Alan Doyle, actor, producer, best-selling author and lead singer for Newfoundland’s beloved and popular Great Big Sea, will headline Ships to Shore King of the Sea festival with a free concert on Saturday, May 6 in Garry Point Park.
The performance by Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies is part of the Ships to Shore King of the Sea festival in Garry Point Park from May 5 to 7 featuring Japan’s Kaiwo Maru tall ship. Its name aptly translates into English as the King of the Sea. One of the largest tall ships in the world, the Kaiwo Maru is a four-masted, 361-foot long, 182-foot high naval training vessel.
Ships to Shore King of the Sea is part of Richmond Canada 150, a year-long celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary of confederation. The event is produced by the City of Richmond and presented by RE/MAX.
“Maritime life is a significant part of Canada’s heritage, and is especially important to celebrate this year during Canada 150,” said Bryan Furman, on behalf of the RE/MAX Agents of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. “RE/MAX is very proud to return this year as Presenting Sponsor of the Ships to Shore Festival, as part of our commitment to support the communities we live and work in.”
A multi-day festival of ship viewing, music, food, culture, a sail drill and fireworks, Ships to Shore King of the Sea runs Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6 from 9 am to 9 pm, and Sunday, May 7 from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission to the festival is free.
Known for their energetic performances, Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies are taking their show across North America and to Europe throughout 2017. Doyle and his ace six-piece will be playing songs from Doyle’s solo records along with Great Big Sea favourites, traditional songs and some unpredictable gems from far-flung places that are sure to thrill.
Doyle released his second solo album, So Let’s Go, in January 2015 with the title-track lead single So Let’s Go, a rousing rallying cry that’s only further proof of Doyle’s ability to draw the listener under his banner.
Doyle hails from Petty Harbour, NL, and formed Great Big Sea in 1993 with Sean McCann, Bob Hallett and Darrell Power, in which they fused traditional Newfoundland music with their own pop sensibilities. Their nine albums, double-disc hits retrospective and two DVD releases have been declared Gold or Platinum and have sold a combined 1.2 million copies in Canada. So Let’s Go continues to cement Alan Doyle’s reputation as one of our country’s most treasured musicians and storytellers. “I always want people to have the greatest night of their life when the house lights go down.”
Vancouver’s own Juno Award-winning Dear Rouge will also perform a free headline concert on Friday, May 5. The Vancouver-based Juno Award-winning duo will be bringing home the chart-topping alternative dance-rock sound that has them an audience favorite across Canada and beyond.
Additional event details are available at www.shipstoshore.ca.
Ships to Shore King of the Sea is produced by the City of Richmond and presented by RE/MAX. Fireworks Sponsor is Polygon Homes. Community Partners are Tangerine, River Rock Casino Resort, JTB International, Japan Airlines Worldwide and Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society. Media sponsors are CTV, 103.5 QM/FM, Richmond News and Georgia Straight.
