Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Music

Last Day at the Aurora Farmers Market, Somethings Depend on Good Weather

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 04:29:14 +0000

Last Saturday was last day of the Aurora Farmers’ Market & Artisan Fair at the Town Park and it was one rainy and cold day. As the title states weather plays a big factor when comes to the attendance at the community organized events and performances.

Can’t complain too much, up to now we have been actually blessed with warm October days.

Aurora Farmers Market, Town Park

So last Saturday afternoon I came and had some cold fun with Aaron Morris and Paul Mason on stage and I got a cookie treat as well. Another great year at the farmers market, looking forward to next year.

Aaron Morris, Aurora Farmers Market, Town Park

Paul Mason, Aurora Farmers Market, Town Park

Hillary House Getting Musical, Young & Beautiful Auroran Talent – Matina Z

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 18:12:54 +0000

Hillary House, the national historic site is getting musical. If you think the music is gone for the summer, there is little more coming to the Hillary House. Oops summer is gone, I almost forgot. Last few days we have been experiencing a beautiful weather all around, summer like weather.

Matina Z, Celebrate Aurora, Performing at the Town Park back in July.

Music at the Manor, sunny, fun event in town with live music. Yes more live music with Thursday Night Jam and a local rocker Matina Z this Saturday, September 28, 2013. And if you are a curious person Hillary House is a definitely good site to explore and learn more about local history while music plays.

I briefly met Matina Z at the celebrate Aurora event back in July. Amazed with her performance and stamina I didn’t take my photo shoot for granted. If you up to for some good live music, Matina Z is a must see performance, she is young and beautiful and a local Aurora rocker.

Someone asked me once where do I find all these bands to photograph. Well it all started with Music in the Park back in June this year and since then I didn’t stop listen to the music. Invitations were flowing in constantly. What I really meant I didn’t stop the camera trigger. There is always first time and that was my first to get to know more about music in the York Region and meet lot of wonderful people.

It really been fun and exciting summer for me and for sure for Aurora. I got to know so many people, learn more about bands/musicians that for me did not exist, and I am definitely looking forward to the next summer. Perhaps you will be looking forward as well.

Musician Performing At Hillary House

celebrate Aurora Music Festival 2013, On Stage Activity

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 04:23:08 +0000

I was out of town for the first part of the celebrate Aurora Music Festival and I am glad that I came back for the second half. I had great time photographing musicians during Dance in the Park event back in July; and no regret that I rushed home for the celebrate Aurora music festival. I was visiting St. Jacob’s and I will talk about St. Jacob’s community some other time.

Lots of good practice photographing musicians and I am still challenged by the low light environment and the performers movement.

celebrate Aurora Music Festival, Audience

I heard, from someone who heard, that Friday attendance was good and that the park was filled. Saturday and Sunday unfortunately rained. Not just rained but poured. When scheduling an event in the open the organizers cannot guarantee the weather – there is always hope that the day will be a sunny day; and it was definitely not a sunny day for that weekend.

I stayed home for the rain, and I got my equipment a bit wet in the rain few times during the performance.

celebrate Aurora Music Festival; Audience

However, I am amazed how much talent there is in the field of performing arts and how many great musicians are out there. I am so glad to expand now in this area. I have posted many celebrate Aurora Music Festival albums on my Facebook as it was easier to put them into galleries. Feel free to follow or be my friend if you wish to see them.

celebrate Aurora Music Festival; Dancers

Amazing talent in Aurora. Farley Flex did great entertaining the crowds who showed up to support artists. All young dancers had fun with Miles Faber who led the local dance competition. I was lucky to get his dance on the video as well. Yes video which I may showcase some other time once I set myself up for video editing.

Overall habachat Aurora did great job organizing the event in the short period of time. Unfortunately attendance was low but not bad for the first time. However, I rather see that the festival has slower growth and not a fast growth set for tilting or falling over. The biggest challenge is always how to attract the audience.

celebrate Aurora Music Festival; Opportunity Breakdown

And now about the performers. Every single one I photographed rocked the stage. Great established musicians, local bands and great local talent was showcased that weekend.

