1. KINNON & ANDREA BEATON
HINCKLEY ROAD
A John Campbell Strathspey
(traditional)
Hinckley Road (reel, Andrea Beaton, SOCAN)
Duke of Perth (reel, traditional)
The Road to Ballymac (reel, Leslie Craig)

Kinnon Beaton: Fiddle
Andrea Beaton: Fiddle
Betty Beaton: Piano
Sandy MacDonald: Guitar
www.andreabeaton.com 

From the album:
KINNON & ANDREA BEATON
Courtesy of:  Kinnon & Andrea Beaton
Produced by: Kinnon & Andrea Beaton
Recorded by: Mike Shepherd at Lakewind Studios, Point Aconi, Cape Breton

If there is a level of royalty within Cape Breton fiddle music, the Beatons of Mabou certainly rank high. The family is renowned for the extent of their musical roots and current musical branches, with fiddlers, dancers, and pianists too numerous to name.

Kinnon & Andrea Beaton (father and daughter) are two of the current crop of talented family members, both among the most in demand of today’s players. Last fall, they released a new CD as a duet that featured some of the best of both players, tastefully backed up by Betty Beaton (Kinnon’s wife and Andrea’s mother) and long-time friend Sandy MacDonald.

This medley starts with a tune learned from the playing of fellow Cape Breton fiddler John Campbell, followed by one of Andrea’s own compositions, followed by a traditional reel from Scotland, and concludes with a popular modern Irish session tune by Leslie Craig, who is the accordion player with Haste to the Wedding, one of Northern Ireland’s top Ceilidh bands. (www.hastetothewedding.com)

2. HAUGAARD & HØIRUP
Pigen og Soldaten
(“The Girl & the Soldier”)
(Lyrics by: Erik Bøgh (1822-1899); music: traditional Norwegian and Haugaard & Høirup)

Harald Haugaard: Violin
Morten Alfred Høirup: Guitar, vocal
Tapani Varis: Bass
Sune Haansbæk: Electric guitar
www.hhduo.dk 

From the album: REJSEDAGE / TRAVELLING
Courtesy of: Haugaard & Høirup
Produced by: Haugaard & Høirup
Co- Produced by: Sune Haansbæk
Recorded by: Sune Haansbæk in Pælehuset, Knagelbjerg, Fyn, Denmark

In June of 2008, Haugaard & Høirup celebrated their tenth anniversary together as a duo. This combination began accidentally in 1998 at the European Broadcasting Union Folk Festival in the small Slovenian town of Portoroz and has continued through more than 850 performances worldwide.

Their music has garnered them seven Danish Music Awards, and their travels have taken them all across Europe and North America and to places as exotic as Japan. They have also found a familiar spot in Cape Breton where they are frequent guests at Celtic Colours. TRAVELLING is their seventh CD and was released in conjunction with a live DVD. “Pigen og Soldaten” (“The Girl & the Soldier”) is one of the few vocals on this CD and is a traditional Norwegian tune enhanced by Erik Bøgh’s lyrics.

In the words of Harald:

Morten found this rare song in an old school book many years ago. We have never heard it sung before, and it is very difficult to find any information about this song, but it was originally entitled “Feltjægeren”. The song is about a young woman who, in a time when Denmark was at war, meets a young Danish soldier in the forest one morning. He is “so young and so beautiful, and so happy and free of any fear.” He is singing, competing with the birds in the trees. But this song is going to be his last song ever.

In the second verse, she meets him again at noon. They are walking together by the lake, and he asks her for a kiss, “For,” as he whispers with a glimpse in his eye, “this could be the last kiss I ever get.” That evening, she sees the young soldier again, lying in the grass on the battlefield, pale and fatally wounded. She sees his eyes begin to fade, but first, he smiles at her. “And that was his last one.”

Later, in the long lonely nights, she often sees him in her dreams, and only there does she get to tell him what he will never know, “That he was the first one, and he will be the last one.”

This song seemed a little silly in its romantic way of talking about life, death, and love, but then our country started to fly home dead Danish soldiers from Afghanistan, and we were shown pictures of the devastated family members on TV. Suddenly, the song made sense again in its own sad way.

