Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 November 2005 18:02:02
Yes, they're still coming. Just takes longer cos the damn work gets in the way... ;)
Music...
Well, what can I say, for a certain folkie it was simply heaven...
We managed to be in Cape Breton at the centre of the local folk music calendar- the Celtic Colours music festival. We heard about this as we were booking the holiday and shifted things round a bit to be in the right place. We didn't make it to the actual evening concerts since they were so spread out, but, as I mentioned before, we did make it to one of the ‘after hours' sessions. These are informal concerts held in the local gaelic college, and start about 11.00pm after the normal evening concerts have finished. And they go on till around 3! The free bus service for ticket holders just happened to stop right outside our B&B! The music was great, I was a very happy folkie :) Many of the artists were local, and therefore unknown to us, but we enjoyed it just the same. Cape Breton has a very strong celtic music heritage, and this is reflected in the enthusiasm for the music among its inhabitants! In the same way that Scottish and Irish folk each have their own styles, CB music is different again. It's difficult to pinpoint how without knowing anything technical, but it just feels different. I got talking to a local woman (who just walked up and started a conversation- they're all very friendly! Admittedly she was a little drunk...) who said wherever she is she can pick it out, having grown up with it.
When we were in Halifax we were having dinner in an Irish pub and were pleased to discover there would be live music that night. Although sceptical as to what it could be, whena couple of guys turned up and produced a guitar and fiddle, we knew it couldn't be too bad. Some of the most interesting music I've heard, again CB traditional mainly, and played so well. We had to leave before the end to catch the ferry across Halifax harbour to our B&B. But not before I had a natter to the fiddler and got some tips on where to get some of this amazing music from ;)
Oh, and this is part of a random song I found written in one of the visitor centres we visited. I just liked the words!
We talked till three, my father and me,
And the fiddle tunes flowed like the clear Margaree
“Never forget who you are son” said he
As I followed my brothers away
One thing I know, wherever I go
My heart's in Cape Breton; it will always be so
Whenever the fiddle rosins the bow
My first and last thoughts are for home
“Headin' for Halifax”
Alistair MacDonald. 1980