Jackson Triggs Amphitheatre will host the 3rd annual Rootstock scheduled for Sunday, August 28th. Rootstock is an evening of music and storytelling that will be featuring an East Coast flare this year. The concert this time around will benefit the humanitarian efforts of War Child. War Child’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Samantha Nutt, will make a short presentation as part of the evening.

Jackson Triggs Estate Winery has partnered with War Child for this summer’s concert series. The winery has, so far, presented War Child with a cheque for $50,000. Called Rootstock as a play on words for the combination of wine (grapevines) and music (the ever-so famous Woodstock), this vision is inspired by the fact that roots provide the core lifeline, foundation and identity that defines and creates fine music and fine wine. Rootstock is a special one night only gathering at the Amphitheatre, that will feature four artists who have established themselves in the Canadian music world. This event will profile some of the best of Canadian food, wine and song.

War Child works with children and their families to overcome the challenges of living with, and recovering from, conflict. In collaboration with local people, War Child aims to increase access to education, lift families out of poverty, and create a protective environment for the rights of children. War Child is operational in Afghanistan, Sudan (Darfur), Uganda, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Haiti. Dr. Samantha Nutt, War Child’s Founder and Executive Director, comments: “Jackson Triggs have been wonderful supporters of War Child over the years and we are thrilled to be their Charity of Choice for Rootstock 2011. Through their generosity, and through the generous support of all those who are donating their time and their talents to this event, War Child is able to make a significant difference in the lives of children and families whose lives have been devastated by war.”

In the mood for an auction? There will be offerings for both silent and live auctions featured in the form of unique musical items, rare wine collections and a “one of a kind” wine trip.

There are two ways to enjoy Rootstock:

1. Rootstock Concert only: $99.00 per person plus tax — 8:00 to 10:00 pm. Wine Bar available for purchase of wine by the glass featuring Jackson Triggs & Le Clos Jordanne wines; concession food available for purchase.

2. Rootstock Dinner and Concert: $199.00 per person plus tax and gratuity. Dinner with wine included starts at 6:00 pm. Explore Your Senses – a grazing food station event throughout the entire winery with select artists performing while you dine and sip.

Online ticket purchasing: www.jacksontriggswinery.com
Or call: 905-468-4637 ext. 2 or toll free Canada at 1(866)589-4637 ext. 2

Show times 8:00 pm – rain or shine.

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Profiles of featured guests:

Seamus O’Regan, Co-Host, Canada AM
Seamus O’Regan is the co-host of CTV’s Canada AM, and host of Arts & Minds and The O’Regan Files on Bravo. Originally from Newfoundland, he has interviewed such newsmakers as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Paul Martin, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Shania Twain, Conrad Black and Prince. He is one of the few journalists to have interviewed four former Prime Ministers — Brian Mulroney, Kim Campbell, John Turner and Joe Clark — together. He has travelled far and wide reporting from Kandahar, Afghanistan to the shores of Antarctica, to NORAD headquarters inside Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado. In 2007, Seamus O’Regan became the first journalist to be named to Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. O’Regan has hosted the Giller Prize, Canadian fiction’s most coveted literary award, three times, and has been twice nominated for a Gemini Award. Seamus O’Regan is also a long time supporter of War Child Canada.

Alan Doyle, Great Big Sea
Hailing from Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, Alan Doyle is a Canadian musician and actor, who is best known as the singer and multi-instrumentalist for platinum-selling, Juno-Award winning artist Great Big Sea. Embarking on their 18th year as a band, Great Big Sea released their tenth studio album, Safe Upon The Shore, last summer to rave reviews. In his spare time, Doyle is much in demand as a producer, arranger and general musical catalyst, having produced albums for actor Russell Crowe and fellow Juno Award winners The Irish Descendants, among others, and furnished soundtracks for the movie Young Triffie’s Been Made Away With, the television series Hatching, Matching & Dispatching, and an episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. This past year saw Doyle join his friend Russell Crowe onscreen, utilizing his acting skills in the role of troubadour and archer Allan A’Dayle in the Universal blockbuster Robin Hood.

Kim Stockwood
Entertainer Kim Stockwood is an accomplished artist, performer and writer, who has been in the public eye for more than a decade. She has recorded and released records with pop trio Shaye, has released four award winning solo recordings and has done work in radio and television. Her most recent album, a tribute to her beloved Newfoundland entitled Back To The Water, was released in March 2011. Stockwood has performed on tour with the likes of Willie Nelson and Van Morrison, and has been recognized with awards from the East Coast Music Association and SOCAN. With an impressive track record of smash hits, including “12 Years Old,” “Jerk” and “Happy Baby” (Shaye), Stockwood is irresistible live and performs with effortless ease on the concert stage, on record and on radio and television.

John Mann, Spirit of the West
On stage, Spirit of the West’s John Mann has the uncanny ability to pull the audience into an intimate, entertaining, and ultra-comfortable zone. His abilities as a master songwriter couple with the timing and presence of seasoned worldly performer. John’s intense and focused energy is marked by humour, compassion, melody, empathy, rhythm and a love of music. John Mann is a world class postmodern folk-rock minstrel with an unparalleled stage presence, a pure and strong voice, and a passion for storytelling. His solo shows are, in a word, engaging.

Matthew Barber
Matthew Barber’s new self-titled album is a collection of self-produced songs resulting from a winter’s worth of work in his home studio. The result is a disarmingly honest record of charming simplicity. By playing all the instruments, as well as handling the recording and mixing duties, Barber’s sixth release marks a return to his roots. Over a decade has passed between his early 4-track experiments as a philosophy student at Queen’s University, and his latest effort, released June 5th, 2011 on the Outside Music label. In the meantime, Barber has become a seasoned songwriter and performer with five albums, numerous tours across Canada and around the world, a handful of record deals, a Juno nomination and an award-winning musical to his credit.

Samantha Nutt
Samantha Nutt is a medical doctor, and Founder and Executive Director of War Child Canada. Committed to peace, human rights and social justice, her humanitarian work has benefited hundreds of thousands of war-affected children globally. With more than fifteen years of experience working in war zones, Dr. Nutt has been at the frontline of many of the world’s major crises – from Iraq to Afghanistan, Somalia to the Congo and Sierra Leone to Darfur. She has been named one of Canada’s 25 Transformational Canadians by the Globe and Mail, is a recipient of the Order of Ontario, and the World Economic Forum has recognized her as one of 200 Young Global Leaders. With her uncompromising and powerful advocacy for justice and peace, Dr. Nutt is one of the most sought-after public speakers, a published author on global issues and a visionary thinker. Dr. Nutt’s forthcoming book, entitled Damned Nations, will be released on October 18, 2011.