3. BROCK MCGUIRE BAND
THE MORNING STAR SET
An Buachaill Dreoite
(hornpipe, traditional)
The Morning Star (reel, traditional)
The Coalminer (reel, traditional)

Paul Brock: Button-key accordion
Manus McGuire: Fiddle
Enda Scahill: Banjo
Denis Carey: Piano
www.brockmcguire.com 

From the album:
BROCK MCGUIRE BAND
Courtesy of: Ferndale Promotions Ltd.
Produced by: Ferndale Promotions Ltd.
Recorded by: Matt Purcell at Harmony Row Studios, Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland

Paul Brock and Manus McGuire are both superb, award-winning solo musicians in their own right. Combined as the Brock McGuire Band and joined by Enda Scahill and Denis Carey (both considered among the best musicians in Ireland), it is no wonder this band has been called one of the best traditional instrumental Irish groups in the world. This band is an all-star collection of musicians that have won more individual All-Ireland Championships than almost any other group.

Collectively, they are even better than the sum of their parts, bringing to the stage backgrounds that include years of playing traditional music. Coming from different corners of Ireland, they add their own local flavour to each set of tunes, creating a final assemblage that can leave you breathless.

This track contains three well-known tunes familiar to most Irish players and common in many music sessions but usually in conjunction with other tunes. The combination of these three tunes is pure Brock McGuire.

4. LORI WATSON AND
RULE OF THREE
MAGGIE
When Maggie Gangs Away (lyrics, James Hogg; music, Lori Watson)
Border Gaitherin (reel, Lori Watson)

Lori Watson: Vocals, fiddle
Fiona Young: Piano accordion
Innes Watson: Guitar
www.loriwatson.co.uk
www.islemusicscotland.com 

From the album:
LORI WATSON: THREE
Courtesy of: Lori Watson and ISLE Music Scotland
Produced by: Lori Watson
Recorded by: Kim Planert and Lori Watson

Lori Watson, one of the leading Scottish traditional musicians of her generation, hails from the Scottish Borders region (on the border with England) and has been playing traditional music since the age of seven. Currently writing her PhD at Glasgow’s Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, she has performed extensively throughout Britain and Europe.
A highly talented fiddler, Lori leads the renowned fiddle band Border Fiddles and produced their initial CD entitled BORDERS YOUNG FIDDLES, which is on her own label. Lori also possesses a beautiful and distinctive singing voice, which can be heard on the album LORI WATSON: THREE, which gave rise to her current band Rule of Three. Their new album, PLEASURE’S COIN, is almost ready for issue.

This track combines lyrics from Scottish Borders poet James Hogg (the “Ettrick Shepherd” and a contemporary of Robert Burns), set to Lori’s own tune, followed with one of Lori’s own reels “Border Gaitherin,” named for an annual music festival (www.bordergaitherin.com) held in the nearby Borders town, Coldstream, Scotland.

5. MARC BOUDREAU
WELCOME WHISKY BACK AGAIN
Welcome Whisky Back Again (strathspey, Niel Gow)
Memories of Dan Beaton (reel, Ronald Gillis)
Captain Keeler (reel, traditional)
Pigeon on the Gate (reel, traditional Irish)

Marc Boudreau: Fiddle
Joel Chiasson: Piano
Dave MacIsaac: Guitar

From the album: STEPPIN’ IT UP
Courtesy of: Marc Boudreau
Produced by: Marc Boudreau and Dave MacIsaac
Recorded by: J.P. Cormier at Cormier Sound,
Cap Lemoine, Nova Scotia

Only 23 years of age, Marc Boudreau is a veteran of the Cape Breton Celtic music scene and is considered one of the hottest young fiddlers around today. A native of Cheticamp, he has an incredible lift to his music, a clean playing style, and a solid drive that continues to make him one of the more popular dance players and a particular favourite to listen to.

In the summer of 2008, Marc released his first recording, and STEPPIN’ IT UP quickly became one of the most sought after CDs of the year. The first tune in this set is a Niel Gow standard, while the second tune was composed by Margaree fiddler Ronald Gillis. The set finishes with a pair of well-known reels.

6. TIM O’BRIEN
Nothing to Say
(Tim O’Brien, Cornbread Nation, admin. by Bluewater Music, ASCAP)

Tim O’Brien: 1989 Nugget Bouzouki
www.timobrien.net 

From the album: CHAMELEON
Courtesy of: Proper Records, LLC
Produced by: Tim O’Brien and Gary Paczosa
Recorded by: Gary Paczosa and Brandon Bell at Minutia,
Nashville, TN

Very few performers have the talent to provide all the music, instrumentation, and vocals for a full recording. Grammy award winner Tim O’Brien has that talent. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist with a clear and distinctive voice and a songwriter’s gift for words, such a recording was something he had previously considered, but CHAMELEON finally brought it to fruition.

