150 Years of Island Music at Afton Hall, April 7
Show features music, folklore, dance, storytelling
The Irish Scots, along with storyteller Alan Buchanan and two world champion dancers from the Havenwood Studio, are bringing their new show to the Afton Hall in New Dominion on April 7 at 2 p.m.
The show, entitled 150 Years of Island Music, is a lively celebration of P.E.I. folk music, dance, folklore and storytelling, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Prince Edward Island joining the Confederation of Canada.
The Irish Scots is made up of Norman Stewart, Maxine Maclennan and Courtney Hogan-chandler. Along with lively vocals, the audience will be treated to tunes on guitar, fiddle, bodhran and mandolin, humour and stories and even a cameo “appearance” by Don Messer and the Islanders, along with the Buchta Dancers.
Buchanan, a P.E.I. storyteller, narrates the show, using his knowledge of Island history and his enormous collection of humorous stories and folklore, to honour the value and persistence of the oral tradition in P.E.I. His narration gives context to the show, highlighting the various themes and events that influenced Island songwriting through the decades. Dancers Janelle Banks and Molly Macewen complete the performing troupe with a variety of steps.
“We try to showcase all the great musical contributors of the past 150 years of amazing Island music, covering material from Larry Gorman and Dan Riley to Stompin’ Tom Connors, Gene Maclellan, Lennie Gallant, and everyone else in between,” says Maclennan, a singer-songwriter, with The Irish Scots.
Tickets are available at the door for $20 (cash only) or can be reserved at 902-3141800 or www.irishscots.ca.