Matina Z; celebrate Aurora Music Festival

Bernadette Connors-Power; celebrate Aurora Music Festival

The last performance at the Town Park on Sunday was by the band called CRUSH: The Best of Bon Jovi Tribute Band. Like I said, I had lots of practice photographing musicians and still very much challenged by the low light environment and the performers movement but I was satisfied with overall outcome. Great weekend and hope to see the event back next year.

celebrate Aurora; CRUSH: The Best of Bon Jovi

Lighthouse Band Performance at the Aurora Town Park, To Young to Know

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 03:50:36 +0000

Lighthouse band rocked grounds of the Town Park on Sunday June 30th, 2013. It was the last band to play at the Music/Dance in the Park event in commemoration of the Town of Aurora’s 150th Birthday.

I was there in the front line. Not that I sneaked to be in front line because I had the photo gear; I arrived early to get the spot.

Lighthouse Band, Dan Clancy & Don Paulton, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

Lighthouse Band, Ralph Cole, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

The show was spectacular. Prior the show I asked few I met – do you know Lighthouse? The common reply was ‘you are too young to know them‘. Perhaps I am too young to know them but I do know few of their songs. The Sunny Days and Pretty Lady are and still are my favorite ones. And now my dots are connected.

I am glad that I did make the time to attend.

Lighthouse Band, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

Lighthouse Band, Don Paulton, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

I have seen small live performances there and there, so the last Sunday was a real treat for me. First beautiful sunny hot weather to photograph The Bloody Five, littleSUNDAY and Blackdog Ballroom. Then later in the day with good evening light I photographed Glenn Marais, and The Domino Showband with our Aurora own Brian Larter.

Oops I just remembered something about live performances, if that counts of course, I did see Phantom of the Opera about 18 years ago.

Lighthouse Band, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

The Music in the Park was concluded with great performance by the Lighthouse band. Loved the solo instrumental performances.

Lighthouse Band, Paul Hoffert, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

Lighthouse Band, Steve Kennedy, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

I am always intrigued by new things I experience. Not that I do not know music, of course I know music. Perhaps watching bands performing live that day gave me totally a new perspective how I will look at the music from now on.

I was intrigued by the originality of each playing band that day. I think I just found new venues in my photographic journey, and it is always more fun photographing when the music plays.

Lighthouse Band, Skip Prokop, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

I like all kinds of music. I grew up with 80s music when I was a teenager. I was listening lot of music then. Now days it is hard to keep up, with all the songs being recorded. Seeing Lighthouse felt like going back in time.

Lighthouse Band, Town Park, Aurora 150 Celebrations

Yes I put my camera to real work that day and I was happy with the results. I did take lot of photos and discarded many. Once I shoot I don’t like stopping, as time progresses light changes, music changes, performance change – every moment is different and I don’t take those moments for granted. Digital photography was one of the best inventions.

Check out my Facebook wall for more photos from that day: Glenn Marais, The Domino Showband and of course Lighthouse band.

Music in the Town Park Aurora, Aurora 150th Birthday Celebrations

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 17:19:55 +0000

I must confess again this is my first ‘appearance’ at the Town Park for the Music in the Park, June 30, 2013. There is always time for the first, and that was my first. There is nothing better than celebrating Aurora’s 150th birthday or other special occasions with a music.

For myself fun listening and fun photographing, and yes writing afterwards.

Aurora 150 Organizing Committee, Cllr Michael Thompson, Music In The Park

The Aurora 150 committee looked great in their blue shirts and did great job organizing and taking care of this event. When we, that is my husband and Matthew, arrived at the site, if I am not mistaken we were greeted by almost everyone at the gate.

Matthew sometimes wonders how come everyone knows him. When he will be older and starts reading my blog and the Facebook wall he will definitely find out why.

People In The Park, Music In The Park

Youth, Music In The Park, Town Park, Town of Aurora

Unfortunately we arrived a bit late for the 150 guitars playing performance. But I didn’t miss the following. I ended up photographing most of the bands that day. Primarily the ones organized by Pat Mete from MusicLynk York Region – The Bloody Five, littleSUNDAY and Blackdog Ballroom.

I couldn’t miss that opportunity as the light was perfect for the photo shoot. I was in the practice mode as well as I only did very little photographing of that kind. Light is always a challenge, but I found another one – photographing drummers.

Pat Mete, MusicLynk York Region, Music In The Park, Town Park, Aurora

Finally I also got to meet Pat Mete from MusicLynx York Region on that day, in person this time. We connected via social media first and I did photograph him by accident at one of the Town of Aurora Council meetings.

