Performers and Artists
Since the beginning, the core of CentreFest has been the street performers. We have scoured the world, the country and the region to find magicians, acrobats, comedians and the un-definable to dazzle you with showmanship, comedy and physical ability. Our main performances occur in designated ‘pitches’ on the festival site.
2011 Main Pitch Performers
Fraser Hooper - United Kingdom
Award winning clown Fraser Hooper has built a huge international following delighting audiences of all ages with his unique brand of contemporary clowning. After a glittering career in menswear and two years on the London cabaret circuit in the popular double act The Hoons, Fraser Hooper decided to go solo. Twenty years on he is still playing to sold out theatres across the UK and at comedy and street festivals worldwide.With a nod to the great silent clowns he uses mime, audience participation, comedy juggling and eccentric dance delighting all ages in hilarious shows that receive rave reviews wherever he plays.
Sublimit - Japan
Sublimit is the combined astonishing talent of "Guts" a professional circus acrobat, and "Yoko" a highly skilled gymnast and dance. In 1995 they made their performance debut at The Performer Competition in Japan. Since then they have toured extensively around the world perfecting their unique performing style. Don't miss their amazing hand to hand balancing act with an Asian flair.
Aaron Greg, The Stunt Superstar - Victoria, British Columbia
The Stunt Superstar show is the perfect blend of mind-blowing tricks and inventive comedy. Aaron's 
performance combines technical ability, dangerous props, and intelligent humour that's clean enough for a church group but remains edgy enough for a university crowd.
Aaron's skills have garnered him national television appearances in 10 countries around the world. From Australia all the way North to the Arctic circle, he's kept audiences laughing and gasping for 12 years.
To take his stunt comedy to the next level Aaron set a Guinness World Record by juggling three chainsaws longer than anyone else - a feat that was recently included in NBC's "100 Greatest World Records." Comedy has never been this dangerous!
Nigel Blackstorm - New Jersey
The Heavy Metal Magician, born Gareth Blackthunder, was raised in a small town in the south of England called New Jersey. As a youth he focused on his two passions: heavy metal and magic. When he turned 16 he changed his name to Nigel Blackstorm because he argued that his given name didn’t sound “heavy” enough. With the skills of an alchemist, Nigel blended heavy metal music and the world of magic, creating the unique genre: "heavy magic." Be prepared to have your mind blown, and ladies: please control yourselves.
Alakazam, The Human Knot - Australia
An international street, circus and corporate entertainer, Alakazam presents a 100% high energy show that will have you reeling with laughter and twisting in your seat. Audiences worldwide have been left breathless by Alakazam’s incredibly freaky body contortions, cheeky comedy and ridiculous sky-high feats of danger. Alakazam, The Human Knot is sure to provide a self contained freak show suitable for the whole family!
The Be Arthurs - Edmonton, Alberta
The Be Arthurs are a ukulele cover band from Edmonton, and have performed at numerous festivals and venues, including weekly appearances on 92.5 Joe FM in Edmonton. The Be Arthurs have covered everyone from Guns N Roses to Britney Spears, and offer up one of the most unique and funny shows you will ever see.
Performance Schedule
Saturday, July 30
Pitch A Pitch B
12:00 Alakazam
12:30 Aaron Gregg
1:00 Sublimit
1:30 Fraser Hooper
2:00 Nigel Blackstorm
2:30 The Be Arthurs
3:00 Alakazam
3:30 Aaron Gregg
4:00 Sublimit
4:30 Fraser Hooper
5:00 Nigel Blackstorm
5:30 The Be Arthurs
6:00 Alakazam
6:30 Aaron Gregg
7:00 Sublimit
7:30 Fraser Hooper
Sunday, July 31
12:00 Nigel Blackstorm
12:30 The Be Arthurs
1:00 Sublimit
1:30 Fraser Hooper
2:00 Alakazam
2:30 Aaron Gregg
3:00 Sublimit
3:30 Fraser Hooper
4:00 Nigel Blackstorm
4:30 The Be Arthurs
5:00 Alakazam
5:30 Aaron Gregg
2011 Roving Artists
Roving artists at CentreFest are the special performers who do not participate in the performances on the main pitch. Instead they move about the site, performing for our visitors. We have a very exciting line up of roving performers this year.
Spandy Andy - Red Deer, AB
Spandy Andy loves to entertain by making people laugh, smile or even give a bizarre stare. Born and raised in Red Deer, Andy has thousands of fans who eagerly anticipate the weird and wacky dance moves that he brings to the streets and beaches of Vancouver. With a mission to spread joy to everyone he meets, Spandy Andy will bring a definitely bring smile to your face and add a spring to your step.
