Nursery Nights Brings Music, Comedy and Intimate Performances to Huntsville

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts brings music, comedy and intimate live performances to Sandhill Nursery’s Greenhouse this falL

There’s something special about hearing live music in an intimate setting — and this fall, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts is taking that experience somewhere a little unexpected.

Nursery Nights returns to Sandhill Nursery, transforming Greenhouse Number One into an intimate performance space where audiences can experience live music and comedy just a few feet from the stage.

The series begins this weekend and continues through October, bringing an impressive lineup of Canadian and international performers to Huntsville.

The evening experience starts before the curtain even goes up. Audience members are invited to arrive early for a pre-show gathering at the Rusty Rake, from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring live music, with food and drinks available for purchase.

Then, at 7:30, the focus shifts to Greenhouse Number One for the featured performance.

With limited seating and several shows already selling quickly, the Festival of the Arts is encouraging audiences to get their tickets early.

The Nursery Nights lineup gets underway September 18 and 19 with Hawksley Workman.

The JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist returns to Huntsville for two intimate performances. Over more than two decades, Workman has built a reputation for blending folk, pop, rock and cabaret into a distinctive live sound.

Next up, on September 25, it’s time for some comedy — with A Garden Variety Improv Show.

Second City alumnae Dave Pearce, Kerry Griffin, Jennine Profeta and Linda Kash will take over the greenhouse, creating scenes and characters based on suggestions from the audience.

The result is an evening of unpredictable, unscripted comedy, surrounded by the garden atmosphere of Sandhill Nursery.

Then on September 26, the spotlight turns to acclaimed Canadian musician Harry Manx.

Manx is known for his unique blend of blues, folk and Indian classical music. A master of the 20-string Mohan Veena, he spent more than a decade studying in India before developing the distinctive Indo-blues sound that has become his trademark.

A seven-time Maple Blues Award winner and six-time JUNO nominee, Manx brings together music, storytelling and expressive songwriting for what promises to be a memorable evening.

On October 2, local musician Tobin Spring and his band bring MORE BARN: The Music of Neil Young back to Sandhill Nursery.

The show returns following two sold-out performances this summer.

The evening begins with a performance of Neil Young’s classic album Harvest in its entirety, before moving into more familiar folk and rock favourites from throughout Young’s career.

The following weekend, on October 4, Australian blues artist Lloyd Spiegel takes the stage.

Spiegel is a 14-time Australian Blues Award winner and was the youngest artist ever inducted into the Blues Music Victoria Hall of Fame. Audiences can expect powerful vocals, masterful guitar playing, stories and plenty of energy.

The series continues on October 16 with Terra Lightfoot.

The JUNO- and Polaris Prize-nominated performer is known for powerhouse vocals, blazing guitar work and a live style that combines rock, soul and blues.

Lightfoot will bring her music and storytelling to the greenhouse while touring in support of her acclaimed album Healing Power.

And if comedy is more your style, October 17 brings a road show from Yuk Yuk’s.

The evening features seasoned stand-up comedians delivering sharp observations, stories and plenty of laughs. The performance is uncensored and intended for adults, with the show restricted to those 19 and over.

The Nursery Nights series wraps up its featured lineup on October 23 with Caroline Marie Brooks of the Good Lovelies.

Brooks brings her intimate folk-pop sound to Huntsville in celebration of her newest album, On Light and Matter.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts says Nursery Nights is about more than simply putting on a concert. The unique greenhouse setting creates a close connection between performers and audiences, offering a different kind of live entertainment experience right here in the community.

And with general admission seating available on a first-come, first-served basis, audiences are encouraged to arrive early.

Tickets for Nursery Nights performances at Sandhill Nursery are available through the Algonquin Theatre Box Office, either online, by phone or in person.

For the complete Nursery Nights lineup and ticket information, visit huntsvillefestival.ca.

From folk and blues to rock, improv and stand-up comedy, Nursery Nights is once again offering Huntsville audiences the chance to experience live performance in a setting that is anything but ordinary.

This fall, Greenhouse Number One isn't just a place to browse plants — it's a place to hear music, share some laughs and experience some of the Festival of the Arts' most intimate performances.