THE FIRST ANNUAL EMANCIPATION MUSIC FESTIVAL

AND CD RELEASE PARTY

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
THE INTERNATIONAL EMANCIPATION CHILDREN'S FUND
DIGITAL BIRD STUDIOS
SONGWRITER'S UNITE

WHEN: Monday November 20th, 6:00 pm doors open WHERE: THE HUGH'S ROOM WHY: All procedes to raise money for The International Emancipation Children's Fund directly benefiting the children of South Africa HOW MUCH: 10$ Advanced / $ 12 at the door SEATING IS LIMITED

THIS EVENT HAS SINCE PASSED

We are very excited and pleased to bring together musical communities who foster a deep respect for one another's beliefs and differences and whose language of music is the cement in the foundation that brings and holds everyone's spirits together. It is this deep respect for one another that can be considered the primary catalyst of emancipation, and on November 20th, we come together at the Hugh's room to continue the celebration of freedom through artistic expression.

The CD release of "The Cat Continuum" is a musical document of Peter J Slack's journey that was inspired by the many influences and opportunities presented by Russell Leon of Songwriter's Unite (www.songwritersunite.com), and the Emancipation Picnic organizers Dennis and Lisa Scott (www.emancipation.ca). The theme of the CD is about healing and giving through music and, with respect to this theme, both the proceeds and primary purpose of this event are to benefit the children of South Africa through the International Emancipation Children's Fund. We are also pleased to release the 2005 emancipation picnic CD.

JOINING US IN THIS CAUSE ARE A MIX OF SOME OF THE BEST SINGER-SONGWRITERS ALONGSIDE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWN WORLD ARTISTS

BLACKBURN

Four Brothers (Robert, Brooke, Duane and Cory) and close friend Mark Ayee, renowned in the Toronto area performing at such venues as the old BAMBOO, Canadian Blues Festival, and currently at Jo Mama, Nawlin's and other Toronto venues; Artic Record recording artists producing 2 CD's "Soul Searching" and Livin'; producers of the video "Africa" (#6 on E ENERGY108/MuchMusic National Video). Promoters of family, roots and culture "Messages of Positivity".

Blackburn has volunteered their musicianship to the Emancipation Celebration Picnic for as long as can be remembered. Not only are they descendants of slaves who traveled the Underground Railroad to its most Northerly terminus, Owen Sound, their music reflects community, roots, culture and family through soulful heartfelt lyrics and pulsing rhythms.

JOAQUIN NUNEZ HIDALGO

world-renowned Afro Cuban percussionist, musical director and instructor, participant in the Barbados Jazz Festival, the International Montreal Jazz Festival and the Distillery Jazz Festival among leading the Afro-Cuban percussion ensemble "Havana Rumba" and the traditional Cuban music trio "Cubanos".

ERICA THOMAS

Erica Thomas' prose resonates with her personal identity, 'black' identity and self-recognitions and confidence building. Her spoken word and CD, "Poetry of Emotions", emanates hope, life's complexities, love, rhythm and harmony and speaks to our souls.

LARRA SKYE

In December 2005, Larra released her debut album 'The World Disappears' at the famed Montreal Bistro in Toronto to a sold-out crowd. Since then, her original compositions have been receiving airplay from national campus stations, jazz stations and the CBC (including Jurgen Gothe's DiscDrive). In June, HMV took 'The World Disappears' nationwide and within a month, it was on their bestseller charts for jazz. The album is also being sold through Indigo and Chapters stores across the country. At 23, Larra has performed with some of the best in Toronto's jazz music scene - including Dave Restivo, Jim Vivian, Perry White, Anthony Michelli, Barry Romberg and Rich Brown. She continues to write music and is currently studying privately with Lisa Martinelli.

