Ottawa festival to focus on B.C.

TheNational Arts Centre will focuson British Columbia this spring in abiennial festivalthat brings top artists from other Canadian regions to Ottawa.

BC Scene will feature 600 musicians, dancers, actors and other performing artists at 90 events over a 13-day period in May.

Festival headliner isjazz singer Diana Krall, who closes out the event with two concertsMay 2 and 3.

On Wednesday, the NAC released details of another of the musical events B.C. Music Legends, an evening that brings together some of the province's best-known singer-songwriters and folk legends.

It will be hosted by folk singer Valdy, the Ottawa-born artist who now lives on Salt Spring Island in B.C.

Joining him on stage:

• Singer-songwriter Barney Bentall of the Legendary Hearts.
• 87-year-old veteran blues singer Leon Bibb.
• Folk singer Ferron.
• Singer-songwriter Roy Forbes.
• Will Millar, lead singer of the Irish Rovers.
• Shari Ulrich of 1970s band, Pied Pumkin.

B.C. Music Legends will take place at Centrepointe Theatre on May 1.

The full roster of BC Scene programming, including theatre and dance events, will be announced Feb. 24.

The NAC holds the festival, focusing on a different region of Canada, every two years. This year's festival runs April 21 to May 3.