Latest news with #NeonDreams
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Everyone is welcome': The stage is set for Wi'kipaltmik 2025 in Cape Breton
Wi'kipaltimk 2025 is having its inaugural event this weekend in Sydney, N.S. (CTV Atlantic/Ryan MacDonald) The stage was set - quite literally - on Friday for a first-of-its-kind celebration of Mi'kmaq culture this weekend at one of the biggest outdoor venues on Cape Breton Island, Open Hearth Park in Sydney, N.S. The inaugural gathering is called Wi'kipaltimk 2025. 'Wi'kipaltimk in our language translates to having a feast or celebration,' explained Debra Ginnish, one of the event's organizers. Wi'kipaltimk is a free three-day event that is capped off each night with live concerts featuring Indigenous performers such as Neon Dreams, Morgan Toney and Deedee Austin among others. The big daytime draws on Saturday and Sunday is pow wows from noon until 5 p.m. They are billed as a chance for people to check out celebrations normally held in Indigenous communities - in the middle of Sydney. 'Once you hear the drums, that will draw anybody in,' Ginnish said. 'For me, it's such a healing and kind of heartfelt.. just the emotional part, too. It will draw people in, basically.' There is also a more serious component to the event. Truth-sharings and Indian Day School survivor reflections will take place Saturday and Sunday in a yurt that is on site. Organizers say it's a chance for everyone to learn more about the wrongs of the past. 'Even though we went home to our homes in the evening, the things that happened in Indian Day School must be told because it's about truth and reconciliation,' said Jeff Ward, an event emcee and Indian Day School survivor. 'And we can't have reconciliation until we know the truth.' With this being the first weekend of Nova Scotia's ban on being in the forest, organizers said crowds at Wi'kipaltimk could be even bigger than initially expected. 'They're not allowed to go in the woods, but they can come here,' said Lindsay Marshall, an elder from Potlotek First Nation, with a laugh. 'When this community recognizes the contributions of this nation throughout its centuries, through everything that we've been through - I think this is a good place to show resilience, to show strength.' 'It's a concert in the evening,' Ward added. 'It's a pow wow during the day. Everybody is welcome. All nations are welcome and you're welcome to participate in any way. Please come see our vendors. Please come see our crafters and food vendors. There's so much here to offer.' Opening ceremonies for Wi'kipaltimk 2025 are set for 6 p.m. Saturday. The closing concert is set to wrap up at 10 p.m. on Sunday. Wi'kipaltimk 2025 Wi'kipaltimk 2025 is having its inaugural event this weekend in Sydney, N.S. (CTV Atlantic/Ryan MacDonald) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Hamilton Spectator
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Group of the Year and Indigenous teen phenom among Sydney performers
One of the most memorable moments of the latest season of Canada's Got Talent (CTV) was when a young woman stood alone on stage and sang a song she wrote called 'Buried Truth' about her Mi'kmaq grandmother, a residential school survivor. Dee Dee Austin brought the show's judges to tears and won a 'golden buzzer,' propelling her right through to the finals. And in weeks, in a parallel to her CGT appearance, Austin, 19, will be in Open Hearth Park on Aug. 8 as part of the opening concert for Wi'kipaltimk 2025, a free festival of hope, joy and celebration honouring Mi'kmaq culture. The event will feature and honour other grandmothers and people who are survivors of the federal government's Indigenous school system of the past. The irony is not lost on Abegwiet First Nation's (PEI) Austin, who was just in Sydney in June as part of the Multicultural Festival downtown. This concert means the absolute world to me,' said Austin, who now lives in Fall River, N.S. 'I'm super-honoured to be part of this event. As an artist, I try to be an activist for these things because it's just so horrible what the government put our people through. Wi'kipaltimk 2025 not only honours the survivors, but also the families because their families are also survivors.' Every act to take to the stage over the three-day event includes Indigenous performers who have some family connection to the history of federal government and church-run residential and day schools in Canada. NEON DREAMS Fresh from their recent East Coast Music Awards 2025 win as Group of the Year, Halifax's Neon Dreams includes Adrian Morris, an Algonquin who grew up in Lower Sackville. As a teenager, he met the other half of the duo, Spryfield's Frank Kadillac, when they both frequented a popular all-ages venue called The Pavilion in Halifax. Morris said his grandmother was 'picked up in the 60s scoop' and was a survivor of Indian Day School in Northern Ontario. Even though she died when his mother was very young, he says her experience has influenced and affected the generations since. 'It has affected me and my family for multiple generations,' he said in an interview. 'I saw the effects it had on my family. One family member denied his Indigenousness for many, many years.' He said a lot of his recent journey has been reconnecting with his culture and family. 'It's taken two generations to figure things out,' Morris said. The drummer and guitarist says he's really excited about the Wi'kipaltimk event. 