October 13, 2006

Unusual Suspects rounded up once again
Folk orchestra tapped to close Celtic Colours
By Laura Jean Grant, the Cape Breton Post

ST. ANN’S — A stage full of musicians and just 10 hours to rehearse together before performing in two of Celtic Colours’ most anticipated shows.

A daunting task to say the least but one in which the 25 artists of the Unusual Suspects of Celtic Colours seem to thrive. The more pressure, the better they get it seems.

The masterminds behind it all are Scotland’s David Milligan and Corrina Hewat and Cape Breton’s Gordie Sampson, who first worked together two years ago on the inaugural Unusual Suspects of Celtic Colours.

Milligan and Hewat originated the Unusual Suspects several years ago and a group of Scottish artists first brought the idea to life in 2003 at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival. Celtic Colours directors Max MacDonald and Joella Foulds were in the audience and knew immediately they wanted to do something similar in Cape Breton and enlisted the help of Milligan, Hewat and Sampson to make it a reality. The Unusual Suspects Celtic Colours version of 2004 was a huge success and as a celebration of the festival’s 10th anniversary this year, a reprisal of the show seemed only fitting.

The folk orchestra — a combination of artists who took part in 2004 and some new faces — brings together musicians from across Canada and Scotland who have been practising the last two days for tonight’s sold-out show at Strathspey Place in Mabou and an encore performance Saturday at the Sydney Marine Terminal to wrap up the festival. Tickets are still available for the show in Sydney.

During a break from rehearsal Thursday at the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s, all three music directors agreed that the short timeline involved in pulling the show together is a significant challenge but one that also makes the performance so unique.

The three have spent months arranging the music for the show and have racked up big phone bills and exchanged a countless number of e-mails in the process. Milligan said a key to arranging music for such a large group is keeping in mind the individuals talents of those participating.

“Part of it is writing to the strengths of the musicians involved,” he said.

Milligan, Hewat and Sampson have had some time this week to fine tune the arrangements together and in-person.

“There’s only so much you can do over the phone,” said Sampson, adding there’s nothing quite like the experience of collaborating with so many talented musicians. “One of the incredible things is the rush you get from performing it live.”

Hewat said the beauty of the Unusual Suspects is that it provides an opportunity for musicians who otherwise would never have had the chance to play together, to do so.

“I really love the power of the band,” she said.

The 2006 version of the Unusual Suspects will feature some arrangements from 2004 as well as some new arrangements. In addition to the three directors, the Unusual Suspects includes artists such as the Barra MacNeils, Daniel Lapp, Anna Massie, Allie Bennett, Nuala Kennedy and many more.

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