“Nothing to Say” is the final track on CHAMELEON, a fitting closer to an exemplary recording, a bit of whimsy (with some serious overtones) that goes well with the theme of his 16-track CD.

7. TUIG
London Lasses (traditional)

Glenn Coolen: Whistles
Patricia Murray: Bodhran
Nancy Grossert: Fiddle
Laura Feddersen: Fiddle
Evangelos Stowell: Irish Wooden Flute
Seph Peters: Guitar
www.myspace.com/tuigmusic 

From the album: TUIG
(a 3-cut unreleased EP)
Courtesy of: Tuig
Produced by: Glenn Coolen & Tuig
Recorded & Mixed by: Glenn Coolen & Seph Peters at
STUDIO C, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Tuig is a collection of traditional Celtic musicians from across Canada’s Atlantic Provinces. Individually, they are talented artists in their own right. The band includes Patricia Murray, an award-winning Gaelic singer from Prince Edward Island; Glenn Coolen, founding member of the Celtic ensemble MacCrimmon’s Revenge; Colin Carrigan, one of Newfoundland’s renowned traditional fiddlers; and Seph Peters, who has his roots deep in Cape Breton music.

This band has a pleasing sound and a solid musical drive with a light and lively touch. The result is a combination of musicians who are as much at home with English songs as they are with Gaelic; with Irish music as they are with Scottish, Cape Breton, and Newfoundland music.

“London Lasses” is a traditional Irish reel, performed here with Tuig’s lively style.

8. MARY SMITH
Thàinig Am Post (traditional)
(Arranged by: Mary Smith and Iain MacDonald)

Mary Smith: Vocals
Malcolm Stitt: Guitar
Aidan O’Rourke: Fiddles
Iain MacDonald: Flute, whistle, bòdhran, Jew’s harp
www.footstompin.com/artists/mary_smith  

From the album: SGIATHAIRGID
Courtesy of: Mary Smith
Produced by: Iain MacDonald
Recorded by: Kim Planert at Secret Music, Scotland

Mary Smith (or, if you wish, Mairi Nic a’ Ghobhainn) hails from the Ness region of Lewis, Scotland, but has resided for many years on South Uist. Both islands, mainly because of their isolation, are strongholds of Scottish culture and Gaelic singing. Noted as a singer with a profound understanding of the Scottish Gaelic song tradition and a deep respect for the origins of the song, Mary has taken her performing skills to both sides of the Atlantic, creating a large following in the process. In the 1980s, while on a teacher-exchange program in Australia, she visited New Zealand where she recorded her first album. Released in 2004, SGIATH AIRGID is her second recording, something considered long overdue by her fans. The Croice in Eoligarry in Barra, Scotland, produced a bountiful crop, but the landlord would not let the workers partake of the harvest. “Thàinig Am Post” (“The Postman Arrived”) tells the story of a group who was caught boiling a pot of potatoes for their own use.

9. KENDRA MACGILLIVRAY
MARK ANTHONY RAINNIE
Miss Ann Munro
(jig, Robert Mackintosh)
Golden Locks (reel, traditional)
Mark Anthony Rainnie (reel, Kendra MacGillivray, SOCAN)

Kendra MacGillivray: Fiddle
Tracey Dares: Piano
Elmer Deagle: Guitar, banjo
www.kendramacgillivray.com 

From the album: LOVE O’ THE ISLES
Courtesy of: Kendra MacGillivray
Produced by: Kendra MacGillivray (Kenroy Music) and Declan O’Doherty (All Hands Music)
Recorded by: Mike Shepherd at Lakewind Sound Studios,
Point Aconi, NS

As a descendant of the great Hugh A. MacDonald, a noted Antigonish County player, Kendra’s love for the music is in her blood. A strong fiddler who is equally at home as a pianist or dancer, she has displayed her talents on stages across North America and beyond for more than 20 years, often joined by one or both of her multi-talented siblings.

