Good music on ‘Rum Ragged’
N.L. band’s CD is a mix of traditional songs, instrumentals
There’s a lot to like on Rum Ragged’s self-titled CD.
The St. John’s-based duo, and sometimes quartet, has played gigs in the local area a few times and they were also here for last fall’s Contact East.
The main part of the N.L. group is Mark Manning (vocals and guitar) and Aaron Collis (vocals, guitar, button accordion, bouzouki, mandola, mandolin and whistles). Collis performed at the Celtic Colours Festival a few years back in a duo with fiddler Emilia Bartellas.
The group’s first CD, “Rum Ragged,” was released a year or so ago and contains a nice mix of traditional songs and instrumentals, along with some newer material from the likes of Dave Gunning, David Francey, Bob Porter, Gerald Hamilton and Collis.
On the CD they are joined by Gunning, Peter Green and Billy Sutton, who also produced, recorded and mixed the project at The Sound Solution in St. John’s.
Both Francey’s “St. John’s Train” and Gunning’s “Living In Alberta” are bright and bouncy numbers, even if they do feature rather sad subjects. The “White Hare/Float the Ice,” an instrumental number composed by Collis, has a nice crisp jig timing and very Irish sound.
A “Dose of White Owls” is a lively tongue-in-cheek traditional number while “Save Your Money” is much more somber and attempts to impart some suitable advice on the younger generation, advice that was clearly not followed by the writer.
The 11-cut CD closes with the traditional “All Through The Beer.” This is a song I am familiar with as “All For Me Grog,” but the boys do it up with a nice new arrangement.
This is a comfortable and enjoyable CD, not over-produced or overpowering.
Sutton turned them loose and let them go, leaving us with a final product that is easily transferred to a live production. What you hear is what you’ll get when you see them on stage.
I’m sure they will be back in the area again and when they do make an appearance, get out to see them.
I was at a private party a few weeks back, where I enjoyed the food, the company and the music.
Attending the party, and providing the entertainment at various times, were Buddy MacDonald, Adrianne Chapman, Cindy Allen, Jerome Campbell, Lee Price and Blair Brown.
They tackled everything from originals to Stan Rogers and Tom Paxton, with many people singing along. Some people even knew the words.
This evening, Michael Hall and Robert Deveau will be playing
for a dance at Sydney’s Cedars Club.
Get out and support the dances.
And there’s a CD release coming up on Wednesday evening at Governor’s in downtown Sydney. Fiddler Hailee LeFort will be showcasing the music from
her new recording, “It’s Happenin’.”
The Coast Radio will be hosting another fundraiser at the Louisbourg Playhouse on Friday — the first show of the venue’s summer season featuring Aaron C. Lewis, the music of Trio (Jenn Sheppard, Ashley Buckingham and Jennifer Dingwall), Kimberley Fraser and more.
Also on Friday, Celtic Colours will reveal its lineup for the 2018 international festival.
The launch takes place at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck starting at 4 p.m. Tickets go on sale in early July.
KitchenFest! Yep, that starts in a few weeks with music (and other stuff) happening all over the island.
There are 39 venues, 120
events, plus more than 70 Eat Local restaurants, and all this takes place in nine days from June 29 to July 7.
Get out and enjoy what’s happening. It’s a great way to get in the swing of summer.
There’s a big show heading our way on June 30, sponsored by Breton Brewing and Sociable Entertainment.
Under The Breton Sky outdoor show features Matt Andersen and the Bona Fide, Dave Sampson Band, Slowcoaster, Jordan Musycsyn Band, and Carmen Townsend Band. Sounds like a dandy. Tickets now on sale.