DAVID GILLIS

RUSSELL LEON

Russell Leon is a unique songwriter and captivating performer who has been building an impressive reputation on the Toronto music scene. With an acoustic CD under his belt, Leon expanded on his folk roots and cranked up his electric guitar to form the Russell Leon Band in 2001. Propelled by the dynamic drumming of Larry Kline and a stellar cast of supporting musicians, the band began to create music as diverse as the city it calls home. Regular performances around Toronto found them playing to a growing number of enthusiastic fans in settings ranging from wild rock concerts to intimate acoustic shows. In 2005, the Russell Leon Band completed a full-length CD and welcomed Marcus Walker aboard on bass (photos to be updated soon). The band plays many of the city's top live music venues, including the Cameron House, the Rivoli, the Reverb, Rancho Relaxo, Clinton's, Holy Joe's, and Graffiti's. Recent RLB gigs of note include Canadian Music Week, North by Northeast, and opening slots for music legends Ike Turner and Leon Russell(!). All of the members of the Russell Leon Band are experienced players with a flair for shifting stylistic gears. These world travellers are all over the musical map, making it difficult to define their overall sound. But the music is grounded in Russell Leon's compelling lyrics and spirited vocal performances. His eclectic storytelling and social commentary go straight to the heart, while the band's irrepressible energy brings people to their feet. Raising consciousness and raising the roof, the Russell Leon Band demands to be heard. Now it's time for everyone to discover a true jewel of the independent music world.

PETER J SLACK

Peter J. Slack is an independent Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, aspiring music producer, mechanical engineer, and entrepreneur. Although Peter loves all musical styles, he is most comfortable exploring the folk, jazz, blues and ambient/improvisational genres. Peter has had a lifetime of musical training and involvement. In his teens, Peter studied jazz guitar at Eli Kasner's guitar academy for 5 years under the guidance of Bruce Jones with whom he has recently finished a second Brazilian jazz album playing lead guitar. Peter turned momentarily from the musical path in 1984 and spent the next decade first obtaining an Engineering degree at the University of Western, and then practicing engineering, raising a family, and running a family owned mining business and organic farming venture. It wasn't until 1996 that the music bug took hold again and Peter branched out to begin producing music forming a music production and recording company, Digital Bird Studios. It was then he began exploring the realm of independent, desktop computer based music publishing, and he produced several albums for young independent artists including Jennalyn Flesch and Dave Misener (Convertible Robots, Sir Jerry). Peter has since continued to produce music on the ever-increasing capabilities of the computer desktop and home studio as well as experimenting and blazing trail using the Internet as a free and open musical distribution mechanism.
In 2004, Peter was inducted into the Toronto area collective of songwriters currently known as Songwriter's Unite!. After several years writing songs and gaining inspirations through performances with and among other amazing artists in this collective, Peter has launched a folk musical style and has just released his first official CD: "The Cat Continuum", a folk-pop album. Peter is also working on the production of the 2006 Emancipation Picnic Festival blues and soul recordings.

