On Friday, August 13, Word Feast, Fredericton’s Literary Festival announced its 2021 lineup. The headline event, in partnership with the Fredericton Playhouse, will be an evening of music with a literary twist, featuring Séan McCann and Andrea Aragon performing and reading from their book One Good Reason, on Saturday, October 16, at 7:30 pm at the Fredericton Playhouse. Tickets are now available through the Fredericton Playhouse.
Founder of iconic Canadian band Great Big Sea, Séan McCann is no stranger to Maritime audiences. A multiple East Coast Music Award winner and recent recipient of the Order of Canada for his advocacy work in recovery and mental health, McCann is returning to the Fredericton Playhouse to celebrate the release of the best-selling memoir he co-authored with Aragon, who will join him onstage. A book signing will be held after the show.
Word Feast, going into its fifth year, launches on October 13 and continues until October 17, with both virtual and live events in Fredericton venues. Word Feast’s signature Poetry Bash will take place on Thursday, October 14 at York County Cider, and in-person workshops will be offered at Fredericton Public Library on Saturday October 16.
Participating authors include members of the New Brunswick Black Artists’ Alliance, Brian Bartlett, David Bradford, Lynn Davies, Triny Finlay, Liz Howard, Sophie Lavoie, Pearl Pirie, Matt Robinson, Rebecca Salazar and Sue Sinclair. The festival will also feature an international panel to celebrate Canada’s role at the Frankfurt Book Fair this year, with authors Carolyn Gammon, Vanessa Moeller, Renée Von Paschen, and others.
“This year, after a particularly difficult period through the pandemic, Word Feast wants to give voice to many who are unheard or who have struggles that may be difficult to talk about,” says festival Chair Jo-Anne Elder. “This includes people who have survived trauma or abuse, are living with mental illness or addictions or are in recovery, people of colour and Indigenous people, immigrants, incarcerated people, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community and youth.”
Word lovers can get a taste of Word Feast before the festival, by entering contests, or attending a summer reading at the Botanical Gardens on August 29. The complete program and more information will be posted on our website in the coming weeks, so all are encouraged to check it frequently.
Word Feast 