Does it get any better?

Shelly Campbell and Allan Dewar hold our Tuesday night slot, and if you are yet to see them, you must! They have been playing together for years, and their combined musicianship is an uncommon treasure. Shelly is the keeper of a storehouse of wonderful and interesting tunes, gleaned from years of acquiring music at the feet of masters, and to sit and listen to her is a gift. She is much more than a fiddle player, however. She possesses yet another ancient and much more rare gift: that of storytelling. In an age of text messages and email abbreviations, Shelly can transport you to another era with her tales of folklore and local anecdotes. Her ability far surpasses the majority of her peers in the younger generations, in whom this art has been all but lost. Bring a hanky, though - you just might shed a tear laughing!

Allan's knowledgeable accompaniment is the perfect complement. His lively style is reminiscent of the late great John Morris Rankin on piano, and supports our traditional music to a T: understated, yet oh so tasty. He has toured the world with many of Cape Breton's top musicians, and is sought after for performances and recordings. He now runs the Judique Interpretive Center, another hopping center of music. If you are on the Inverness side of the island, check out one of their daily afternoon ceilidhs, or Sunday afternoon concerts.

Lovers of the music were out on Wednesday the 14th - we watched - more than one grew misty-eyed as Jennifer played a slow air, and many were actually tapping their toes to the music, just like we do! Lots of folks came in because of the rain, but stayed because of the tunes!

Thursday the 15th we had a wonderful ceilidh with the one and only Dwayne Cote, accompanied by music stalwart, Doug MacPhee. There were tunes to be heard that night that we forgot existed and here played in a style in which only inimitable Dwayne is capable. The 3 standing ovations stand as undisputable testimony to that! Have a listen to his newest recording- excellence and creativity you don't often come across! It is definitely worth it.

Friday the 16th we had 2, yes 2, guest guitar players. Scott was under the watchful eyes of both as they followed along Cape Breton style. Great dancing was had by all, and such fun!

We've seen visitors from all over the globe this week, as always! Including but not limited to, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Japan; a popular spot we have here!

Saturday the 17th Douglas Cameron was back with Jennifer Bowman. Hot times again at the ceilidh - hot tunes, hot dancing, hot King Cole tea, as always! A writer for CAA Travel visited and was taking notes for an article, requested a waltz and loved it!

Mike Hall and Jennifer Bowman rocked the house Monday night. We've come to expect this from Mike. He does not disappoint! There's a reason he is booked solid all summer long!
Come check them out this coming Monday again.

See you at the ceilidh!

Young ladies share talents

Though it was a rainy day and a rainy night, we found sunny, cheering atmosphere in the ceilidh Monday night!

Another simply phenomenal pianist took the stage Monday: Joel Chiasson. Hailing originally from Cheticamp, Joel has played over the years with nearly every great fiddler the island has seen, and his harmonic wonders make even the best sound better.

After the break we were delighted to welcome a couple of young ladies from the audience to share their talents with us. First, 8 year old Morgan from Ontario played a dandy rendering of O Canada for us on her recorder.

Then an international constituent : Iona MacDonald, a mere 10 years old, from Aberdeen, Scotland, sang Fagail Lismor (Leaving Lismore), a Gaelic song she learned in her Gaelic medium school in Aberdeen. What a treat to hear the ancient tongue so fluently out of the mouth of the younger generation. Bha sin gle-mhath, a Iona!

There was fantastic step dancing to be seen as well, care of Anita MacDonald who has been visiting us a number of times, and giving audiences a superb example of traditional Cape Breton dance. Thanks, Anita!

See you at the ceilidh!

Another good ceilidh Wednesday the 16th with a selection of really great visitors sharing their talents as well!

One pianist who has become a regular at Baddeck in the last couple years is Marion Dewar. A seasoned accompanist, she has toured Europe and parts of the States with Jerry Holland and now is very in-demand locally. She will be around most every Wednesday over July and August, and let me say, she was on fire this evening! Great chording, Marion!


Becky and John (hope I remember those names right!) from London, Ontario shared some Irish session tunes with us on the fiddle and concertina and Bill from Tarbot, Nova Scotia told a humorous story in Gaelic and English.


We also had 2 visitors from Scotland and one from Liverpool, in addition to our normal mix of Canadians and Americans. One of the Scottish folks was able to educate us on the geographical origin of the term 'strathspey.' It is apparently from a valley (not a town) in the northeast of Scotland. We can all learn from each other.

See you at the ceilidh!