All ages are welcome to experience Ebb & Flow: Tides of Settlement on PEI, a heritage award-winning concert, on five Monday evenings, July 17 – August 14, 2023, in Farringford House, 2 Haviland Street, Charlottetown.The show, in its fifth consecutive year, presents music, song and writings of Indigenous and settlement stories about PEI and its people. Through photographs, video, song, and music, the show presents stories by an ensemble of musicians, singers, and storytellers: Tiffany Liu, Julie Pellissier-Lush, Amanda Mark, Laurie Murphy, and Nico Romero, as well as a weekly guests: Luisa F. Güiza, Shane Pendergast, Tim Hamming, Dutch Thompson, Scott Parsons, and others. Ebb & Flow is a show for all ages. Technical direction is by Pat Caron.
Tickets are $25 regular, and $20 student -16 & 65+, in advance or at the door, if available, on show dates starting 6pm. The two-hour show runs 7pm – 9:30pm, with an 8pm intermission when PEI Handpies will be available for purchase. Bar service is available for patrons 19+ years of age. Parking nearby. Air-conditioned. Accessible.
Weekly Guest Schedule:
July 17 - Dutch Thompson
July 24 - Tim Hamming
July 31 - Shane Pendergast
August 7 - Scott Parsons
August 14 - Luisa F. Güiza
Tiffany Liu was born in Tianjin city and grew up in Tangshan city China. She came to Canada in March 2016 and moved to PEI in September 2017. Tiffany has been playing the pipa for 20 years, and her undergraduate major was Chinese Traditional musical instrument performance. She recently graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island’s Master of education program. Liu performs in concert events across the Island, sharing her culture and talent. She is in the process of creating her very first album — a combination of traditional Chinese music mixed with her experiences from living on P.E.I.featuring the pipa. Tiffany first joined Ebb & Flow as a guest in 2019, and then as an ensemble member in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
Amanda Mark was born in Maryland, and raised in Massachusetts, USA, and Sackville, NB. She is a flutist, as well as playing bass, saxophone and clarinet. She teaches music and English with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Amanda is a member of the PEI Symphony Orchestra, Tuesday Night Big Band, I and the Village, and the 36 Canadian Brigade Group Army Reserve Band. During her summers on PEI, Amanda was the Founding Music Director for Play in the Park's three Shakespeare productions, and member of Ireland Meets Scotland, Celtic Knot and The Seagals. She holds an Honours Degree in English and French Literature, and a Degree in Music from Mount Allison University. She earned a Master of Arts in Comparative Literature from McGill University, and a Master of Secondary Education from Queens College, City University of New York. Amanda co-founded Ebb & Flow and has been Music Director and ensemble member since 2019, the year she co-received a PEI Museum & Heritage Recognition Award.
Laurie Murphy is from PEI, and she has worked across Canada as an arts administrator, and theatre and music artist. She’s an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and a communications-public relations practitioner. On PEI, Laurie co-founded Play in the Park (directing all three Shakespeare productions), and three music ventures (Cousins First, Celtic Knot and The Seagals). She has received PEI Museum & Heritage Awards for heritage renovation and for culture. She earned an arts degree from the University of Prince Edward Island in English (Honours) and Psychology, and received the L.M. Montgomery Creative Writing Award for poetry at her graduation. These days, she runs improv at the HA Club (Summerside & Charlottetown), officiates weddings, and works for the PEI Government. Laurie loves exploring genealogy and place, co-founding Ebb & Flow in 2019 serving as its Artistic Director and ensemble member. Ebb & Flow's photo of Laurie Murphy is by Hannah Kilchyk.
Julie Pellisier-Lush is an actress, bestselling author of My Mi’kmaq Mother, and former Poet Laureate for Prince Edward Island. She has won medals for the Queen’s Jubilee, Meritorious Service, and Senators’ 150 Awards. Born in Summerside, she grew up all over Eastern Canada. In Manitoba, she earned a University of Winnipeg degree in Psychology and Human Resource Management. On PEI, she writes, performs, and does photography to preserve the history and culture of the Mi’kmaq for future generations. Julie has been an ensemble member of Ebb & Flow since the show’s beginnings in 2019.