The Bloody Five, Music In The Park, Town Park, Town of Aurora

littleSunday, Music In The Park, Town Park, Town of Aurora

Blackdog Ballroom, Music In The Park, Town Park, Town of Aurora

Let’s talk about bands that played that day – The Bloody Five (perhaps five means something else and not number of band members), littleSUNDAY and Blackdog Ballroom. Spectacular performances. I am not fixated on the one particular music kind thus I really enjoyed their performances. Photo shooting to the music is always more fun.

If you click on the names you can view my galleries on my Facebook. Please connect if you want to see more.

Music In The Park, Town Park, Town of Aurora

I found also amazing how animated these guys are. Thus another small challenge capturing each band in action. Intriguing, but true, fashion was another element I loved capturing. The verdict, I just might introduce musicians to my portfolio.

Music In The Park, Town Park, Town of Aurora

The weather cooperated. It was hot on the sun, but breezy in the shade. Good crowd for the afternoon show, but I couldn’t believe how the park was filled for the evening shows. I noticed that bands also got lot of support from their family and friends, one way to attract people from out of town.

Music In The Park, Town Park, Town of Aurora

And here Lighthouse band was getting ready for the nine o’clock show. Click here for more photos on Facebook – People in the Park; Music in the Park

Lighthouse Band, Music In The Park, Town Park, Town of Aurora

Aurora Chamber Street Festival, No Rain & Lots of Music

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 02:52:41 +0000

Today I felt pain in my feet going home after photographing the Aurora Chamber Street Festival. I walked many many miles, at least it felt like I did – from the beginning to the end, and then back; that is from Murray Drive / Edward Street all the way to Wellington Street, and then back.

According to Google maps I walked over 10 km.

Aurora Chamber Street Festival, Yonge Street, Aurora

This morning around six o’clock I woke up to the torrential rain over our house and most of you know I am living in Aurora. Oh no, rain in Aurora. I immediately thought of the Aurora Chamber Street Festival soaking in the rain, but then this rain was way too heavy.

Meaning if all were to fall down in the morning, there will be nothing left for later. Guess what, turned out to be a beautiful day for everyone at the Street Festival.

George St. Kitts, Aurora Chamber Street Festival, Yonge Street, Aurora

What can I show you first? I took so many photos that I have to group them into different subject and post them accordingly. Since at arrival I was greeted with the music – music it is then.

Aaron Morris, Aurora Chamber Street Festival, Yonge Street, Aurora

The Manatee Band, Aurora Chamber Street Festival, Yonge Street, Aurora

First I met Aaron Morris from The Manatee Band. I read his Facebook wall so it was easy to find him. I found Aaron at the Newmarket Jazz+ Festival booth. Aaron and I met at the beginning Aurora Farmers Market this season.

I learned from him that he once stumbled at this blog and landed at the post where I photographed all the dogs at the market. Excellent start to get to know each other and another story to tell.

I have small confession to make. I have been a bit disconnected from the community events, thus I learned on Friday that music festival is back in Aurora. I am constantly expanding my photography venues and will be following more music in our town and local talent.

Aurora Teen Idol, Aurora Chamber Street Festival

It is also more fun to photo shoot when the music plays. However, ask me what song were played during the photo shoot I will not remember. I found out today that I listened to the music but I tuned myself out and concentrated on capturing the moment, the moment when people sing.

Like Brian Melo said talking to one of the performers during the audition at the Celebrate Aurora Music Festival booth, ‘you have that it‘, same in photography I look for that ‘it‘.

Celebrate Aurora Music Festival, Aurora Chamber Street Festival

And that little 8 year old girl (below) was shy and cute. The crowd cooperated and gave her time to collect her self. She ended singing beautifully.

Celebrate Aurora Music Festival, Aurora Chamber Street Festival

This young gentleman (below) was helping his friend. He went on stage first. Funny, entertaining, didn’t know words but sang with emotion.

Celebrate Aurora Music Festival, Aurora Chamber Street Festival

Where there is music there is art. Just beside the Newmarket Jazz+ Festival booth, Deborah Campo had her art booth, her all art was related to the music. This is first time I actually spoke with Deborah, or rather introduced myself. I had to finally apologize for stepping on her beautiful ballroom dress at the Hillary House Ball, another story to tell.

There will be more posts related to the Aurora Chamber Street Festival, however, before I finalize my photo platform for now my photo albums are added on the Facebook. Here is link to today’s street festival album, music related. While you are there, you can always be my friend so you can stay up to date on Aurora stuff plus. Enjoy.

Deborah Campo, Aurora Chamber Street Festival