The Copper Cowboy - Edmonton, Alberta
Using a unique blend of the improvisation and audience participation, this statue comes to life before the 
eyes of children and adults alike. The Copper Cowboy has performed at numerous festivals and events throughout Edmonton and Red Deer including the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, Screamfest, and Westerner Days Fair. With over five years experience as a street performer, a diploma in Theatre Arts, and a certified yoga instructor, The Copper Cowboy has shocked, surprised, bewildered, and sent people into fits of laughter from his stunning performance.
Throughout the festival, we also have buskers, roving entertainers and emerging artists. If your special talent can enhance CentreFest, send us a note at info@centrefest.ca or fax to 403.340.8699.
Synergy - Edmonton, Alberta
Balancing feet on shoulders and heads on the ground is only the beginning with this dynamic duo. Amazing acrobatics and flexibility come together as they balance , bend and twist of off each other. But the fun doesn't stop there! These two jesters are always in search of the next star for their mini-human pyramid. It could be you!
Keep an eye open for what is to believe the gentle stretchy lycra creature , blob or human bubble gum.
Matt LeBeau and Al Aldinni - Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer's own amazing magicians! Combining the two magicial talents of Al Aldinni and Matt LeBeau in one spactacular show. Their magic is sure to amaze and blow away the minds of their spactators. Combining Matt LeBeau's veritable twenty years in close up magic with Al Aldinni's three years in street magic, they are a duo that is sure to present you an amazing show that will keep you in awe, and questioning your interpretation of the impossible.
Josh Christensen - Red Deer, Alberta
Josh's first mural was covertly scribbled across the back of his father's favorite recliner at the tender age 
of six. Over the next twenty years, Josh would dabble in a number of different mediums as a visual artist, including designing and building theatrical sets across Alberta. There have been several exciting projects along the way, but for Josh, nothing quite matches the feeling of youth and freedom that comes with drawing on the sidewalk... or the wall... or the bathtub. Josh's local projects have included co-producing the Red Deer Cabaret in 2009 with his partners in TGR Entertainment, set construction and painting for the Canadian Badlands Passion Play in Drumheller, as well as murals for the Butt Ugly Anti-Tobacco program and Tequila Nightclub. Josh is excited to bring his sidewalk chalking to CentreFest!
Sheriff McTwist - Lacombe, Alberta
Entertaining children and adults alike with a blend of humour and interaction while rapidly making creations out of various balloons is what Mr. McTwist likes best. Whether you are looking for a puppy or butterfly, or even a fishing rod or superhero, Mr. McTwist is sure to spark your imagination with his fun-tastic balloon creations.
Rosie Posie - Lacombe, Alberta
Angela Stephenson - or her alter ego, Rosie Posie - enjoys watching people's smiles as she transforms them with her face and body painting skills. Whether you want to be a princess, dragon, tiger or just "something cool", Rosie Posie will create a colourful work of art that is sure to brighten your day.
Mai Maclean - Red Deer, Alberta
Mai Maclean is a budding business woman with many artistic talents. She studied clothing design in South Korea and has been painting murals after moving to Canada. Her face painting business has become a passion of hers, and she is looking to further her creative outlet and brighten people's lives with what she does.
Nasim Chatur
Henna Tattoos by Nasim Chatur provides traditional, Arabic and modern henna designing for wedding, birthday parties, baby shower events and many other occasions at affordable prices. This will be Nasim's first appearance at CentreFest!
Glitter & Sparkle - Calgary, Alberta
Vicky Yon-Nicoll of "Glitter&Sparkle Face Painting" is based out of Calgary, Ab. She has enjoyed providing Face Painting for many private and corporate functions over the years and is proud to be the main face painter for "The Blackfoot Farmers Market", and a regular volunteer at "Calgary Relay for Life Cancer Benefit". "Glitter&Sparkle" was started as a part time business when her children were young, and later her daughter joined the team. Together they have added Balloon Twisting, and Glitter Tattoos to their services. "Glitter&Sparkle Face Painting" enjoys providing FUN for your special day or event.
Music World
New to CentreFest is Music World! We are searching for Central Alberta solo artists and duos who want to
showcase their craft at CentreFest on July 30 and 31. This is the perfect opportunity to share your talent with the 25 000 visitors to the CentreFest site. We require all performers to send a short demo for selection and scheduling purposes. The demo can be anything from a professionally recorded c.d. to a Youtube video to an mP3 file. We encourage all musicians to apply, regardless of genre or intruments played, we are searching for a wide variety of musicians, and hope to have a great representation of the talented musicians from Central Alberta!
Music World will be home to buskers, selected on a first come first serve basis and will be given roughyl 45 minutes of busking time on the 100.7 The River Music World stage! Interested artists also must have an mP3 file of their music available to put up on the 100.7 The River FM website! All musicians interested in busking in Music World are encouraged to call Nicki at 403 309 8782, or email nsamson@harvardbroadcasting.com.
CentreFest is a professionally curated event, only those hired by the CentreFest committee will be allowed to perform on site.