Nicolás Romero is a 20-year-old musician from México, currently studying at Holland College’s School of Performing Arts. Nicolás came to Prince Edward Island to follow his dream of becoming a musician outside of his country, and now devotes his music career and his playing to inspire people from around the world to follow their dreams. This is Nico’s first season as an ensemble member of Ebb & Flow: Tides of Settlement.
The Summer 2019 show was produced at the Beaconsfield Historic House's Carriage House. The ensemble included Laurie Murphy, Amanda Mark, Luis Anselmi, Tiffany Liu, Julie Pellissier-Lush, Ava Brooks Murphy, and Shannon Mullally. Additional writing was by Margie Carmichael, Yvette Doucette, Emily Nasrallah, and Jason Kun, with audio recordings by Mona Nasrallah and Tamara Steele. Weekly special guests included performers (Teresa Kuo, Victor Cal Y Mayor,Margie Carmichael, James Mark, Jim Hornby, Alika Komangapik and Aiji Komangapik, Olivia MacPhail), and community leaders (Melissa Mullen, Dr. Edward MacDonald, Jenine Woolridge, Georges Arsenault, Dr. Jim Sentance, Callum Beck, Stella Shepard, Reg Phelan, Sally Cole, Linda Berko, Craig Mackie). Lights and sound were provided by Wink Audio with additional equipment from Film PEI and Long & McQuaid. Ebb & Flow won a 2019 Heritage Recognition Award from the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation, thanks to a nomination by Ian Scott. (See media release)
The show was produced in Summer 2020 at the Carriage House, Victoria Playhouse and Georgetown Kings Playhouse. The ensemble included Laurie Murphy, Amanda Mark, Haley Zavo, Tiffany Liu, Julie Pellissier-Lush, Teresa Kuo and Daniel Butterfield (a.k.a. Vince the Messenger). Additional writing was by Margie Carmichael, Yvette Doucette, Emily Nasrallah, and Jason Kun, with audio recordings by Mona Nasrallahand Tamara Steele. Weekly musical guests included Victor Cal Y Mayor, Mark Douglas, Colin Jeffrey, Dutch Thompson, Margie Carmichael, Mi'kmaq Heritage Actors, Belle Âme Buddhist Youth, Shane Pendergast, and Robert Pendergast. Animation of the artist segments and transitions was by Teresa Kuo. Technical direction was by Dylan Smith. Though hampered by Covid-19 realities, everyone adhered to Health PEI safety policies. Ebb & Show received audience acclaim from the mask-wearing folks in attendance, and received critical acclaim from The Buzz. (See media release)
The Summer of 2021 saw a move from Beaconsfield Historic House to The Haviland Club Historic House. Performers were storyteller and drummer Julie Pellissier-Lush, vocalist and dancer Victor Cal Y Mayor, singer-songwriter Nadia Haddad, keyboard player Tim Hamming, flutist and bassist Amanda Mark, and vocalist and bodhran player Laurie Murphy. The show included video animations by Teresa Kuo. In addition to the ensemble of storytellers and musicians, Ebb & Flow: Tides of Settlement on PEI features special guests each week: singer-songwriter Shane Pendergast, singer-songwriter Scott Parsons, guzheng player Dingyi Feng, Vince the Messenger, and storyteller Dutch Thompson. Chef Robert Pendergast provided an Acadian culinary treat for an additional $15. A musician and storyteller, he led a PWYC music jam session post-show in the licensed Haviland Club Tap Room. Technical direction was by Dylan Smith. Health PEI Covid-19 safety measures were followed in the venue: masks, sign in, and social distancing. (See media release).
PEI's famed Poet Laureate Julie Pellissier-Lush (storyteller, singer, author), Victor Cal Y Mayor (vocals, dance, percussion), Tim Hamming (piano, vocals), Laurie Murphy (singer, actor, percussion), and Amanda Mark (flute, bass, vocals) were 2022 ensemble members. They, along with weekly guests, such as singer Luisa F. Güiza (July 25), storyteller Dutch Thompson, and singer-songwriter Shane Pendergast (August 1), pipa player Tiffany Liu (August 8), and storyteller Dutch Thompson, pinch-hitting for singer-songwriter Scott Parsons (August 15), wove tales of comedy and tragedy. Together, they presented the told and untold stories of the Island and its peoples, through art and artifacts. Technical direction was by Acting Badly's Pat Caron with Joseph Tardif. PEI's famous Handpies were sold at the intermission, making it a PEI culinary and musical feast! (See media release)