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May 3, 2007
Cape Breton Live across the
country
By DAN MACDONALD, The Cape Breton Post
If you are
a fiddle fan you know how hard it is to find a good set on
tunes on the radio, except for certain times during the
week. One way around this is to tune in to Cape Breton Live,
a website radio station that has a wonderful collection of
shows, usually about an hour long, that can be listened to
at you leisure.
The
concept is the brainchild of Natalie MacMaster and her
husband Donnell Leahy and presents a showcase that features
a wide cross-section of local and guest musicians (many of
whom don't normally get such exposure) to
the world, via the Internet. Last fall Cape Breton Live hit
the road and did a series of successful concerts across
Quebec and Ontario. Part of this tour was recorded and
became a Bravo TV special that was shown a few weeks ago.
Next
fall and winter will see them on the road again, this time
all across Canada for 50 to 60 shows, spreading the gospel
of Cape Breton music to the whole country.
On May
11th this Cape Breton Live comes home for a one-time-only
show at the Sydney Marine Terminal. The lineup is powerful:
fiddle, piano and more from Troy MacGillivray, Andrea
Beaton, Glenn Graham and Howie MacDonald; vocals
from Kate Quinn, Stephanie Hardy and Buddy MacDonald;
percussion from Cheryl Smith. This will be one heck of an
evening! The concert also includes scenic views of Cape
Breton projected on a big screen. These include some of the
shots that were shown during the Ontario and Quebec shows
and likely some material from those shows themselves.
If you
can't make it, check out the website. Currently the website
is featuring a 2005 show that was recorded live at a
party in the Queensville, Inverness County home of the late
Donnie 'Dougald' MacDonald. Donnie passed away last week and
was buried this past Saturday in Glendale. Donnie was a
powerfully built man, with large hands and thick fingers.
The same hand that could envelope mine in its grasp could
also turn out a beautiful tune for he was a fiddler himself,
well known and respected by his peers and the people of his
area.
While he
remained a bachelor, his home was the stopping place for
many musicians, relatives and otherwise. He had many musical
relatives, particularly nieces and nephews who carried one
the traditions. At his funeral six MacDonald nephews
performed special musical tributes. Fiddlers Howie, Dougie
and Brian joined Sandy (on guitar) and Johnny (on piano) for
a lovely air while Jeff added a haunting Gaelic song. They
were joined by a number of other fiddlers from all over,
including longtime friends Alex Francis MacKay and Buddy
MacMaster. The fiddles came out again at a reception
afterwards in the parish hall. The musicians included three
grandnieces (all aged about 10) that played fiddles and
piano and did very well.
Donnie
would have been pleased. ...
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Above photo:
Margaree (by Victor Maurice Faubert)
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