Lance Anderson’s ’60 in 60′ – A Celebration of the Mariposa Folk Festival

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Reprise of Mariposa Folk Festival ’60 in 60’

“A Celebration of 60 Years of Music from the Mariposa Folk Festival” was a show-stopping audience favourite at the 2022 Mariposa Folk Festival… and now it’s back to open Mariposa in Concert’s 2023-24 season!

This time, award-winning keyboardist and producer Lance Anderson will expand the 60-minute musical trip down memory lane into a 90-minute show at the Orillia Opera House on Saturday, November 18.

“Lance’s ‘60 in 60’ tribute opened the main stage at our 2022 festival,” Festival President Pam Carter said. “Everyone loved it and it wasn’t long before we started receiving requests to have it performed again. It truly is back by popular demand and will likely sell out quickly.”

The concert takes place at the Orillia Opera House, 1 West Street North in downtown Orillia on Saturday, November 18. Doors open at 7 p.m. and concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person (includes processing fees and taxes) and can be purchased at the Orillia Opera House Box Office or online at orilliaoperahouse.ca.

Anderson will regroup his all-star cast of performers to take on this challenging task once again. Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Matt Weidinger, gospel and soul sensation Quisha Wint, the fabulous Selena Evangeline on guitar and vocals plus a band of some of the most versatile musicians in Canada including ethnomusicologist Dr. Mike Daley (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Wayne Deadder (guitar and vocals) Russ Boswell (bass) Bucky Berger (drums) will anchor this ensemble with musical director Anderson at the helm.

The concert will cover the many genres that have been a part of the Mariposa experience. Folk and singer songwriters but also blues, gospel, vocal groups, alt. country, roots and traditional music from many cultures. The emphasis will be on the Canadian artists and icons but will not be limited to any borders.

It will not be a medley of songs, but a linear display and reminder of the historic significance of the Mariposa Folk Festival. The songs will not be recreated but will be interpreted by the performers to continue the creative evolution of the art of songwriting.

Lance Anderson’s musical connections run deep in the industry and he always assembles a stellar group of artists.

Matt Weidinger 

Matt Weidinger has a voice like no other. The 28-year-old Kitchener, ON native is a passionate young songwriter, who is well known for his mature rock/soul vocals and impressive multi-instrumental (keyboards, guitars, mandolin) talents. His unmistakable earthly tones captivate the hearts of anyone who hears it. He performs like a veteran musician on the piano and organ, and is equally proficient on guitar, bass or mandolin.   

Although some consider him a throwback of the ’60s, he still has the capacity to grab the attention of both the old, young and everyone in between. He’s an “old soul” who easily commands the attention of any crowd.  His passion for music and performing is contagious.

Quisha Wint

This phenomenal and expressive vocalist proves that you can live out your dreams through inspiring others. Quisha Wint is an accomplished songstress, performer, arranger and songwriter who was born to sing and entertain.

She grew up in a Jamaican home listening to Reggae, Motown, Gospel, R&B, then expanded to jazz when she entered the well-known jazz program at Humber College in the mid ’90s. From there she embarked upon her dream of performing with well-known Toronto musicians, which took her to exciting overseas hotel engagements. Since then, Quisha has sung in many parts of Asia, Europe, North America, and Caribbean, leaving her audiences applauding and wanting more of this dynamic performer.

Quisha’s voice is mesmerizing and captures the soulful sounds of the legendary artists (Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, and Aretha Franklin) who’ve paved the way before her.

Selena Evangeline

Selena Evangeline is a world-class singer. The sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Chaka Khan, Prince and Stevie Wonder helped shape the musician she is today.  As a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, her songs are musical snapshots of real life and emotions, from a real woman. Those “snapshots” helped to win her an Ontario Independent Music Award for Best Urban, Barrie New Music Award as well as honourable mention in the John Lennon Song Writing Competition.  

