A TASTE OF TRADITION
‘We’re definitely gaining attention’
Gaelic College’s KitchenFest a feast for the senses.
Now in its third year, organizers say KitchenFest is coming into its own and is drawing visitors to Cape Breton.
Billed as a celebration of Cape Breton’s traditional music that will appeal to locals and visitors alike, the emphasis at KitchenFest is on providing a kitchen ceilidh atmosphere at its events, allowing attendees to live the culture. The festival began July 2 and wraps up today.
David Rankin, director of school operations at the Gaelic College in St. Anns, which presents the annual festival, has held a variety of roles during it, from working on sound at some venues to hosting shows.
“They have a Gaelic speaker at every venue for the show and the person will start off the show with a little song or a story or something and welcomes everybody in, as if they’re welcoming them into their own home,” he said.
A native of Mabou, Rankin studied the language in school and has many Gaelic speakers in his family — two of his sisters are fluent while another is learning. Rankin went on to obtain a bachelor of arts in Celtic studies, as well as an education degree, and he now teaches Gaelic. He has been involved with KitchenFest from the beginning and said he’s watched its evolution.
“Last night I was at the Normaway (in Margaree), and I asked at the beginning of the show, ‘How many people are here because of KitchenFest?’ and a large portion of the room raised their hands,” Rankin said. “We’re definitely gaining attention, the festival is pulling people toward Cape Breton and it’s becoming more and more apparent every year,” he said.
“Even just the name of KitchenFest, we want people to experience the music as it’s meant to be experienced and as it has been in the home and in kitchens around Cape Breton. It speaks to the music, as well as to the general vibe we want to get across that you can experience our culture as it is.”
Gaelic College CEO and festival creator Rodney MacDonald said there are no official numbers yet, but in speaking with people from the various venues involved this year, audiences for the events have been strong.
“There are lots of great shows happening, and we’re even seeing it during the day at our demonstrations and lunchtime ceilidhs, there’s more people around,” he said.
Once the festival concludes, officials will make contact with all of the venues to survey their experiences.
“At least on the face of it, it certainly seems as if our numbers should be getting larger,” MacDonald said.
This year, MacDonald said one difference he has noticed is the number of people who seem to be timing their Cape Breton visits specifically for the festival.
“There’s people of course, as with any festival they stumble upon it and they can’t believe that it’s happening and they go to events and they love it,” he said. “There’s others that are planning their trip around the festival. That’s a very good thing when you’re in the third year and you’re in growth mode.”
MacDonald, a noted fiddler and stepdancer in his own right, said when he played at a KitchenFest show at the Doryman in Cheticamp there were audience members from Western Canada, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.
“They love the format of KitchenFest and crowds are getting into it. At each show there’s stepdancers getting up to dance, they’re giving others breaks on instruments and it’s just a great time,” MacDonald said.
A particular musical highlight this year was a tribute to fiddler Carl MacKenzie, MacDonald said.
“That was a very special day for everyone involved,” he said.
This year, there was an effort to expand into additional communities including New Waterford, as well as to add new venues. During each night of KitchenFest there was a mainstage show at the Gaelic College and the Eat Local component was also back, involving 67 restaurants.
“That in itself is a remarkable feat, promoting what’s grown and caught and produced here in Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia,” MacDonald said.
Among the events for the final day of KitchenFest are a pub night at the MacBouch in St. Peter’s, a milling frolic at the Highland Village in Iona and the finale with Ashley MacIsaac at the Gaelic College.