JOINING US IN THIS CAUSE ARE A MIX OF SOME OF THE BEST SINGER-SONGWRITERS ALONGSIDE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWN WORLD ARTISTS
	BLACKBURN Four Brothers (Robert, Brooke, Duane and Cory) and close friend Mark Ayee, renowned in the Toronto area performing at such venues as the old BAMBOO, Canadian Blues Festival, and currently at Jo Mama, Nawlin's and other Toronto venues; Artic Record recording artists producing 2 CD's "Soul Searching" and Livin'; producers of the video "Africa" (#6 on E ENERGY108/MuchMusic National Video). Promoters of family, roots and culture "Messages of Positivity". Blackburn has volunteered their musicianship to the Emancipation Celebration Picnic for as long as can be remembered. Not only are they descendants of slaves who traveled the Underground Railroad to its most Northerly terminus, Owen Sound, their music reflects community, roots, culture and family through soulful heartfelt lyrics and pulsing rhythms.
	JOAQUIN NUNEZ HIDALGO world-renowned Afro Cuban percussionist, musical director and instructor, participant in the Barbados Jazz Festival, the International Montreal Jazz Festival and the Distillery Jazz Festival among leading the Afro-Cuban percussion ensemble "Havana Rumba" and the traditional Cuban music trio "Cubanos".
	ERICA THOMAS Erica Thomas' prose resonates with her personal identity, 'black' identity and self-recognitions and confidence building. Her spoken word and CD, "Poetry of Emotions", emanates hope, life's complexities, love, rhythm and harmony and speaks to our souls.
	LARRA SKYE In December 2005, Larra released her debut album 'The World Disappears' at the famed Montreal Bistro in Toronto to a sold-out crowd. Since then, her original compositions have been receiving airplay from national campus stations, jazz stations and the CBC (including Jurgen Gothe's DiscDrive). In June, HMV took 'The World Disappears' nationwide and within a month, it was on their bestseller charts for jazz. The album is also being sold through Indigo and Chapters stores across the country. At 23, Larra has performed with some of the best in Toronto's jazz music scene - including Dave Restivo, Jim Vivian, Perry White, Anthony Michelli, Barry Romberg and Rich Brown. She continues to write music and is currently studying privately with Lisa Martinelli.
	DAVID GILLIS
	RUSSELL LEON Russell Leon is a unique songwriter and captivating performer who has been building an impressive reputation on the Toronto music scene. With an acoustic CD under his belt, Leon expanded on his folk roots and cranked up his electric guitar to form the Russell Leon Band in 2001. Propelled by the dynamic drumming of Larry Kline and a stellar cast of supporting musicians, the band began to create music as diverse as the city it calls home. Regular performances around Toronto found them playing to a growing number of enthusiastic fans in settings ranging from wild rock concerts to intimate acoustic shows. In 2005, the Russell Leon Band completed a full-length CD and welcomed Marcus Walker aboard on bass (photos to be updated soon). The band plays many of the city's top live music venues, including the Cameron House, the Rivoli, the Reverb, Rancho Relaxo, Clinton's, Holy Joe's, and Graffiti's. Recent RLB gigs of note include Canadian Music Week, North by Northeast, and opening slots for music legends Ike Turner and Leon Russell(!). All of the members of the Russell Leon Band are experienced players with a flair for shifting stylistic gears. These world travellers are all over the musical map, making it difficult to define their overall sound. But the music is grounded in Russell Leon's compelling lyrics and spirited vocal performances. His eclectic storytelling and social commentary go straight to the heart, while the band's irrepressible energy brings people to their feet. Raising consciousness and raising the roof, the Russell Leon Band demands to be heard. Now it's time for everyone to discover a true jewel of the independent music world.
	PETER J SLACK Peter J. Slack is an independent Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, aspiring music producer, mechanical engineer, and entrepreneur. Although Peter loves all musical styles, he is most comfortable exploring the folk, jazz, blues and ambient/improvisational genres. Peter has had a lifetime of musical training and involvement. In his teens, Peter studied jazz guitar at Eli Kasner's guitar academy for 5 years under the guidance of Bruce Jones with whom he has recently finished a second Brazilian jazz album playing lead guitar. Peter turned momentarily from the musical path in 1984 and spent the next decade first obtaining an Engineering degree at the University of Western, and then practicing engineering, raising a family, and running a family owned mining business and organic farming venture. It wasn't until 1996 that the music bug took hold again and Peter branched out to begin producing music forming a music production and recording company, Digital Bird Studios. It was then he began exploring the realm of independent, desktop computer based music publishing, and he produced several albums for young independent artists including Jennalyn Flesch and Dave Misener (Convertible Robots, Sir Jerry). Peter has since continued to produce music on the ever-increasing capabilities of the computer desktop and home studio as well as experimenting and blazing trail using the Internet as a free and open musical distribution mechanism. In 2004, Peter was inducted into the Toronto area collective of songwriters currently known as Songwriter's Unite!. After several years writing songs and gaining inspirations through performances with and among other amazing artists in this collective, Peter has launched a folk musical style and has just released his first official CD: "The Cat Continuum", a folk-pop album. Peter is also working on the production of the 2006 Emancipation Picnic Festival blues and soul recordings.