The Washington State Parks Folk and Traditional Arts Program invites the public to the annual International Concerts on the Border Series at Peace Arch Historical State Park on the U.S.- Canadian border, 1900 A St., Blaine in Whatcom County. The free one-hour concerts start at 2 p.m. each Sunday in August at Peace Arch Historical State Park, .
The series celebrates the Pacific Northwest’s rich tapestry of cultures and traditions with music and dance performances from communities around the world, including Thailand, Brazil, Texas/Mexico and Eastern Europe. The city of Blaine’s Tourism Advisory Council provided additional support for this year’s series.
Concerts are scheduled as follows:
Aug. 4: Chaopraya Ensemble
Chaopraya Ensemble performs Thai classical and folk music and a wide range of dances, from lively regional folk to graceful court dances. The core members of Chaopraya have performed together for 35 years, with a focus on preserving Thai music and dance heritage for younger generations. Members play traditional Thai instruments including the ranaad ek (an intricately adorned wooden xylophone played with mallets), khlui (a flute-like wind instrument), chakhe (a three-string floor zither), khim (a hammered dulcimer), and saw duang (a two-string instrument played with a bow).
Aug. 11: En Canto
A multi-ethnic female-led sextet, En Canto is Seattle's only Forró band. Forró music has origins in the agricultural traditions of Northeastern Brazil and is a combination of multiple Brazilian rhythms including baião, xote and arrasta-pé. Forró refers to both the musical genre and the accompanying partner dance party events where the music is heard. En Canto shows are exuberant sonic journeys fueled primarily by twin accordions and tinged with the jazz backgrounds of several of the musicians.
Aug. 18: Juan Manuel Barco Conjunto
Juan Manuel Barco is a legend of conjunto and Tejano music in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Barco was born in Coal Mine, Texas, to a family of migrant farm workers who followed the crop harvests within Texas and to several states in the mid and southwest. Barco taught himself to play the guitar at age 6 and later taught himself to play the bajo sexto and bass guitar. His music incorporates the many styles he heard as his farmworker family traveled from place to place. He now composes his own songs about the migrant experience.
Aug. 25: Radost Folk Ensemble and Dunava
Since 1976, Radost Folk Ensemble has presented the dance, music and song of Eastern Europe throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Radost repertoire includes the traditions of Croatia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia, Ukraine and Russia with authentic costumes and live music on traditional instruments. Joining the Ensemble is Dunava, a Seattle-based women's vocal ensemble specializing in the a cappella folk music of Eastern Europe. Founded in 2005, the group is made up of singers from diverse musical backgrounds who share a passion for complex and beautiful harmonies. The choir's repertoire includes songs from the Balkans as well as other Slavic countries and the Caucasus.
The concerts are free. A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the park.
About the Folk and Traditional Arts Program
The Peace Arch International Concert Series is a part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts Program, with funding provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as support from the Washington State Parks Foundation.
For more information about the Folks and Traditional Arts program, including upcoming events, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/folkarts, or contact Makaela Kroin, Program Coordinator, at Makaela.Kroin@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8635.
About Peace Arch Historical State Park
The 30-acre park, which lies on the boundary between the United States and Canada, is the ideal setting for this concert series, which celebrates the rich cultures of the Pacific Northwest. The day-use park is known for its lush gardens, vast lawns, panoramic views of Point Roberts and Vancouver Island and the 67-foot Peach Arch monument. For more information about the park, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/562/Peace-Arch
News media contacts:
Makaela Kroin: (360) 902-8635
Toni Droscher: (360)902-8604
About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
