2006 Tour Quotes

~  Jim Mountain, Presenter (Almonte, ON) 
"I had the enormous pleasure of meeting and working with you and the group last Fall at the Almonte Old Town Hall auditorium when you toured through Ontario. Everyone is asking if another tour might be organized, and if we could have you all back!"

~  Bob Quinn, Presenter (Sydney, NS)
"Wow !!! - What a great show. As a producer of over 100 different types of shows, I can honestly say - that was pretty amazing!!. The talent aspect was first class. Just wanted to say I'm awfully proud of the whole bunch of you who showed the audience, politicians, military, sponsors etc.  that Cape Breton is indeed truly blessed with music, humour, spirit, pride and uniqueness."

~  Ron MacDonald, Audience member (Brampton, ON)
"I was blown away by your show at the Rose Theatre... All I can say is WOW!. It's far and above the best I've seen. How about bringing that talented group out to the West Coast? We're starving for down home music here.

November 14, 2006
Aeolian Hall to become Cape Breton kitchen party
By James Reaney, The London Free Press

If Buddy MacDonald has anything to say about it, there's going to be a Cape Breton kitchen party at Aeolian Hall Nov. 16.

"We're going to make the Cape Bretoners homesick," MacDonald says of Cape Breton Live, a touring show with music, dance, songs and comedy.

As the host, MacDonald starts at the centre of things. Among those dropping by as the show builds are fiddler and stepdancer Andrea Beaton, fiddler and pianist Troy MacGillivray, fiddler and stepdancer Glenn Graham, fiddler and pianist Howie MacDonald and singer and stepdancer Kate Quinn.

"It's a high-energy, fun sort of evening," Buddy MacDonald says.

His career as a singer- songwriter and entertainer began more than 25 years ago. He grew up on the Northern Shores of Cape Breton Island. Much of his song writing is still influenced by the traditional styles he knew as a youngster.

MacDonald has already been in touch with many London-region friends who have ties to their Nova Scotia home. They are a few of the thousands of former Cape Breton residents who have moved to other parts of Canada.

"I don't know if there could be an accurate count. If every Cape Bretoner came back, the island would sink," he says, quoting an old saying about the exodus.

When it's suggested MacGillivray, a fiddle star on the tour, must in some way be connected with old McGillivray Township -- now part of North Middlesex in Middlesex County -- MacDonald says it's probably the case, somehow or other.

"He'll be very pleased," he says of the fiddler's likely response.

Cape Breton Live on Tour is the live, cross-Canada version of a weekly Internet broadcast presented by Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, the most famous couple in the island's music.

May 2006
Live music show promotes island
LEROY PEACH, The Cape Breton Post

Last fall the production Cape Breton Live, the show that promotes our magnificent island and its culture, toured Quebec and Ontario to sold-out audiences and to great acclaim. They played 15 concerts.

Here’s some feedback. Two elderly ladies in Quebec said of their concert, “That was a true night of joy.” In Belleville, a guy named Jim said, “I had to drag my wife to the show . . . However, from the opening number on, she was knocked out and wants me to reserve tickets for the next performance here.” Of the powerful visuals of our island shown during the concert in London, a lady said, “I had no idea Cape Breton was so beautiful.”

Host of the show, Buddy MacDonald, received an e-mail from a Markham, Ont., patron who said, “I just don’t possess the ability to properly express how much effect Cape Breton has on me. Three songs in and I had already wiped my eyes twice.”

Sandra MacDonald, manager of Destination Cape Breton, took in five concerts, setting up a tourist booth at each. She said that “there were so many people trying to get to me during intermissions that it created log jams in the foyers.”

Folks, Cape Breton Live was created by our own Natalie MacMaster and her husband Donnell Leahy. And here’s the good news — Destination Cape Breton Association and Quincept Productions are bringing the show to the Sydney Marine Terminal, Friday at 8 p.m. It’s called “Cape Breton Live: Coming Home.” They want to give our local audience a taste of the talent and scenes that so moved audiences in our two biggest provinces.

That’s not all. There will be a tribute at the concert to our troops in Kandahar, with appropriate Cape Breton visuals. The lineup of performers is increasing daily. The show will be taped by the CBC for viewing by our troops in Afganistan.

Singer Buddy MacDonald, who has performed all over North America and Europe, will host the Sydney show. Howie MacDonald, with 10 solo recordings and tons of concerts to his credit, will perform. Andrea Beaton, daughter of the accomplished Kinnon Beaton, and niece of the famous Buddy MacMaster, will be there. Award-winning fiddler Troy MacGillivray as well as Glenn Graham, who has been playing since he was seven, will perform. Kate Quinn, who has worked with Natalie and the Barra MacNeils, will sing. Drummer and percussionist Cheryl Smith, who has played with several artists, including Natalie, will attend. These artists make up the cast of Cape Breton Live.

There’s more. Here are some of the artists who will also be there because they love Cape Breton and want to honour our troops: Maynard Morrison and Bette MacDonald, Bob Quinn, Bruce Guthro, Matt Minglewood, Stephanie Hardy, Ashley MacIsaac, and Fred Lavery. As this concert progresses, I doubt that there will be a dry eye in the house.

Everyone knows that music is intrinsic to our tourism. That’s why the Cape Breton Live cast will give 50 concerts throughout Canada this year to promote our beauty and our culture. You may obtain tickets for Friday’s concert from Centre 200; or you may phone 563-4636 or 737-5983. Don’t miss out, folks.
 

Cape Breton Live Radio