SOUTH CARTHAGE – Next week, more than 40 musicians will descend on Skye Theatre for 10 performances as it closes out its last and final season with Music Week after a 10-year run as Maine’s Celtic music venue.
“The best way to close out one chapter is to start a new one,” said Phill McIntyre New England Celtic Arts director. As the final events are scheduled at Skye he hopes to use it as the catalyst for a permanent Music Week for Franklin County in the years to come. This year’s weeklong event draws artists from across Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Maine, and New England. The following events all take place at Skye Theatre in So. Carthage:
Cassie & Maggie MacDonald at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Cassie and Maggie MacDonald encompass everything you could ask for in a musical act, their talent is only surpassed by the joy with which they so generously share it. Exciting and innovative, they have found the perfect balance between musical integrity, and sheer entertainment. While still staying true to their Celtic roots, they have explored and tested the boundaries of traditional music, bringing a breath of fresh air to the genre with their original compositions and arrangements. Sisters, cohorts and collaborators, Cassie and Maggie have been enchanting audiences far and wide with their infectious energy, driving rhythms and lilting melodies. Tickets $15 at the door.
Late night Festival Club 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.
A tradition in Celtic festivals is the late night festival club. Most of the performers from the week long festival will be in to perform one after the other. The night (morning) will end with many musicians on stage for one last giant session. Pot luck for food, snacks, and beverages. Artists will include: Coig; Don Roy Ensemble, Eric Johnson, and many other artists. Tickets $15 at the door.
The Gawler Family, Maine first family of Old Timey and Down East style music. 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14.
John and Ellen and their daughters Molly, Edith, and Elsie bring you an assortment of old and new sounds from many folk traditions. They accompany interweaving family harmonies with fiddles, banjo, wooden banjo, cello, guitar, ukulele and piano as well as a few surprises. Add two sons-in-law and you have the mix’ins for a lot of fun. Whether they are crooning a poignant ballad or delivering a rollicking fiddle tune, their unique arrangements are especially engaging and often go along with anecdotes of historical or humorous content. At the end of the show Molly Gawler will perform her famous “Droplet Dance” while the family plays a lively Celtic tune. Tickets $15 at the door.
Skye Farewell Part I at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16.
The first of two final shows at Skye as an era ends for the Celtic theater. A multitude and variety of artists will perform including: Maine’s top Cajun/Acadian Band, T-Acadie: Nikki Engstrom from Cape Cod’s Stanley & Grimm; Scrog Pudding lead singer Eric W. Johnson; Franklin Counties Forrest Blood; Oxford County’s Bill & Jody Kasregis with Jim Roy and maybe a few more Skye friends will jump up and lend a hand. Tickets $15 at the door.
Skye Farewell Part II “The End of the Beginning” on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
It is time to say farewell to Skye in a very big way. Maine’s favorite troubadour Denny Breau will start out the evening with a bang. Always a favorite, his songs and blistering guitar work are second to none. Ellen Gawler has been a mainstay in fiddle music and we will hear her in a rare solo and then joined by some friends. Steve Muise has been the backbone of Franklin County Fiddling for the past 20 plus years. He to will begin with a solo and then add some members of the Franklin County Fiddlers. We will end out the evening with Maine’s master Acadian/Franco fiddler Don Roy with wife Cindy at the keyboards. It’s all hands on deck for a final session. The closing at Skye will be memorable to say the least. Tickets $15 at the door.
Skye Theater is located 3 miles West of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Rd and US RT. 2 in South Carthage. Ticket prices are $15 for all shows. A complete list of shows with start times and ticket prices can be found at www.necelticarts.com or by calling 207-562-4445.
