I'm heading up to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton towards the end of July. Does anyone have any experience with sessions in Cape Breton - are there many open sessions around? How do they differ from the ones in Ireland?
I've checked the session listing to look for updated information, but the information does not seem up to date - anyone have any good suggestions for how to find the best session spots?
Drop Paul Cranford a line. He's a gentleman and passionate about the music and about promoting it in any way possible. He also is generous in answering any queries sent with regards to those passions. He's a damned fine fellow and musician and has composed some lovely tunes too... Anyway, always a good start if you're headed that way...a good and informed source:
Don't forget Prince Edward Island while you'rethere, and here's one of it's talents, and someone who I think qualifies for the term 'sweetheart', a nice person and a damned fine fiddler, Anna:
I've never been to Cape Breton, but I heard traditional music is most often played for dancers in ceilidhs, and open sessions are extremely rare there. "Pub session" is a relatively new invention even in Ireland, and even more so in Scotland and Cape Breton. But a friend of mine told me there's only one regular pub session in a place called North Sydney. Now I found some photos from her blog:
The Beatons! She writes fiddlers like Jerry Holland and Brenda Stubbert sometimes play there. It seems definitely not for beginners or those who only know Irish tunes.
The older tradition was more a kind of gathering of talent where folks took their turn playing, not collectively. There are lots of 'square dances', where the music accompanies the dancing of the traditional quadrilles ~ of which there are several roots and area variations. These often include a 'lunch', a late meal, as these events go past midnight, and some breaks for step dancing.
Most sizeable areas have a regular dance, such as the monthly ones in Beddeck and Sydney, as do all the counties. There's also the regular meetings of the Cape Breton Fiddlers Association, again, they used to meet regularly in Baddeck, but also elsewhere, Sydney, etc... They are a good place to make contact too:
Scottish isn't the only influence there, the Irish had some input too, and a tradition of small gatherings, sessions, does still occur, and may even be on the increase. And not to be left out ~ Acadian and Micmac too...
Note: like the mini-concert setting, sessions also happen in people's homes and as an impromptu event... You've got some good contacts now, definitely don't shy in sending out further inquiries. You will be rewarded tenfold for any efforts you make before your visit. Also, the food is fabulous ~ great seafood is to be had all over Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, the Maritimes, and some damned fine baking too... And don't shy from the dance, the folks there are patient and welcoming ~ so give it a try too. It will raise your understanding and appreciation... I'm jealous, I miss the place and the people...
There are also workshops all year round ~ in dance, step and squares, and in the music. The Gaelic College of Arts and Crafts, St. Anne's, is another source for information:
I used to have a contact there but am too far removed now. I did try to check for a list of faculty but couldn't find one. A general inquiry may get forwarded to the right people and get you a response. It is always worth a try. Who knows, you might even get a job doing a bit of concert work and a talk ~ such spare change usually being a welcome whenever I've been on the road...
Thank you all for the excellent input - the information provided here seems like a good start.
I have also contacted the tourist information in Nova Scotia and they have provided me with a few possibilities in Cheticamp (Dorman Pub) and Mabou (Red Shoe week). Also, quite a few of the session enlisted in the session section here seem still to be vital.
well, thanks for the kind words, I'm a little slow to write, but you could try: http://www.cbchoices.com
This is a listing of tons of suff that is going on in Cape Breton. it's updated regularly. Don't know of any sessions per se, but if you make it to the right show, you can usually find some tunes after! Have fun Anna
You've just reminded me Halldor ~ the Island's tourist board puts out a couple of calendar type publications, and you might have to insist that 'they exist', which list events, and there used to be at least three that listed dances, festivals and other trad activity. One of these was a monthly publication, another was for the Summer season, and there was one for all year round. Even if it is too late to get them sent to you, they will be at the main tourist office just on the right after crossing from Nova Scotia to the island. You can also stop there and make inquiries. Best of luck, and don't forget Prince Edward Island...
I've just returned from Cape Breton and PEI, and found music everywhere I went just by asking everyone I met from the cleaner to the cashier to the tourist office. Didn't find a session per se, but lots of ceilighs, and assume one could get chances to play by talking to the musicians. Nearly every place big enough to boast a community hall had a ceiligh once a week. The pub in Cheticamp is the "Doryman" (N end of town on main road), the Red Shoe in Mabou is famous (M-W music 6-8 no cover, Th-Sat, and Sun aft, a cover). There is also a ceiligh in the community centre in Mabou on Tuesday nights (Buddy McMaster was a guest the week after I was there), in Judique on Wednesday nights, and in Baddeck every night (performers vary), and also at the Glenora distillery every night (performers vary).
Best experience was in PEI, amazing fiddler Cynthia McLeod, in a little spot near Cavendish, er, um, X Beach (maybe Brackley Beach???), but once again, nearly every place had music at least once a week.
Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
I'm heading up to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton towards the end of July. Does anyone have any experience with sessions in Cape Breton - are there many open sessions around? How do they differ from the ones in Ireland?
I've checked the session listing to look for updated information, but the information does not seem up to date - anyone have any good suggestions for how to find the best session spots?
