Welcome Music Man to Emerald
Courtney Hogan will also be joined by Keelin Wedge
P.E.I.’s “new favourite redhead” is gearing up for another Friday Ceilidh at the Emerald Boxcar Pub & Grill Community Centre.
Courtney Hogan hosts her own ceilidhs here and notes that, “The last few years have been filled with a lot of late nights and early mornings trying to balance both of my passions, but I’m right where I want to be now.
“I’ve played in just about every small hall on P.E.I., but there’s no place like the (Emerald) Boxcar.
“It just has a good vibe, and the strong local support we get there is humbling.”
Each week Hogan calls up some of her musical friends to join her on stage, and this week brings Keelin Wedge and Michael Pendergast. Wedge is no stranger to the Island music scene, but it will be her first appearance at the Emerald Celidhs.
As the newest member of Island band, Fiddlers’ Sons, Wedge and Hogan’s playing styles were immediately a perfect fit.
A master of many instruments, Wedge has a huge repertoire of instruments and musical genres, and is also a strong vocalist.
She will be launching her latest CD for the first time in Western P.E.I. at this week’s ceilidh.
They will be joined on stage by Pendergast who is better known across P.E.I. as a children’s performer known as “The Music Man.”
His Irish-Acadian roots makes for a perfect blend of humour, storytelling and traditional music at just about any kitchen party. Pendergast teamed up with Hogan on her “Swinging on a Note” CD for one of the Island’s favourite new songs “The Ballad of Big John MacNeil,” which is bound to have every hand clapping at the Boxcar Friday. And a kitchen party wouldn’t be the same without a stepdancer, and Hogan welcomes her close friend Janelle Banks to the stage.
Banks has won numerous awards for her fast-paced dancing feet, and has appeared in several theatre productions including “Anne & Gilbert.”
A night of fiddling, singing and dancing will take place June 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the air conditioned and licensed Emerald Boxcar Pub & Grill. Admission is $10 at the door. CDs, 50/50 tickets and ceilidh shirts will be available.