Fiddlers host annual festival

The Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association will be hosting its 44th annual Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling on Aug. 19-20 at the Gaelic College.

“We are looking forward to this year’s festival, especially to help Canada celebrate a milestone,” said Betty Matheson, committee spokesperson.

“To mark this occasion, we are pleased to announce that one of our local well-known fiddlers, Kinnon Beaton, has prepared a special tune to be included among the strathspeys and reels. Kinnon’s tune, ‘Canada 150,’ is a fantastic addition to our repertoire.”

The festival begins with fiddle, piano and step-dance workshops on Aug. 19 from 25 p.m. These workshops will be conducted by Ashley MacIsaac, Dara MacDonald, Lawrence Cameron and Cheryl MacQuarrie.

As in the past, Saturday evening will begin with a concert, followed by a traditional ceilidh in MacKenzie Hall. During this ceilidh, performance time will be allotted for visitors and local performers.

The finale concert on Aug. 20 will take place at the Performance Centre on the field overlooking St. Anns Bay.

Musicians from across Cape Breton Island, throughout mainland Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and other parts of Canada and the United States will assemble on the grounds of the Gaelic College to participate in this annual tradition.

The concert begins at 2 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m.

Full concession facilities are available through concert times and there will be free parking.

For further information, telephone 902-849-8476, 902-2953411 or 1-800-565-0000, email, capebretonfiddlers@gmail.com or go to www.capebretonfiddlers.com.