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by MrGanAim
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Drop Paul Cranford a line. He's a gentleman and passionate about the music and about promoting it in any way possible. He also is generous in answering any queries sent with regards to those passions. He's a damned fine fellow and musician and has composed some lovely tunes too... Anyway, always a good start if you're headed that way...a good and informed source:
http://www.cranfordpub.com/
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Don't forget Prince Edward Island while you'rethere, and here's one of it's talents, and someone who I think qualifies for the term 'sweetheart', a nice person and a damned fine fiddler, Anna:
http://www.thesession.org/members/display/1498
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Another nice lady, and passionate about the music, and I think last I heard she's in Halifax? Anyway, drop her a line of inquiry:
CC
http://www.thesession.org/members/display/14138
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
I've never been to Cape Breton, but I heard traditional music is most often played for dancers in ceilidhs, and open sessions are extremely rare there. "Pub session" is a relatively new invention even in Ireland, and even more so in Scotland and Cape Breton. But a friend of mine told me there's only one regular pub session in a place called North Sydney. Now I found some photos from her blog:
The Pub/ Restaurant: http://sky.ap.teacup.com/mihopal/img/1126521218.jpg
Musicians: http://sky.ap.teacup.com/mihopal/img/1126521459.jpg
The Beatons! She writes fiddlers like Jerry Holland and Brenda Stubbert sometimes play there. It seems definitely not for beginners or those who only know Irish tunes.
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by slainte
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
It seems piano is popular even in the session there: http://sky.ap.teacup.com/mihopal/img/1126521962.jpg That's Andrea Beaton, I believe.
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by slainte
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Now I found this: http://www.edining.ca/details.asp?ID=1255
Good luck!
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by slainte
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
The older tradition was more a kind of gathering of talent where folks took their turn playing, not collectively. There are lots of 'square dances', where the music accompanies the dancing of the traditional quadrilles ~ of which there are several roots and area variations. These often include a 'lunch', a late meal, as these events go past midnight, and some breaks for step dancing.
Most sizeable areas have a regular dance, such as the monthly ones in Beddeck and Sydney, as do all the counties. There's also the regular meetings of the Cape Breton Fiddlers Association, again, they used to meet regularly in Baddeck, but also elsewhere, Sydney, etc... They are a good place to make contact too:
http://www.capebretonfiddlers.com/
Scottish isn't the only influence there, the Irish had some input too, and a tradition of small gatherings, sessions, does still occur, and may even be on the increase. And not to be left out ~ Acadian and Micmac too...
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Note: like the mini-concert setting, sessions also happen in people's homes and as an impromptu event... You've got some good contacts now, definitely don't shy in sending out further inquiries. You will be rewarded tenfold for any efforts you make before your visit. Also, the food is fabulous ~ great seafood is to be had all over Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, the Maritimes, and some damned fine baking too... And don't shy from the dance, the folks there are patient and welcoming ~ so give it a try too. It will raise your understanding and appreciation... I'm jealous, I miss the place and the people...
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
There are also workshops all year round ~ in dance, step and squares, and in the music. The Gaelic College of Arts and Crafts, St. Anne's, is another source for information:
http://www.gaeliccollege.edu/
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
For sessions in Nova Scotia check out:
http://nssession.tripod.com
Have fun!
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by beanatiarlar
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Good link bean, I should have also given the link to the now "University of Cape Breton", where some folks are involved in the 'trad' side of things:
http://www.capebretonu.ca/capebretonu_main/asp/home_default.asp?id=home
I used to have a contact there but am too far removed now. I did try to check for a list of faculty but couldn't find one. A general inquiry may get forwarded to the right people and get you a response. It is always worth a try. Who knows, you might even get a job doing a bit of concert work and a talk ~ such spare change usually being a welcome whenever I've been on the road...
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by ceolachan
http://www.capebretonu.ca/capebretonu_main/asp/programs_default.asp?id=celtic_studies
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Thank you all for the excellent input - the information provided here seems like a good start.
I have also contacted the tourist information in Nova Scotia and they have provided me with a few possibilities in Cheticamp (Dorman Pub) and Mabou (Red Shoe week). Also, quite a few of the session enlisted in the session section here seem still to be vital.
Cheers, Halldor
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by MrGanAim
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
well, thanks for the kind words, I'm a little slow to write, but you could try: http://www.cbchoices.com
This is a listing of tons of suff that is going on in Cape Breton. it's updated regularly. Don't know of any sessions per se, but if you make it to the right show, you can usually find some tunes after! Have fun Anna
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by anastasiadesroches
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
You've just reminded me Halldor ~ the Island's tourist board puts out a couple of calendar type publications, and you might have to insist that 'they exist', which list events, and there used to be at least three that listed dances, festivals and other trad activity. One of these was a monthly publication, another was for the Summer season, and there was one for all year round. Even if it is too late to get them sent to you, they will be at the main tourist office just on the right after crossing from Nova Scotia to the island. You can also stop there and make inquiries. Best of luck, and don't forget Prince Edward Island...
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
Hey, a fun link Anna, thanks...
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Open sessions in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
I've just returned from Cape Breton and PEI, and found music everywhere I went just by asking everyone I met from the cleaner to the cashier to the tourist office. Didn't find a session per se, but lots of ceilighs, and assume one could get chances to play by talking to the musicians. Nearly every place big enough to boast a community hall had a ceiligh once a week. The pub in Cheticamp is the "Doryman" (N end of town on main road), the Red Shoe in Mabou is famous (M-W music 6-8 no cover, Th-Sat, and Sun aft, a cover). There is also a ceiligh in the community centre in Mabou on Tuesday nights (Buddy McMaster was a guest the week after I was there), in Judique on Wednesday nights, and in Baddeck every night (performers vary), and also at the Glenora distillery every night (performers vary).
Best experience was in PEI, amazing fiddler Cynthia McLeod, in a little spot near Cavendish, er, um, X Beach (maybe Brackley Beach???), but once again, nearly every place had music at least once a week.
Highly recommended.
Hugh
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by flutefry