Cape Breton Island - The Celtic Heart of North America

19/10/2024

One last post from me (Adam) today…
My day job is with Parks Canada, and I’m really fortunate to work with a pretty great team! They held a Seaside Square Set this afternoon in Ingonish Beach. How fun would this have been?!
Thanks for following along, and have a great night!
Thanks to my coworker Kersti for the photos!

18/10/2024

J.P. Cormier is a gifted multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who has released more than a dozen records including two career retrospectives, and albums dedicated to mandolin, guitar, and banjo. Tonight’s concert revisits his award-winning 1997 album, Another Morning. J.P. established himself in the 1980s as an indispensable sideman, adept on a variety of stringed instruments, after touring for years throughout the southern United States with country, bluegrass, old time, Americana, and gospel performers. He eventually made his way back north to his ancestral homeland of Cape Breton Island and exploded onto the trad music scene in the mid-1990s. By the time he recorded Another Morning, J.P. was well-known on the East Coast for his unparallelled instrumental abilities. But after the album came out, it was revealed that the man could sing! And write songs that drew comparisons to the works of folk legends like Stan Rogers. Join J.P. at the historic Savoy Theatre for a walk down memory lane as he takes the stage with Dave Gunning, Kim Dunn, Allie Bennett, Kimberley Fraser and Brian Talbot to play through this beloved classic album.

18/10/2024

I was emceeing the show in Marion Bridge this afternoon and forgot to thank a few very important groups of people.

First, the folks who do their absolute best to try to make us sound our absolute best: the audio tech crew! Thank you all.

Second, and most importantly, the audience. This festival wouldn’t happen without your continued support, and we love welcoming you to our little island!

— Adam

18/10/2024

Shout out to all the community groups and volunteers who always go above and beyond to make this festival so special! Here are some of the folks from the kitchen of the Mira Centre, who hosted this morning’s Lunch on the Mira community meal. Thank you for all you do, and to all the organizers of similar community events, from learning experiences to jam sessions to guided hikes and so, so much more!

Also, a special shout-out to the one and only Yvette Rogers, who has become part of the very fabric of the festival. Yvette coordinates hundreds of the community events, contacting and scheduling with countless organizations and individuals to bring thst extra special something to each year’s festival. Thank you, Yvette!!

18/10/2024

Good morning from Marion Bridge!

It’s Adam with you all day today. I was going to share an intro video this morning, but Festival Club went a liiiiiittle later last night than I was anticipating. Oops!

Instead, here are some morning views from Marion Bridge itself, taken on my way to the Rec Hall for the sold-out Matinee on the Mira.

How’s your morning going? How was your night last night?

17/10/2024

🌍✨ Is there anything better than a home-cooked meal while traveling? 🍽️❤️

Huge shoutout to all the amazing volunteers who dedicate their time to planning and preparing community meals for festival volunteers, musicians, and visitors alike! 🙌👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

Your hard work truly makes all the difference! 💖

17/10/2024

One thing that is really neat about Celtic Colours is that your concert venues are in some of the cool locations around the Island.

Today, Parks Canada staff, Kyle and Ruby, are setting up for their second concert of the festival.

How cool is it to experience history coming alive as past and present harmonize beautifully, creating a magical setting for unforgettable memories.

Where has been your favourite concert venue?

17/10/2024

17/10/2024

One more to close out my day with yas - a quick shot from upstairs at the beautiful Louisbourg Playhouse tonight. Such a cozy venue, such a perfect night! The amazing Breabach (a favourite band of mine) seen here, playing John Morris Rankin’s ‘The Last March’ this time unplugged and up close and personal. Just stunning. JMR would be so pleased. 💕

Ready to call it a night, but feeling full of gratitude for a helluva good day. Hope you had a good one too! Thanks for travelling along with me!

-Margie 👋🏻👩🏻‍🦰

16/10/2024

Almost showtime! Running a few steps for the show tonight. Always a treat to dance along dancin’ pals Dawn, Jenny, and Mac!
A Timeless Art

16/10/2024

The day continues! I made my way over to beautiful Louisbourg! I get to dance in tonight’s show at the Playhouse, and co-MC with my pre-show partner-in-crime sister Dawn. But wanted to check out the local sights and sounds first, and go over my hosting duty notes. If you see them in Westmount, can you let me know?

16/10/2024

Another beautiful day here in Cape Breton? We are just so lucky! The trees are really popping here in St. Ann’s and my hair has turned to an autumn auburn for the season. ☺️ The volunteer group of drivers stationed here for the week are off on their routes for the day, the kitchen crew are making both breakfast and lunch right about now, housekeeping are getting rooms cleaned up for the next batch of musical guests staying on-site, the ladies in the Craft Shop are helping customers with sweet treasures and directions, and festival club is all cleaned up from last night and ready for another corker tonight. I had nothing to do with any of that but surely cheer on the crew behind it all. 😄 I sure do love where I work! Do we have any former (or present) Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College students following perhaps?

16/10/2024

Good morning all you Celtic sweethearts! Margie B with ya today! 👋🏻👩🏻‍🦰 Starting my morning here in Baddeck with an early morning chat on CBC’s Information Morning’s partyline talking all things Celtic Colours and Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College where I work, plus some strong coffee and great gratitude for the beautiful week it’s been already - and there’s still lots to come! I’ll keep you in my pocket here today as we see how it unfolds so let’s get going! Thanks for tagging along for the ride!

16/10/2024

What a night we had in Sydney River! We had a stellar time with this packed house, and what a treat to hear Ryan Young and Alana Jenish - just drivin ‘er! 🥳🥳

15/10/2024

Jeeeeeez yah never know who you’ll run into on the streets of Baddeck 😂
Got to have a wee post-gig coffee & sandwich with Rose Morrison and Dave Gunning before we all run off to our respective Celtic Colours gigs today.
And a huge shoutout to one of our fav spots in town - Highwheeler Cafe & Bakery for some of the best coffee and eats (and the crucial peanut butter chocolate oatcake fix 🥰) Thankful for some bonus patio weather in Cape Breton today.

Who’s heading to a concert tonight?? 🙋‍♀️

15/10/2024

Hello there folks! Rachel Davis and Darren McMullenn here with yahs today, starting the day off in beautiful Baddeck, and heading to our Celtic Colours show in Sydney River tonight. Hope you can follow along on this gorgeous fall day in Cape Breton! 🍂🍃🍁

14/10/2024

Jake’s POV warming up with Troy MacGillivray, Caitlin Warbelow, and special guest John Doyle… show starts in less than 10 min! Who’s here?!

14/10/2024

Monday-Host Jake here, from one gentle island to another, Celtic Colours here I come. Can’t wait to see you all.

I’ll pop a few posts up here throughout the day. Charlottetown to Sydney, where should I stop on route?! ✌️and Happy Thanksgiving!