October 15, 2007
Celtic Colours ends on high note
Barra MacNeils take 11th edition of festival to roaring finish Saturday night
CHRIS SHANNON, The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The Barra MacNeils took the 11th edition of the Celtic Colours International Festival to a roaring finish Saturday night. The concert held at the Sydney Marine Terminal was a celebration of the Sydney Mines band’s work over the last two decades, in which they carved out a significant niche for themselves in the traditional music scene.

“It was phenomenal,” Celtic Colours co-director Max MacDonald said.

“We had a sold-out show. It was a wonderful way to finish the festival and a real treat to have Paddy Moloney there from the Chieftains. He really wanted to be there and it’s nice to see in our world that people do things because it’s important to them.”

The Chieftains frontman, Moloney, and MacNeil siblings Stewart, Sheumas, Kyle, Lucy, Ryan and Boyd formed a strong friendship while performing together on the international stage.
The concert also included David Francey, who is one of the Barra’s favourite songwriters, making for a magical night of music, MacDonald said.

“There were a number of (standing ovations). It was really, really nice to see.”
After nine days, 45 concerts and more than 150 community and educational workshops that were run by well over 1,000 volunteers and performances by some 400 musicians, the festival wrapped up another successful year of promoting Cape Breton’s traditional Celtic roots through story and song.

The last week-and-a-half has been quite the ride for MacDonald, along with festival co-director Joella Foulds.

Now that it’s over, there was some time Sunday for MacDonald to reflect on concerts and workshops that make up the festival, which is considered one of the world’s best examples of carrying on the Celtic tradition.

“We believe, as a festival, that we have a role to play, not just to present existing music, but we believe we have a role to play in facilitating the birth of new music.”
The festival was able to do that by introducing fans to a special project that brought 10 talented singer-songwriters from the Canadian and Scottish roots/traditional scene together.

At a home in Beinn Bhreagh they collaborated and created new material over four days. It culminated with the work’s premiere at a performance at Strathspey Place in Mabou last Tuesday.

Called the New Tunemakers, MacDonald said its uniqueness has bred excitement that they’ll hope to duplicate with another special project to be unveiled next year.
Planning has already been underway for next year’s festival for months now. There will be little downtime for MacDonald and the rest of the organization as acts are pencilled in and event sites are booked.

He does admit there’s a bit of an emotional letdown following such a dizzying week of events.

“It’s extremely exciting and invigorating work we do, and in the midst of world-class artists at the top of their game and to see the excitement of visitors from all over the world, it’s quite the sight to behold.”

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