aaamusic | On 10, Jan 2011
Canadian Blast & The Local Presents
CAPE BRETON SOUND
The Best Music From Canada’s East Comes To The UK
The music of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia will be the focus of three showcases in Manchester, London and Cardiff in early 2011.
While Cape Breton is traditionally known for its outstanding fiddlers and Celtic influences, these artists display the wide ranging and diverse music coming from the beautiful east coast of Canada. The showcases will present the high energy cluster-rock of The Tom Fun Orchestra, the raw sonic riffs of Carmen Townsend, traditional Celtic violins and stepdancing from The Beaton Sisters, the Celtic-rock fusion of the Colin Grant Band, and the contemporary violin sounds of Gillian Boucher. All three shows are free and will include a download card featuring music from each participating artist. This will be the first Cape Breton artistic showcase in the UK and will be full of the treats and surprises the Island has to offer. The shows promise to be busy, so make sure you come early to experience the best of Canada’s East.
January 31st – Trof, Manchester
8 Thomas St, Manchester, Greater Manchester M4 1EU
Doors: 7pm
February 1st – AAA, London
111 Kensington High St, London, W8 5NP (tube: kensington)
Doors: 7pm
February 2nd – Buffalo Bar, Cardiff
11 Windsor Place Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF10 3BY
Doors: 7pm
The Tom Fun Orchestra
The Tom Fun Orchestra are an eight-piece cluster-rock ensemble that has been impressing music fans and critics alike with their raucous stage presence and high-energy show. With their unconventional lineup of violin, banjo, accordion, and trumpet hitched to a driving rock trio, The Tom Fun Orchestra are redefining what people think of as Canada’s East Coast music.
Website: www.tomfun.ca
Carmen Townsend
Born and raised on Cape Breton Island, Carmen Townsend has been making music her whole life. While she has drawn influences from the likes of Nirvana, Neil Young and Blind Melon, hers is a unique path, and her voice is one that rises and guides you. Make no mistake, music is a way of life for Carmen Townsend. Now is the time for the world to hear her voice. Brace yourself. It’s louder than you think.
Website: www.carmentownsend.ca
The Beaton Sisters
Traditional music has been a huge component of Dawn and Margie Beaton’s lives from day one. Coming from a musical heritage of fiddlers, dancers, and singers, it was a natural progression to learn traditional stepdancing and the violin at an early age (4 and 6 to be exact). The Beaton Sisters provide a “Blasad Ghaidhlig” (Taste of Gaelic) with their roots firmly planted in Mabou, Cape Breton. The Beaton Sisters’ Band builds on the traditions and culture of the region with lively tunes and arrangements that will get your toes tapping and your legs dancing.
Website: www.dawnandmargie.com
Colin Grant Band
Lingering somewhere amidst the rich, soulful roots of traditional Cape Breton music and the grooves of a thousand branches of rock and funk, Colin Grant embarks on his latest project a dynamic and thoughtful fusion of beats and melodies. Far from the awkward malaise of mohawked bag-pipers and kilted punks, the Colin Grant Band has created a kind of Celtic fusion that is as much Steely Dan and Yes as it is Ashley MacIsaac. While the lively sound never strays too distantly from its Celtic roots, the CGB has found an open ear in everyone from indie scenesters to blue-haired bingo stampers.
Website: www.colingrant.ca
Gillian Boucher
Having been born in to a family steeped in Cape Breton traditional music and language (Her grandfather was one of the founders of the esteemed Broad Cove Scottish concert, and was a renowned Gaelic singer and storyteller) Gillian Boucher first held the violin at the age of five while attending the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts in St. Anne’s, Cape Breton. Since then her music has taken her around the world, with tours including Scotland, Ireland, Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia. Gillian now resides in her home province of Nova Scotia. With a broad range of musical influences, her progressive yet easy-listening debut album, Elemental, seamlessly blends Celtic and contemporary sounds with hints of Eastern European styles and a touch of jazz.
Website: www.myspace.com/gillianboucher
