I dropped into Kiju’s to catch a bit of music a few weeks ago — the usual gig that features Aaron Lewis, Kimberley Fraser and a special guest, but Aaron had something else on and left Buddy MacDonald in his place.
The guest turned out to be noted Irish fiddler Gerry O’Connor, in town early before his gig with The Rovers at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, the following night.
I didn’t catch the whole show but enjoyed what I heard, some songs from MacDonald and some great tunes from O’Connor and Fraser.
I had a chance to chat with O’Connor after the show, catching up on some mutual friends and getting a handle on his current musical projects. One of the things we talked about was his latest CD, “Last Night’s Joy,” a recording released last fall.
O’Connor is a great player, a master of the Irish style but someone who can wander into other styles as well.
“Last Night’s Joy” includes 11 separate cuts, a combination that gives you a nice mix of styles and music. The CD opens with the title cut, a group of three great reels gleaned from the playing of Boys of the Lough’s Cathal McConnell. The recording ends with another blast of reels that includes O’Connor and three family members. Talented family.
It isn’t all reels (although there are a good number of them). Included in the mix is “Bádaí Na Scadáin,” a very soulful melody that tells the story of a father searching for his sons after their boat capsized. O’Connor included the twists and turn of the America polka (learned from the playing of Québécois fiddler Jean Carignan), coupled with American Coming, all backed by some great banjo. The "Corratistune Rose” features another lovely air, followed by a nice hornpipe, with delightful cello backing.
“Last Night’s Joy” is a lovely recording. I doubt you can find it locally, but you can get it online. If you like great playing and Irish music, this is one that you’ll want to get.
*****
I stopped at Riverview High School on March 6 for the all-ages square dance. The place was packed with students dancing up a storm. They were joined by children as young as five or six and adult music lovers, who help guide them through the sets.
Kyle, Sheumas and Malcolm MacNeil were providing the tunes and the dancers were under the direction of Helen MacDonald.
Before I left Kyle MacDonald and Susan MacLean were on stage and there were more musicians waiting in the wings. I think it’s great to see this happening, a wonderful introduction to the music and culture that shows the students just how much fun it can be.
*****
Congratulations to Donnie Campbell.
He’s been named the 2020 recipient of the Slaight Music Unsung Hero Award by the Canadian Folk Music Association.
This award is given annually to someone who has worked in and around the folk music scene for years, often without receiving anything beyond local recognition.
Previous winners include Newfoundland musician and presenter Gerry Strong, Vancouver's Rogue Folk Club founder Steve Edge and Terry Wickham, Edmonton’s Folk Music Festival’s artistic director.
Around here, Campbell is known as a singer, entertainer and the host of Celtic Serenade, currently aired on The Coast, a radio show that he has produced for more than 46 years. This is where you’ll find the best of Cape Breton, East Coast and international Celtic, folk and bluegrass artists.
Campbell was a touring musician for a number of years before settling down to spend a career with Nova Scotia Power. He continued to perform here and abroad, sharing the stage with people like John Allan Cameron, Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy and so many more. He’s been on most stages in Cape Breton, both as a paid musician and volunteer, sharing his talents to raise money for many worthy causes.
The Canadian Folk Music Awards has been an annual event since 2005. It celebrates both traditional and contemporary folk music, and other roots music genres, as performed and produced by Canadian musicians.
This year’s award show was due to take place on April 3-4 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. However, the annual event has been cancelled due to COVID-19 situation and no word has been released as to when the presentation will take place.
Once again, congratulations Donnie. This is richly deserved and long overdue national recognition.
*****
If I remember correctly, I first met Laura Smith in the 1980s in my mother-in-law’s living room, part of a larger group that included fiddlers, guitarists and harmonica players.
Smith, originally from London, Ont., spent some years around the Toronto music scene before she moved to Cape Breton’s North Shore.
In a 1995 interview with Peter Gzowski on CBC Radio’s Morningside, she claimed that Cape Breton was the place where she really learned to present her music.
And present it she did, in so many ways. Over the years she garnered a Gemini Award, a pair of ECMA Awards, several Juno nominations, and an honorary degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.
Smith became a stage actor and recorded with The Chieftains. She wrote and sang and laid her soul bare, capturing so many fans when she did.
Several accidents took her away from the music scene for a period of time, but she returned and came back to Cape Breton to be part of the Celtic Colours Festival on several occasions.
She may have been from Ontario, but she certainly made Nova Scotia her home and made all East Coasters proud.
In recent years she lived in Mahone Bay, and this is where she died after a spirited fight with cancer, one week short of her 68th birthday.
Her passing was felt nationally and CBC Radio’s As It Happens did a feature on her that included interviews with friends and clips from their archives.
Tributes and accolades continue to be expressed and we know that she will be remembered.
In Smith’s own words "Safe home, sweet light, no longer shining here, on wings, safe and sound, are you carried. No longer casting shadows, no longer counting days, you are love and you are loved, always."
*****
Kudos to Aaron Lewis, Buddy MacDonald and Kimberley Fraser for the great live-streamed concert that they put on to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
You couldn’t go to a bar to hear them, so this was safe, very enjoyable and very creative. Almost 1,000 people watched from different parts of the world. Job well done folks. And this won’t be the only such happening. Rumour has it that they may do it again and word is out that Ashley MacIsaac has a similar event planned for April 1. Watch for it.
*****
If you can pick it up, K-LEE Radio is a community radio station broadcasting over-the-air and online from Baddeck (www.kleeradio.com).
It carries a good variety of music and now airs a program called Phantom Country which promotes the traditional country sound from here and abroad.
Hosted by local singer-songwriter Kenny Walsh, it runs on Sunday evenings from 6-8 p.m. It’s primarily a classic country program, concentrating on some of the older material that you don’t hear that often.
Walsh tells me the program is pretty much continuous music with very little talking. He is certainly someone who knows his way around country music, having been involved as a performer for many years. He currently has a pair of singles on the go available on various digital sites.
*****
The Junos, Canadian Folk Music Awards, ECMAs, South by Southwest — one of the world’s premier Music Conferences, all cancelled. Music tours and shows not happening. Professional sports put on hold, universities teaching their classes through the internet.
Yep, it’s happening. I guess all we can do is wash our hands and wait it out.
I will mention a few things for down the road.
The second annual Dundee Resort Folk Music Festival is scheduled to take place at the Richmond County venue May 22-24. This year’s headliner is Dave Carroll, best known for his United Breaks Guitars trilogy. And June 27 is the date for Under The Breton Sky Beer & Music Festival at Breton Brewery in Sydney River. This year’s lineup features Matt Mays, Dave Sampson, Carmen Townsend, Fire Valley Fire & CBMIC Emerging Band.
And finally, this marks 700 times I’ve produced a Feedback column since 2000. Where has the time gone? Hopefully, I still have a few more to go.
Dan MacDonald has been involved with the Cape Breton and East Coast music scene for almost 50 years. He can be reached at [email protected].