'There's so many incredible artists in it. It's really cool to see an event like this come together in Cape Breton with such incredible artists from across the country.' Neon Dreams has taken its diverse musical style of alternative pop music to such places as South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Mabou. Morris says the duo are spending time closer to home this summer and will be back to Cape Breton for the Blueberry Jam festival in Inverness the weekend after Wi'kipaltimk. 'ALBUM MODE' Austin has been described as a hybrid pop artist who sings a mixture of traditional and contemporary music. 'I'm in album mode the last few months and so I'm bringing new music to Sydney off my album about to come out late this year or early next year,' she said. Admission to Open Hearth Park and its activities from Aug. 8-10 is free, including the concerts each evening. Other artists include: The Relatives; Drives the Common Man; HiBoys; Don Amero; Emma Stevens; Morgan Toney and Second Generation and more. ABOUT THE EVENT WHAT: Wi'kipaltimk 2025 – a family event; Powwow WHERE: Open Hearth Park, Sydney, Nova Scotia WHEN: August 8-10 days and evenings; WHY: a celebration of Mi'kmaq culture through song; food; art and crafts; drumming and dancing; a powwow and informational workshops; HOW: designed by survivors of Indian Day Schools and elders and MC'd in part by former Senator Dan Christmas; FUN FACT: Evening concerts by major award-winning Indigenous performers from all across Canada, including this year's East Coast Music Award Group of the Year winner, Neon Dreams; Canada's Got Talent semi-finalist, DeeDee Austin and Cape Breton rising artists, Morgan Toney and Emma Stevens. COST: Free. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Get to know… Saransh Goila
Currently I am: Working on launching Goila Butter Chicken in a soccer club in London. Saransh Goila's high point in life was feeding his butter chicken to David Beckham. High point in life: A pop-up in Melbourne, where I served 1,500 people in 15 days, and being invited to MasterChef Australia S10 as a guest judge. Low point in life: When my brand almost shut down in the pandemic. On my playlist: Life without Fantasies, by Neon Dreams; Little Light, by Gabrielle Aplin; Birds of A Feather, by Billie Eilish. Today I'm craving: Sindhi kadhi and matar pulao. Last thing I ordered online: Kolkata-style chicken biryani. Sprawling mansions don't float Goila's boat. (ADOBE STOCK) One thing I would never buy: A big home. App I check before bed: WhatsApp. Advice I'd give my 18-year-old self: Have more fun, Saransh! My favourite subject in school: Theatre and arts. I have always been passionate about theatre and trained under director Barry John. I'd swipe right on: My girlfriend, and if it's food, then gulab jamun. My secret skill: I write good film reviews. A superpower I wish I had: To be able to make someone happy with the snap of my fingers. My favourite Sunday memory: Cooking with grandpa, who was a passionate cook. In Delhi winter, he would make pahadi dum aloo, grinding masalas and adding lots of ghee! It's a special dish that reminds me of him. My plans for next Sunday: Attending an engagement party. My most star-struck moment: Meeting David Beckham, and feeding him Goila Butter Chicken. My favourite bad habit: Ordering a late-night chocolate cake or tiramisu from The Pastry Journal in Andheri, Mumbai, and enjoying the leftovers the next day. If I could travel back or forward in time: I'd rewind and pursue the acting role that I refused. The best thing about fame: You get fed well no matter where you go, and you can change people's perceptions. My own mission is to make people around the world understand the depth and diversity of Indian cuisine. The worst thing about fame: People expect you to be perfect at all times. That's a lot of responsibility, and the leeway for making mistakes is very slim. From HT Brunch, June 28, 2025 Follow us on
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘It's been such a journey': Halifax duo Neon Dreams celebrates 10 years of music
A decade after first making waves in the Canadian music scene, Neon Dreams is back home in Halifax to celebrate. 'It feels like we've matured into the role we take on with our music,' Kadillac told CTV Atlantic's Katie Kelly. 'Looking back, I'm just really happy with where we are now.' The duo – made up of vocalist Frank Kadillac and drummer Adrian Morris – is marking the milestone with the upcoming release of a stripped-down acoustic album titled '10 Years.' 'We've been recording some of our favorite songs over the past ten years acoustically, including all the way back to our first demo project from 2015,' said Morris. 'So, you kind of get a little bit of every year of the band.' Known for their energetic live shows and genre-defying sound that blends pop, rock, hip-hop and EDM, Neon Dreams first rose to fame with hits like 'Marching Bands' and 'High School Dropout.' In 2020, they won the Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year. 'It's been such a journey,' said Morris. 'We've played big stages around the world, but there's nothing like coming home.' Neon Dreams is performing back-to-back shows at the Carleton in Halifax, N.S., this weekend. They also have a special 10-year anniversary show planned at the Shore Club in Hubbards, N.S., on July 18. 'We're going to play a bunch of songs throughout the years, and we've got a couple of surprises,' said Morris. 'You might see the original four on stage again. One night only.' When asked what they're looking forward to over the next 10 years? 'One of the kids the other day asked, 'What's your dreams?'' said Kadillac. 'I was like, to keep doing this, to go as many places as possible, spread a lot of love.'
