Thursday, July 2, 2009

Day 1, 2009 Season

Well that was certainly a good start to a new year of ceilidhs!

Jennifer Bowman and Marion Dewar were crackin' the jigs and reels all night, and there were smiles on every face! We especially enjoyed a couple toddlers who were givin' a few steps and showing their unashamed enthusiasm. What a treat!

Jennifer was fresh from playing at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique last Sunday, and was ready to get the ball rolling Wednesday night.

We enjoyed visitors from the entire length and breadth of North America: there were very few border states from the US that were not represented! We also had around 6 from Germany and a couple from Denmark.

Now that we've tasted the fun again, we are hooked. We'll have to do this every night!
Don't just take our word on it that it's good, however. Come out and join us!

See you at the ceilidh!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Are you ready? We are!

The 2009 season of the Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs is about to kick off! The fiddlers are rosining their bows, dancers are tying up their shoes, and the pianos are tuned up.

In a mere 24 hours, everything will be underway as Jennifer Bowman takes the stage with her fiddle and Marion Dewar at her side, keeping time at the piano.

It is sure to be a great one, Folks! We hope you are able and planning to join us for some Scottish Cape Breton culture and refreshments, any night this summer at the St. Michael's Parish hall here in Baddeck.

We'll be letting you know how it goes here on the blog as much as we can, but a second-hand report is certainly nothing like being there! Our music and dance truly must be experienced first-hand, in person. We are certain anyone who has ever been to our ceilidhs or local dances will wholeheartedly attest to that. There's nothing like feeling the driving beat of the strathspey in your chest, the jigs and reels that compel your feet to tap (and dance!), and the sweet tenderness of the slow airs that touch the heart. There is just nothing like it in the world.

We love our music so much, we know you will too!

So come out, have a cup of tea, and take in the beauty of Baddeck, and enjoy the music that lives only here in Cape Breton.

See you at the ceilidh!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Mike Hall cd release info is here!

We knew it was coming, and now Mike Hall has finished his much anticipated first release, A Legacy, Not To Be Forgotten. Congrats, Mike! Great work!

The official launch will be held:
June 13th from 2 -5 pm
at Rollie's Wharf in North Sydney.

Mike will be accompanied by piano legend Tracy Dares-MacNeil. A square dance will follow at the Westmount Legion from 9pm - 1am with music provided by Marc Boudreau, Joel Chiassion, and Mike.

The CD features Joel Chiasson on piano and Michael Hall on fiddle. Having had the privilege to hear some samples from it, I can say that it is a must-buy, and I for one will be first in line to pick up my own copy!

For more information about Mike and a list of all his other upcoming events and opportunities to hear his music live, check out his website at http://michael-hall.webs.com/ .

See you at the ceilidh!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Dawn and Margie cd release is here!

As promised, we have information on the debut cd release for Dawn and Margie Beaton! Here it is folks!

In Judique, at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, will be the official CD launch for the first CD of Dawn & Margie Beaton. It will be a day of fiddle and dance! Dawn & Margie will be appearing at the Interpretative Centre in Judique from 3-6:45 and will have the CDs available then. The girls will then perform at the annual Thanksgiving concert at the Parish Hall, Mabou from 7:30 - 10 pm.

Then the party begins, where from 11 pm -3 am, the official CD launch will take place at the Hall of the Clans, St. Ann's Cape Breton in conjunction with Celtic Colors and the Drive'ers Association. Margie and Dawn will perform beginning at midnight!

Here's the summary:
What: Debut Cd release Ceilidh
Who: Margie and Dawn Beaton
Where: Interpretive Center -787-2708 http://www.celticmusicsite.com/
How much: $7
When: Sunday, Oct 12th, from 3pm-6:45pm

See you at the ceilidh!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Farewell, 2008 Season

Finally taking off our dancing shoes, putting the fiddles in their cases, getting out our autumn jackets and locking up St. Michael's parish hall for the winter, as another season of Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs comes to a close.

What a great season it was! We had visitors from every corner of the globe, representing every continent except Antarctica.

We want to send out warm thanks to all who attended, all who participated and all who enjoyed! You all make the ceilidh special and different. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, the visitors.

Also a big round of applause for all of our phenomenal performers (in no particular order):
Shelly Campbell, Marion Dewar, Allan Dewar, Melody and Derrick Cameron, Stan Chapman, Mike Hall, Jennifer Bowman, Robbie and Isaac Fraser, Rachel Davis, Buddy MacDonald, Gabrielle MacLellan and Tom Daniels, Donnie Campbell, Dara Smith, Susan MacLean, Joel Chiasson, Jacinta MacKinnon, Anita MacDonald, Bucky Carmichael, Marc Boudreau, Kolten MacDonnell and Dwayne Cote.

What a lineup! No wonder we so enjoy our ceilidhs! We are blessed with such plentiful talent in the area, and so many great players, how can one sit still?

As we always try to mention our guest performers from the audience, we can't forget a graceful lady, Renee Gibbons, originally from Dublin but now residing in San Francisco, sang us two lovely songs on September 22nd: one in English and one in Irish Gaelic. Lovely, Renee, thank you for sharing your special talent!

We were able to continue the ceilidhs until September 23rd, and the hall was packed right up to the end. Many nights were standing room, and every night smiles covered the room while the floor bounced with tapping and dancing feet, hoots and applause filled the air, and tunes new and old flowed from the fiddle and piano strings.

Check back to the ceilidh homepage and blog for the next seasons lineup and other details as they become available.

Until then, have a great autumn and winter seasons, and keep us in your plans for next year!

See you at the ceilidh!

Monday, September 1, 2008

NOTICE:

The Baddeck Gathering is currently closed and will reopen Sunday, September 7th, continuing to host great ceilidhs every night indefinitely throughout the month of September, depending on demand and crowd size.

Thank you!

See you at the ceilidh!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Wrapping up August

Thursday August 28, Melody & Derrick brought along two French ladies from Quebec. One sang and played guitar. Connie played dulcimer and was joined by John on piano for St. Anne's Reel.


This same John from Virginia was back Friday the 29th to see Mike Hall and Jennifer Bowman. He obliged us to play a bit more, and he did a set of reels with Jennifer, Flowers of Edinburgh and Cooley's, and then Si Beag Si Mor, a waltz by Turlough O'Carolan. John organizes an O'Carolan festival in Virginia and plays for a contra dance band.

We also got to hear from a young performer from British Columbia. 8 year old Kye, with her bright eyes and tiny fiddle took the mic with confidence. She played the TamLin reel and St. Anne's with Jennifer's accompaniment. Keep up the good work, Dear!