Kendra was the 2002 East Coast Music Award winner for Female Artist of the Year and Instrumental Artist of the Year. Now living on Prince Edward Island, her time is divided between the music scene and her new family. She continues to be very active, releasing her fourth recording, LOVE O’ THE ISLES, this past summer.

This track opens with two tunes from Scottish sources, a jig composed by Robert Mackintosh (who died in 1807), followed by a reel first published in THE SIMON FRASER
COLLECTION (1816). The third and final tune is a reel composed by Kendra and is named for her young son.

10. JAMES KEELAGHAN
My Blood (James Keelaghan and
Jez Lowe, 2003)

James Keelaghan: Vocal, guitar
Jez Lowe: Vocal, mandola
Jordon McConnell: Uillean pipes
http://www.keelaghan.com 

From the album:
A FEW SIMPLE VERSES
Courtesy of: James Keelaghan
Produced by: James Keelaghan and Hugh McMillan
Recorded by: Lloyd Peterson at Private Ear Studio, Winnipeg, Canada and Brian Bedford at Park Head Studio, Yorkshire, UK

Considered one of Canada’s best songwriters, James Keelaghan teaches the history he loves in every song that he pours forth with his rich, smooth baritone voice. He is a storyteller who can grip an audience with a look, a few words, and some quick strums on the guitar, then break off in an unexpected direction to teach another lesson with another song. Always a traveler, he has performed in areas as diverse as Denmark’s Tønder Festival, the Hong Kong Festival, and Australia’s Port Fairy Folk Festival.

A FEW SIMPLE VERSES is his ninth recording in 20 years, a run that has seen him gather up quite a collection of nominations and awards. “My Blood” takes a look at some of his heritage and roots that result in the blood running through his veins.

11. SHOOGLENIFTY
Loreen’s Tune
(A. R. Grant / Shooglenifty)

Angus R. Grant: Fiddle
Luke Plumb: Mandolin
Malcolm Crosbie: Guitar
Garry Finlayson: Banjo
Ranald (Quee) MacArthur: Bass
James MacKintosh: Percussion
www.shoogle.com 

From the album: TROOTS
Courtesy of: Shoogle Records
Produced & mixed by: Paul McGeechan & Shooglenifty in Park Lane Studios, Glasgow
Recorded at: Various Shoogle homes and sheds

Being described as everything from “acid croft” to “hypnofolkadelia”, makes a group hard to classify, but it certainly makes them interesting to listen to. It is safe to say that Scottish super-group Shooglenifty has been known to push the boundaries with their groundbreaking approach to traditional music. Jigs and reels take on a new life, driven by the group’s hard-edged sound.

But hard-edged is not Shooglenifty’s only sound, as shown by the beautiful and tranquil “Loreen’s Tune”, a piece written for a talented singer at the Birnam House Hotel music sessions.

12. CAPE BRETON CHORALE
Working Man (Rita MacNeil,
Big Pond Publishing)

Sister Rita Clare: Director
Brian McIntosh: Soloist
Christopher Francis: Soloist
Paula Jane Francis: Pianist
Members of the Cape Breton Chorale
www.capebretonchorale.com 

From the album: SONGS OF
ATLANTIC CANADA
Courtesy of: CBC Radio
Producer: Mark Warren
Recorded at: Canadian Coast Guard College, Sydney, Cape Breton, NS
Recording Engineer: Rod Sneddon

The internationally acclaimed Cape Breton Chorale has brought its unique style of classical, modern, religious, and secular music to audiences in Canada and around the world since its formation in 1973. The 50-plus voices of the mixed-adult group is still under the watchful guidance of its original director, Sister Rita Clare, CND.

“Working Man”, the anthem of Cape Breton’s coal miners, receives special treatment in this Stuart Calvert arrangement. The song was originally part of a concert recorded for broadcast on CBC Radio Maritimes All the Best.

13. AONGHAS GRANT
MORAG’S WEDDING
Morag’s Wedding (strathspey, traditional)
Scotsville Reel (Allan MacFarlane)

Aonghas Grant: Fiddle
Ross Martin: Guitar
www.scottishfiddle.org/angusgrant/ 

From the album:
THE HILLS OF GLENGARRY
Courtesy of: Shoogle Records
Produced by: Quee MacArthur
Recorded by: Quee MacArthur, Like Plumb with James MacKintosh at Birnam House Hotel, Birnam, Dunkeld, Perthshire,
Scotland

Known as “The Left-Handed Fiddler of Lochaber”, Aonghas Grant has plied his musical career for more than six decades. A Gaelic speaker and a natural-born storyteller, he began playing when he was thirteen, learning his early tunes from his uncle and his father on the family homestead in the Highlands of Glen Moriston.

