After a difficult 18 months of downtime due to the pandemic, Opera on the Avalon is striving to get performers back to the stage with their Summer Pops concert.

Artistic director Cheryl Hickman says the pandemic has been devastating for the arts community, noting about 40 per cent of artists and cultural staff remain without work.

Hickman says that’s just one of the reasons for the concert, adding they wanted to get as many performers from various genres back together as soon as possible.

The event will feature The Once, Amelia Curran, The Ennis Sisters, Sherman Downey and others.

The show is set for August 21 at 2:00 p.m. on the grounds of Government House in St. John’s.

Tickets are on sale now.