBC and CBC Gem, and APTN Broadcast Special on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
To mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, CBC and CBC Gem will present the National Arts Centre tribute concert honouring Buffy Sainte-Marie as a 60-minute special on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. local for audiences across Canada. The program will also be available to stream on-demand after the initial broadcast on CBC Gem.
The show will also be airing on APTN at 8 pm EDT.
SPONSORS
The National Arts Centre Foundation would like to thank Major Sponsor The Slaight Family Foundation. Thank you also to Official Car Partner Mark Motors Group and Official Hotel Partner ARC THE.HOTEL.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
The National Arts Centre is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre in collaboration with Black Theatre Workshop, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety — and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe.
ABOUT CBC/RADIO-CANADA
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Nadia Kharyati
Communications Strategist, Popular Music and Variety
National Arts Centre
613-219-9043
Tanya Koivusalo
Senior Communications Officer, Industry & Trade Lead
CBC
647-649-6067