Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bagpipes might not often be found in popular music but you will hear them in the area
- a lot. Between the College of Piping and Celtic Arts in PEI and the Gaelic College of
Celtic Arts and Crafts on Cape Breton, bagpipers are pumped out by the dozen to play at
historical sites, busk along the streets of cities and create a mysterious air in some of the
most out-of-the-way places, taking you away to the Scottish Highlands.
Up Newfoundland and Labrador way expect to hear more Irish-tinged tunes that move
at a faster pace and generally tell a story, with the dialogue dominating the accompani-
ment - if you've ever listened to the Pogues, you know what we're talking about. This
music generally emanates from Irish pubs where accents start to lilt as more beer is con-
sumed. Singer-songwriter Ron Hynes embodies the local style and can be found strum-
ming his guitar in St John's pubs, as does the talented folk group, the Once; the Navigat-
ors play driving Celtic tunes; the Novaks evoke Tom Petty with the whoop-ass amped
up; Repartee do an excellent job of representing synth pop; and Hey Rosetta are getting
uber-popular via their energetic folk rock sounds. But the band that most successfully
translates this music to a larger stage is Great Big Sea. They tour throughout the United
States and Canada, filling mighty venues with their Celtified rave-ups and kitchen-party
enthusiasm. They are a definite must-see.
CEILIDHS AND KITCHEN PARTIES
'So what exactly is a ceilidh?' you might ask. Well, in the broadest sense, a ceilidh is
a gathering where traditional Gaelic music is played and people can dance - kind
of like a rural, family-style disco with an accordion instead of heavy bass. Some-
times it's just a solo fiddle player playing during lunch hours at a restaurant; other
times it can be families dressed fully in their clan tartan performing for folks in
town halls, or larger, more professional groups playing in front of big audiences.
Whatever the size, ceilidhs are always laid-back affairs where the musicians mingle
with the audience and hold no airs of being anything more than another local who
just happens to play an instrument rather well. There are usually many more locals
in the audience than visitors, and everyone goes crazy when, say, Cyril and Betty's
seven-year-old son Timmy gets up and step dances - and you'll be into it too be-
cause chances are little Timmy is really, really good.
The term 'ceilidh' and 'kitchen party' are often used interchangeably but the lat-
ter is a term more likely to be used by Acadians (along with the Acadian French
term: 'party de cuisine'), non-Celtic folks or by anyone on Cape Breton Island in
Nova Scotia. A kitchen party is also more likely to actually be at someone's house
and to have food and drink, although this is not always the case.
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