Top-notch trio
Three female singing powerhouses have come together to form a new trio, the Eastern Belles.
Inspiration struck a chord with three Island artists one cold evening in January last year. Ashley Condon, Catherine MacLellan, and Meaghan Blanchard were matched up to write a song during a group meeting for people in their profession. “We had such a good time, we said ‘let’s do this again, and maybe put together a tour and go as three singer-songwriters on the road’,” said Condon. Their managers were all for the idea, and thus the Eastern Belles were formed. After touring in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Kansas City last fall and in the new year, the women are preparing for their first official hometown show in Charlottetown on April 9. Condon added they’re changing up the way they have been doing things for Saturday’s performance. “We’re going to make it more of a special, intimate experience for the audience,” she said.
“A portion of the show will be the music we’ve been collaborating on, and a portion will be a songwriter’s circle and passing the microphone back and forth to share new songs we’ve been writing as solo artists.”
Stories from the past year will also be shared with the audience. “It has been a whirlwind, and we’ve been travelling together and getting to know each other, and we’re still really good friends.” Condon said she, MacLellan, and Blanchard have been rehearsing extensively, adding there is power in numbers, as they are three women who support each other. “Forming together as this group we’re becoming the unofficial ambassadors for P.E.I. songwriters.
“This is shining even more of a light on the P.E.I. music scene in other parts of the world because we talk a lot about where we’re from. “We have chosen to work out of P.E.I. and live here because we love it, and we’re inspired by it.” Condon added the members of the Eastern Belles encourage one another to keep writing.
“It’s really nice because it’s tough to do what we do. To come into rehearsal and throw a new song on the table and share that, and to support each other to keep writing is really what this project has been about.” The trio will be showcasing their talent at shows on the Island this summer, including Chautauqua in Summerside, and performances at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival in Nova Scotia, and a festival in Iqaluit. The Belles, who each hail from one of the three counties on P.E.I., are looking forward to their upcoming show, and presenting new material.
“We’re all different in our own way so you’re going to get a mix of different songs,” said Condon. “For us, feeling that support is going to be really exciting.”