June 2004

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Heritage Festival to Spotlight Ulali
by Janet M. Powers

One of our headline acts for the September 19 Adams County Heritage Festival is “Ulali” a three-woman First Nation a cappella group with an exciting sound blending traditional roots with contemporary musical sensibilities. Originating in 1987, they released their first solo album, “Mahk Jchi,” which redefined Native American music. Their sound encompasses an array of indigenous music including southeast choral singing (pre-blues and gospel) and pre-Columbian (before the borders) music. “Ulali” has built a devoted national and international following attracted to their vocal chemistry, unusual harmony, and politically charged songs. Inspiring, powerful and with harmonies that soar, these women drum, rattle, stomp, and sing exquisitely.

Although they have performed at venues like Woodstock 94, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the Kennedy Center, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, they also travel throughout Indian country (US, Canada, Central and South America) visiting communities, singing for the people, exchanging songs and maintaining strong ties. You might wonder how the Heritage Festival can afford a group who opened for the Indigo Girls during their 1997 “Shaming of the Sun” tour and added their voices to the recording by the same name. We were able to book them for a manageable fee, with the help of our own Candace Desonier, Heritage Festival Food Chair, who reasoned that we might be able to piggy-back on Ulali’s Washington tour.

Thus, members of this year’s Heritage Festival Planning Committee have been able to fulfill our mission to upgrade our entertainment and still mount a local festival on a scale that we can manage. Of course, we couldn't do it without the help of sizeable grants. We have already received a $1000 Star Grant from the Adams County Arts Council and have submitted other grant proposals to the Robert C. Hoffman Charitable Trust, the Le Van Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts. Although we won’t know about some of these grants until just a few weeks before the Festival, as usual we are going ahead on a wing and a prayer with one of the best entertainment line-ups we’ve ever had!

Other performers will include the Silk Road Dance Company and their “Central Asian Wedding,” featuring Uzbek, Tadjik, Egyptian, Afghan and Iranian dances; the “Fire City Jazz Band”; bagpiper Rodney Yeaple; “Generación Diez,” featuring Latino dances; a children’s play, “Dig ’n’ Tel,” performed by the Adams County Children’s Theatre Troupe; and an Appalachian fiddle and clogging group led by Freya Qualley, “Clogged Up and Strung Out.” Of course, we will also be offering a mouth-watering array of ethnic foods, a full afternoon of children’s activities, craft demonstrations, vendors, and non-profit booths. Our mission is to share the cultures of Adams County and beyond through food, music, and the arts.

(For more information about the Heritage Festival, please visit www.icpj-gettysburg,org/festival.htm or e-mail achf@icpj-gettysburg.org. )

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Last updated June 22, 2004

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