‘We certainly love it there’
Cape Breton Jazz and World Music Festival draws large crowd in North Sydney
An evening of singing and dancing highlighted the annual Cape Breton Jazz and World Music Festival on the Northside, Friday.
The Cuban band Los Primos, featuring Augusto Enriquez and Jeff Goodspeed, took centre stage for a performance at the Northern Yacht Club in North Sydney, which organizers are calling a success.
Carl Getto, founder and organizer of the festival, said about 100 people attended the show, which kicked off the weeklong festival.
“I was very pleased with how things went. We had people from all parts of the Cape Breton show up,” he said. “We had a lot of people up on the dance floor for most of the evening and the Cuban group liked it.”
Getto wasn’t surprised with the turnout for the show.
“(Los Primos) were here a couple of years ago and they had a great turnout then, so I think they were anticipating a good turnout as well and that’s what happened,” said Getto.
“For some in attendance they were people who are regular travellers to Cuba and probably danced down there,” he said. “For others it was a new experience for them to hear and dance to this kind of music.”
With the festival’s continued success on the Northside, Getto expects to return to the community for another performance next year.
“We certainly love it there – they have been very supportive,” said Getto. “We have a rich area to draw from, of course you have North Sydney, Sydney Mines and all the surrounding areas that surround those two communities.”
The Cape Breton Jazz and World Music Festival will continue this week with performances scheduled at the Hearthstone Inn in Sydney.
For full schedule visit the festival website at www.capebretonjazzfestival.com.