Cape Breton's Celtic Colours

We're back from a fantastic, highly recommended holiday to the Celtic Colours music festival on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. And yes, Nova Scotia really *is* "New Scotland". The sights, sounds, accomodations and country cuisine were outstanding, as I will detail in future posts. And the music is fabulous, authentic and heartfelt. My partner and I felt like we'd been invited into an intimate, family get-together. A real Celtic Ceilidgh (pronounced "kay-lee").

I'll be posting about the music we heard in five, unique concerts (once I wrangle some authorized images from the media folks at the festival); the Island's history and culture; the array of traditional arts and crafts that are still practiced in this rural setting, and the Eagles that fly over Alexander Graham Bell's home on the Bras d' Or. But I thought I'd start out with a slideshow of pics we took while traveling the Island and its very beautiful and famous Cabot Trail.

Cape Breton Bound

I just got my tickets to the Celtic Colours concerts we'll be attending next week on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. I posted about the trip when we booked it early in the year. Ten days, six concerts in six nights - and some spectacular Fall colors and seafood to boot. I'll be taking my Clan Mackenzie tartan and looking to hear some great piping. jigs, reels, ballads and laments from the old country on the lake in Baddeck. Hiking on the Cabot Trail. Chilling at the Duncriegan Country Inn in Mabou and hanging out on the harbour at Louisburg. You bet I'm excited.


So I'm taking a couple of weeks off, but will return mid-month refreshed and energized with a whole new list of topics and stories to tell. I will, of course, post a note about the festival and the bands we heard. Since we picked up a new Panasonic Lumix camera for the occasion, I'll have some pics to post as well. C'ya then. --Charlie (Yo-Duh), The Author.

Cape Breton in October

Okay, I'm excited. Our trip to Cape Breton in October for Celtic Colours is booked. I discovered that starting early really did impact airfare, but it will still be an epic journey from Medford to Halifax. Well worth it. We're going to be attending the very best Celtic Music Festival in the Western Hemisphere for ten days, hiking the Cabot Trail, sightseeing at the old fortress in Louisbourg on the Atlantic, and yes, having a wee dram in the only single-malt Scotch distillery in the hemisphere. Wow.

We're staying at our A-list, first-choice inns. Castle Moffett in Baddeck, the Louisbourg Harbour Inn and Duncreigan County Inn in Mabou. Tickets for the festival, which is Island-wide, aren't on sale until Summer, but I know the playbill will include some great names. After all, Natalie McMaster and the Rankin Family live on the Island. Last year, even Galicia's Carlos Nunez made an appearance. I know the music will be outstanding, as will be the fall colors. Can't wait. More later.

Traditional Music Enclaves in Canada

I'm sitting here in the frigid, unusually snowy Northwest thinking about Canada in the Summer and Fall. Fans of various types of European traditional music and worldbeat flock to Canada's eastern provinces in the Summer and Fall. With good reason.

I've referenced Quebec City's fabulous Festival d'ete, held each July, in a previous post. That fine festival, set in North America's oldest town, has a serious musical vibe going all the time. Concerts are scheduled from morning until late at night, all over old-town and in the outdoor expo facility. There are three "tracks" of music, generally: Francophone Pop; Classical, and Worldbeat. I have attended performances by Kurdish groups, Balkan Gypsy bands, African Griots, Indian slide guitar players and Amadou & Miriam while at the Festival. Last summer, Twisted Sister provided a heavy metal exclamation point to the event. You could hear that concert all over town. I highly recommend this party, it's awesome. In addition to the scheduled concerts, every amateur performer and street musician within miles shows up for the duration. Flamenco dancers, magicians, sword swallowers, unicyclists, mimes, sax players blowing sad tunes; all there, all showcasing their best stuff.

Stay at the Chateau Frontenac, if you've got the juice. At the Manoir Victoria, if you're looking for good, but more modestly priced digs. At the Frontenac, a "turret" room low enough to enjoy the activity along the boardwalk is the ticket. At the Manoir, there's a fifth floor room with a balcony overlooking the street that is right on top of the action.

Further East, there's the Festival mondial de folklore de Drummondville. An annual festival held in Drummondville, Que, during 10 days each July, it includes music, dance, and art exhibitions. The event has well over half a million visitors a year.

Quebec is home to Canada's "Acadian" community, much like Louisiana hosts their Francophone cousins in the U.S. Acadian tunes often feature an energetic accordion, with traditional instruments. There is an annual Acadian World Conference held in Moncton, New Brunswick that features some concerts.

The Canadian Maritime provinces are a treasure-trove of traditional musicians, events, and festivals. There's no shortage of good pubs with lively Celtic music as well. Known for their seafaring tunes; the Maritimes are rich in Scottish; Irish and old English communities that hold fast to their musical heritage. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia is the site of the only Gaelic-speaking college in the Western Hemisphere. There is music happening in Nova Scotia 24/7/365. One, continuous Celtic musicgasm. Scottish traditional fiddle Diva, Natalie McMaster, calls this area home. Flautist Chris Norman is often around as well, playing his wooden Celtic flute, or an old English Baroque instrument. The best-known of all Canada's Celtic music Festivals is held in October every year on Cape Breton: Celtic Colours. The island is also the site of famous national parks and two of Canada's most beautiful drives. What's not to love?

In New Brunswick, the Miramichi Folksong Festival runs for six days in late Summer. The event was founded in 1958 in Newcastle, NB, and held every August at the Lord Beaverbrook Town Hall.

Traveling in Canada is easy and economical, though you'll now need your passport to get BACK into the U.S. Figures. The rate of exchange is favorable, unlike Europe, and the locals are friendly. I've been back four times.