Long recognized for his playing skills, he was a four-time fiddle champion at the Royal National Mod in the 1960s and ’70s, twice winning the Tom Anderson cup. A long-time tutor at Scotland’s Stirling University’s summer schools, Aonghas is also a tutor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

This strathspey and reel combination is as familiar in Cape Breton as it is in Scotland. Over the generations, the tunes have traveled both ways across the ocean. “Morag’s Wedding” is an old country tune, and “The Scotsville Reel” is from a piper who was active in Cape Breton during the 1930s. In Scotland, the latter tune has circulated as “MacKinnon’s Reel.” On this track, these melodies receive Aonghas Grant’s customary delicate touch and traditional Scottish sound.

14. J.P. CORMIER
The Angel’s Lullabye (J.P. Cormier, Flash Publishing &
Entertainment, SOCAN)

J.P. Cormier: Lead vocals, guitars
Kieran O’Hare: Whistles, uileann pipes
Darren McMullen: Bass
www.jp-cormier.com 

From the album: THE MESSENGER
Courtesy of: J.P. Cormier
Produced by: Andre Bourgeois
Recorded, mixed, & mastered by: J.P. Cormier at Cormier Sound,
Cap Lemoine, Nova Scotia

Considered one of Eastern Canada’s foremost instrumentalists, J.P. Cormier is also a gifted songwriter. Long recognized and appreciated by his peers and his fans, he has received nineteen East Coast Music Award nominations (and nine awards), along with a host of other awards and nominations.

A wonderful and crowd-pleasing entertainer, J.P. honed his skills as a side-man in Nashville with some of the greatest names in the country music business (including Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs, and Bill Monroe). Born in Ontario with deep Cape Breton roots, he now calls Inverness County his home. When not on stage, he is usually found in his own studio, working with other musicians or recording a new project of his own.

Kieran O’Hare’s exquisite whistle and uileann pipe work lends a poignant and melancholy tone to “The Angel’s Lullabye”, J.P.’s beautiful ballad of love and life.

15. CARLOS NÚÑEZ
Pasacorredoiras (traditional, arranged by Carlos Núñez)
(Published by Keltia Produccións, S.L. (SGAE))

Carlos Núñez: Gaita
(Galician bagpipes)
Sharon Shannon: Button accordion
Pancho Álvarez: Bouzouki
Begoña Riobó: Fiddle
Paloma Trigás: Fiddle
Xurxo Núñez: Percussion
www.carlos-nunez.com 

From the album:
CARLOS NUNEZ & AMIGOS
Courtesy of: SonyBMG Music Entertainment
Recorded live in Vigo by:
Travel Sound, Luis Villena
Mixed by: Brian Masterson, Windmill Lane Studios

Born in Galicia (the Celtic region located in the northwestern region of Spain, with the Atlantic Ocean to the north and to the west of Galicia), Carlos Núñez has been playing the gaita (the traditional Galician bagpipe) since he was age eight. Almost thirty years later, he is now considered one of the top artists in the international Celtic music scene, having toured and performed around the world and recorded with such notables as The Chieftains (he was considered the 7th member of the band in their Grammy-winning album entitled SANTIAGO), as well as Jackson Browne, Altan, and Ry Cooder.

A favourite at the Celtic Colours International Festival, Carlos displays an amazing energy when on stage, and his performances can have the audience dancing along, sometimes spontaneously and always with his enthusiastic support. “Pasacorredoiras” was recorded live in his hometown of Vigo before 30,000 people and includes Sharon Shannon, one of Carlos’s many musical “amigos”.