Time Out
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The 8 best things to see and do at Vivid Sydney 2025, according to locals
Vivid Sydney kicked off in spectacular style last Friday – turning the Harbour City technicolour for the 15th time. Every year, Vivid's light displays get a little more out-there: transforming famous landmarks and hidden corners of the city into luminous wonderlands and interactive light shows. And although it might seem like things have been toned down a little this year – with two huge, immersive installations Dark Spectrum and Lightscape removed from the program, along with the dazzling drone show – Vivid Sydney 2025 is even sparklier than ever. The trick? Knowing where to look. Thankfully, we've got people on the ground doing the hard yards for you, so you can get out and explore the very best bits of Vivid Sydney 2025. These are the best things to see and do at Vivid Sydney 2025 1. Neon Dreams, Darling Harbour "What do you get when you combine plant-based queen Shannon Martinez, a rollerskating rink and a 1950's diner? You get Neon Dreams, a brand-new addition to this year's Vivid line-up. Found under the Pier Street underpass in Darling Harbour, Neon Dreams is a retro pop-up serving up (vegan) American diner favourites – think juicy burgers, creamy mac and cheese and jelly donuts. And we weren't kidding about rollerskating – you can lace up and skate around the roller rink (pros and newbies are welcome). The venue is fully accessible for wheelchairs and mobility aids, too." Avril Treasure, Food and Drink Editor 2. Bloom, The Rocks "I spent an evening exploring The Rocks – it's worth giving yourself a few hours to explore this corner of the city because there are so many cute bars and old pubs to stop at. My favourite installation was Bloom – it's at the Argyle Cut and it's a tunnel that gets lit up and displays visuals of nature blossoming. It's very vibrant and the sounds are so calming, it was by far my fave installation in The Rocks." Rebecca Hegedus, Video Editor 3. Night Picnic Under the Bridge "One of the most contestable points each year Vivid rolls around is where the best perch is to watch Sydney light up. This year, my money's on Night Picnic Under the Bridge. Dawes Point Park in The Rocks has transformed into a gorgeous setup under the Sydney Harbour Bridge so you get epic vistas of Sydney Opera House while being right next to The Rocks Markets. Best part is the blankets and cushions are already there. Cosy on up." Caitlyn Todoroski, Branded Content Writer 4. Lighting of the Sails, Sydney Opera House "It might be cliché, but I can't go past Lighting of the Sails at the Sydney Opera House. I've been to Vivid every year since it started back in 2009, and still couldn't help but squeal when the sails exploded into a riot of colour at 6pm. This year's animation, Kiss of Light, honours the late Australian visionary, David McDiarmid, and celebrates diversity and creativity in every shade of the rainbow. Standing under those glowing sails to take it all in – with the Harbour Bridge shining behind – has to be one of my favourite memories of the year so far." 5. Cygnus, Barangaroo "There's a lot going on at Barangaroo for Vivid this this year. A multi-sensory display of light, sound, and fog has transformed Nawi Garden into a surreal, otherworldly realm. A gorgeous, glowing full moon sits in front of a swing. And a huge canopy of lights – formed by six kilometres of LED light rods – suspended above the Stargazer Lawn has become a mesmerising artwork that responds to your movements. But I'm a simple girl, and I don't think there's anything prettier than the way light dances on water. Cygnus is a simple light display formed by 12 life-like, luminous animatronic swans that glide in an enchanting dance across the mirrored water of Nawi Cove. I could watch them weave over the water for hours, and the soundtrack makes the whole experience even more mesmeric." Winnie Stubbs, Lifestyle Writer 6. Vivid Sydney Skywalk, Sydney Tower "I've done Vivid on foot more times than I can count, but seeing the lights from 268 metres above the city? That's a whole new kind of magic. I did the Vivid Sydney Skywalk at Sydney Tower Eye just as the lights flicked on across the city. You're out on this open-air platform, harnessed in and looking out over the skyline, when everything below starts to glow. The Harbour, the Bridge, all the little pockets of installations – it's like the city's dressed up for the night. It's calm, a bit surreal, and just a really lovely way to take it all in." Kate Breytenbach, Account Manager 7. House of Romance: Dream Collide, Customs House "The façade of Customs House has been the canvas for some of Vivid's most spectacular projections over the years, including a heartfelt tribute to Ken Done (2022), a mesmerising dive beneath the Harbour (2019) and a love letter to Australia's flora and fauna (2015). The 2025 iteration, House of Romance: Dream Collide, is one of its best yet. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Sydney fashion label Romance Was Born, the installation is a kaleidoscope of colour, couture and creative joy, portraying their most iconic looks from the past two decades. One of my favourite parts was the high-energy soundtrack by Heckler Sound that made it all the more magical." 8. Fire Kitchen, The Goods Line "I know Vivid is all about the lights – and I'm a fan of them too! – but for me, it's really about the delicious eats. You'll find plenty at the flame-fuelled Vivid Fire Kitchen, which is back again along The Goods Line in Ultimo (just a few minutes' walk from Central). My picks? The aromatic butter chicken jaffle with melted cheese, and the crème brûlée churro cone, which is as brilliant and as ridiculous as it sounds." These are the best places to eat during Vivid. Here's what's on for Vivid Music. And here are all of your Vivid FAQs, answered.