By way of her travels through various countries Selena has shared stages with Sheila E., Patrice Rushen, Jocelyn Brown, The Nylons, Delta Goodrem, Ivete Sangalo, Latin Grammy winner Maia, and the list goes on. Recently, you may have seen Selena on stage backing Canadian icon Amanda Marshall as well as CMA winner Johnny Reid.

Selena’s newest release “Left Alone” is the third in the Slaight Music/7 Arts Entertainment signature series of duets with pianist Bill King and Canada’s top vocalists. Evangeline charts her own direction focusing on songs remembered through women who made them classics – Gladys Knight, Dinah Washington, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughan, Patti Labelle, Diana Ross, Billie Holiday and others. It’s her musical letter of thanks; paying homage to the great singers and songwriters who have come before us.

Lance Anderson

JUNO award winning producer Lance Anderson has been performing for 49 years, has once again been nominated for the Maple Blues Award for Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year, and his new band Matchedash Parish was nominated for 2 Maple Blues Awards in 2020 for: New Artist/Group of the Year and Record of the Year (Saturday Night).

The Orillia resident has a number of popular tributes shows to his credit, including The Last Waltz – A Musical Celebration of The Band; Everyday People – The Music of Sly and the Family Stone; Queens of Soul, that was performed by the Windsor Symphony, featuring Shakura S’Aida; Oscar Peterson – The Jazz Legend and the Man I Knew and Take Five – Dave Brubeck.

In 2015, Anderson and Kelly Peterson, widow of the late Oscar Peterson, co-produced a three-CD set of Oscar Peterson classics entitled Oscar, with Love. Anderson himself contributed two performances – Sir Lancewell, an original composition Peterson wrote for him, and O.P.’s Boogie, which Anderson wrote for Peterson based on some lines from one of the jazz legend’s solos.

Still one of the busiest producers and arrangers in Canada, Anderson looks forward to another year of projects, including a new CD by The Matchedash Parish, his new, large ensemble featuring Matt Weidinger. This group played to rave reviews at the Montreal Int. Jazz festival, Mont Tremblant Int. Blues Fest and the Kitchener Blues Festival in 2019. Anderson is currently co-executive producer of the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival and the Beaches Panama Jazz and Blues Festival both in Panama.

Mike Daley

Mike Daley is a guitarist and singer based in Toronto. A professional musician for over 30 years, Mike has toured Canada, the United States and England and has recorded extensively in a variety of musical styles. He is a longtime member of Fraser/Daley with bassist Alec Fraser and is also proud to work with a variety of bands around Toronto including the Tom Waits Appreciation Congregation, the Travellers and others.

Wayne DeAdder

Wayne DeAdder is a “musician extraordinaire” and a JUNO nominated songwriter, guitarist and bassist. Wayne has contributed his inspirational talent to dozens of American and Canadian bands and solo artists. He has worked with the likes of  Jeff HealeyDavid WilcoxMichael Pickett and Richard Bell (The Band, Bonnie Raitt), and written songs for two-time JUNO nominee  Johnny Max Band, and Project 360, Davis Hall and the Green Lanterns, and the Beat Heathens among others. He also toured in Europe in 2010 with the JUNO nominated band of an award-winning singer and songwriter Jimmy Bowskill.


Bucky Berger

Bucky Berger has been a professional musician for over 51 years and still going strong. He has recorded many albums over the years and has had a wide and varied career touching on many genres of music including: blues, soul, soca, calypso, salsa, klezmer, rock, folk, New Orleans, Cajun, country, and jazz.

Bucky Berger, originally performed with the band Rough Trade, which was formed by vocalist Carole Pope and Kevan Staples in 1968. Berger was the drummer with the band from 1978-1982 when he would leave to pursue a freelance career. Over a long career, he has played and/or recorded with Murray McLauchlan, ChilliwackDavid Wilcox, Dr. John,  Ken Whiteley, Raffi, Danny BrooksCurley BridgesElvin BishopEddie Cleanhead VinsonMaria Muldaur and many others.  Berger spent nine years with Fathead, and would receive a Maple Blues Award in 2009 for Drummer of the Year.