16. KARINE POLWART
Rivers Run (Karine Polwart,
Bay Songs Ltd.)

Karine Polwart: Lead vocals, tenor guitar
Steven Polwart: Guitars, vocals
Inge Thomson: Kalimba, vocals
www.karinepolwart.com 

From the album:
THIS EARTHLY SPELL
Courtesy of: Karine Polwart
Produced by: Calum Malcolm with Mattie Foulds and Karine Polwart
Recorded by: Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Studio, Pencaitland, Scotland

A performer of some renown, Karine Polwart is particularly gifted as a songwriter, twice being selected as the winner for Best Original Song at the UK-wide BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. This former philosophy teacher (originally from Stirlingshire and now from The Lothians) has a gift for words, proving to be a captivating storyteller with her songs. Karine splits her performing time between her solo career and being part of a trio called Grace, Hewat, Polwart (which includes Annie Grace and Corrina Hewat).

The words of “Rivers Run” re-echo with comfort, support, and the hope for a great future – not surprising when you consider Karine became a mother (son, Arlo) for the first time in 2007. Karine is married to Mattie Foulds, a talented musician originally from Cape Breton who was with the renowned band Beòlach before he moved to Scotland a few years ago.

17. DWAYNE CÔTÉ
MRS. FERGUSON OF RAITH MEDLEY
Mrs. Ferguson of Raith (march, traditional)
Craig O’Barns (strathspey, traditional)
Neil Roy Reel (traditional)
The Red Mill Reel
(Dan Hughie MacEachern)

Dwayne Côté: Fiddle
Doug MacPhee: Piano
Dave MacIsaac: Guitar
www.bluwebsolutions.ca/dwaynecote 

From the album: A COMPILATION – LIMITED EDITION
Courtesy of: Lisa White & Dwayne Côté
Produced by: Jim Mitchell
Recorded by: Mike Shepherd at Lakewind Studios, Point Aconi, Cape Breton

Dwayne Côté is a show-stopping violinist and a craftsman with bow and strings who can electrify an audience with his abilities. Playing since the age of four, he has followed in the footsteps of his late father (Gordon Côté), learning the roots of traditional music and adding in a strong classical influence as well. He has performed in the United States, Ireland, and as far away as Dubai, as well as countless shows across Cape Breton and Atlantic Canada, as a soloist or with others, such as the late John Allan Cameron.

This track gives you a great example of Dwayne’s talents and skills, as he plays these old Scottish and Cape Breton tunes with astonishing ease.

18. ARCHIE FISHER
Silver Coin (Words & music by: Terence Hiscock, © ATV Music Ltd.)
(Arranged by: Archie Fisher and Allan Barty)

Archie Fisher: Vocals, guitar
Allan Barty: Fiddle, mandolin
Lucy Cowan: Fiddle, viola,
keyboards
Mike Whellans: Percussion
www.jproductions.com/archie 

From the album: WINDWARD AWAY
Courtesy of: Red House Records © 2008
www.redhouserecords.com
Produced by: Archie Fisher
Recorded by: Roy Ashby at REL Edinburgh

Archie Fisher is a singer-songwriter with a depth of musical experience that goes back some fifty years and a musical history that goes far deeper. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, the only son in a family of seven, he now calls the Scottish Borderlands his home. Here, he can ride his favourite horse, compose music, and chase rainbows.

From here, Archie also hosts Radio Scotland’s weekly Travelling Folk programme, (something he has done since 1983), occasionally venturing out on performance tours. Over the past few years, several of these tours have brought him to the Celtic Colours International Festival where he has rapidly become a favourite of Festival attendees.

The recently released WINDWARD AWAY is the first recording from Archie Fisher in years. Long awaited by his many fans, it contains recordings both old and new: eight of Archie’s newer compositions and eight recorded in and around 1980 but never released because the original master recording was lost. Lost, but now found, “Silver Coin” is taken from that “missing master” which allows the listener to look back at the development of Archie’s easy and gracefully evolving style.

19. BRENDA STUBBERT
Endless Memories (Brenda Stubbert, SOCAN)

Brenda Stubbert: Piano
Dave MacIsaac: Guitars, mandolin
Mac Morin: Accordion
www.brendastubbert.ca 

From the album: ENDLESS MEMORIES
Courtesy of: Brenda Stubbert
Produced by: Howie MacDonald
Executive Producer:
Wendell Musgrave
Recorded by: Mike Wadden at Spectrum Recording, Cape Breton

Brenda Stubbert is considered one of the best Cape Breton fiddlers and composers of her generation. Though she is mainly an exponent of the Scottish style, she plays with a touch of the Northside Irish style of fiddle music. This Irish style was learned from her father (the late Robert Stubbert) who was a friend of the Wilmots, the Confiants, and the Fortunes, all celebrated players who used a long bow and a distinguishing left-hand ornamentation.

Brenda is in great demand as a featured artist, as well as an accompanist, around Cape Breton and across North America. A great player for dances, she is most at home in music sessions, particularly at The Dorymen (in Cheticamp, Cape Breton) or at the regular Thursday-night gatherings at Rollie’s Wharf (in North Sydney, Cape Breton). Additionally, she has been teaching fiddle for the past fifteen years.

In addition to her fiddling skills, Brenda is an accomplished pianist, as demonstrated in “Endless Memories.” On this track, she shows just how delicate a touch she can have on the ivories as a soloist, a side of her talent with which many might not be familiar.

20. CARREG LAFAR
Aberhonddu (traditional; arranged by: Carreg Lafar)

Linda Owen-Jones: Vocals
Rhian Evan-Jones: Fiddle
James Rourke: Whistle
Antwn Owen-Hicks: Vocals, Welsh bagpipes
Simon O’Shea: Guitar
Lawson Dando: Bass guitar
www.carreglafar.co.uk 

From the album: HYN (THIS)
Courtesy of: Sain (Recordiau) Cyf
Produced by: Lawson Dando
Recorded at: Albany Studios, Cardiff, Wales

Carreg Lafar, together since 1993, treats Welsh traditional material with a skill that attracts you to the moment and highlights the updated and expanded freshness of their approach. While all are wonderful musicians, their vocal prowess is what sets them apart in a country known for its vocalists.

“Aberhonddu” speaks of a soldier departing from his beloved town and country to travel across the sea to war.

21. DAWN AND MARGIE BEATON
THANKS FOR THE DRIVE
Winston Fitzgerald (clog, J. Francis MacDonald)
Leslie Reel (traditional)
Headlight Reel (T. Densmore)
Shoneth’s Reel (Fr. Angus Morris)
Judy’s Reel (traditional)

Dawn Beaton: Fiddle, snare
Margie Beaton: Fiddle
Tracey Dares MacNeil: Piano
Sandy MacDonald: Guitar
www.dawnandmargie.com

From the album: TASTE OF GAELIC
Courtesy of: Dawn & Margie Beaton
Produced by: Dawn & Margie Beaton
Recorded by: Mike Shepherd at Lakewind Studios, Point Aconi, Cape Breton

Dawn and Margie Beaton began dancing at the age of four and began playing the fiddle shortly thereafter. Collectively and individually, they have played for dances, concerts, and festivals across Canada, in the United States, and overseas. This year, Dawn and Margie have been chosen as recipients of the Frank Sampson Award, given by the Celtic Colours Drive’er Society to up-and-coming Celtic performers to help them record their first CD.

Dawn and Margie have put together a great group of tunes that includes a pair of traditional reels and an American reel likely written by a New Englander in the mid-1800s. There are also two tunes from well-known Inverness County composers: J. Francis MacDonald is a respected fiddler and piper from Inverness and Father Angus Morris is the parish priest in the Beaton sisters’ home community of Mabou.

A special thanks from the Beaton sisters to the Drive’er’s Association for making this CD a reality – this track is named in their honour.

Special Thanks for Track #12, Recorded by: CBC Radio, Halifax, N.S.
Mark Warren, Producer; Rod Sneddon, Recording Engineer

Executive Producer: Alf McConnell
Compiled & Annotated: Dan MacDonald
Mastered by: Mike “Sheppy” Shepherd, Lakewind Studio, Point Aconi, Cape Breton
Photography: Warren Gordon
Publishing & Tune History Consultant: Paul Cranford www.cranfordpub.com 
Design & Layout: Sylvia Ho
Booklet Editing: Alf McConnell, Dennis Cotterell, Dave Mahalik, Ouida Curry

© 2008 ODYSSEY RECORDS, L.L.C.
c/o Alf McConnell & Associates
P.O. Box 345, North Sydney
Cape Breton Island
NS B2A 3M4
Canada
Tel: 800-650-5544
Fax: 800-650-5585
 

The Celtic Colours International Festival sponsor: The Celtic Colours Festival Society. For travel to Cape Breton visit: www.cbisland.com

For more information about the Celtic Colours International Festival, visit the festival website:  www.celtic-colours.com  email:  info@celtic-colours.com

Celtic Colours Festival Website

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