August 1-12 Schedule

WEDNESDAY BARN NIGHTS and
SATURDAY GIGS at the BARN

Saturday August 2nd, 2008
GUITAR MASTERS SCOTT MACMILLAN and BRIAN DOYLE
8:00pm-10:00pm
Special Guests: Vocalists MERCEDES AND PHOENIX VAN HORNAdmission $8.00 (Adult) $4.00 (Student) Reserved: Extra

Wednesday August 6th, 2008
FIDDLERS SHAMUS MACNEIL , KYLE MACNEIL and ALLIE BENNETT
8:00pm-10pm
Opening guests: MERCEDES AND PHOENIX ARN HORN

Admission: $8.00 (Adult) $4.00 (Student) Reserved: Extra

Saturday August 9, 2008
GUITAR VIRTUOSO ANDREW WHITE AND GILLIAN BOUCHER
8:00pm-10pm
Admission: $8.00 (Adult) $4.00 (Student) Reserved: Extra

Living Room Schedule
Friday August 1, 2008FOLK SINGER LOUIS ARSENAULT
Sunday August 3, 2008
FOLK SINGER LOUIS ARSENAULT
Monday August 4, 2008
FIDDLER CHRISSY CROWLEY
Tuesday August 5, 2008
DERRICK AND MELODY CAMERON
Thursday August 7, 2008
FIDDLER LISA CAMERON
Friday August 8., 2008
FOLK SINGER LOUIS ARSENAULT
Sunday August 10, 2008
FIDDLER CHRISSY CROWLEY
Monday August 11, 2008
FOLK SINGER LOUIS ARSENAULT
Tuesday August 12, 2008
GUITARIST AND FIDDLER DERRICK AND MELODY CAMERON
Call 1-800 565 9463 to reserve! wwwthe.normawayinn.com

JP Cormier returns to the BARN

JP Cormier has just released a brand new CD called “The Messenger” which features 14 JP Cormier original songs. On his new album, Cormier is featured on vocals, guitars, piano, bass, violin, percussion as well as the mandolin! André Bourgeois produced the album but the CD was engineer in Cormier’s studio studio. The album is also unique in that it features other artists such as Rita MacNeil in a duet which is a tribute to the coal miners and Ron Hines in another duet called “Great Harbour Deep. “The Messenger” also features a tribute to the late John Allan Cameron called “The Minstrell” and another track called, “Afghanistan”, which was written upon returning from Afghanistan last spring.
JP Cormier’s music career began at the young age of 5 when he taught himself to play the guitar. By 16 he recorded his first album which featured a collection of bluegrass instrumentals. He was inspired by guitar masters like Chet Atkins and Doc Watson. JP won his first guitar competition at the age of 9 against 30 other players three times his age. After the recording of his first album, JP attended many of the US festivals and eventually moved to the States for 10 years of studio work. He also did live performances at the Grand Ole Opry with household names like Waylon Jennings, Marty Stewart and Charlie Louvin. JP majored in music education at Northeast Mississippi Community College which is one of the only colleges that offers special bluegrass programs. It was there that he began to play the piano and the dobro.
Although JP Cormier is a phenomenal multi-instrumentalist, he is also best known to some as a song writer. His songs are often written about real events and take on a narrative air. JP returned to Canada more than a decade ago and has produced 13 albums including his latest, :”The Messenger”. Many of Cormier’s songs like, “Another Morning” have been covered by artists around the world.
JP Cormier has been the recipient of awards including 12 East Coast Music Awards, Canadian Folk Music Award, 5 Music Nova Scotia Awards, a Juno nomination, Commendations from the Govenor General of Canada and the Premier of Nova Scotia.
Due to JP’s dazzling performances, he spends 250 nights a year performing in theatres, with symphonies as a guest performer and in festivals all over Canada and the US. We have been fortunate enough to have him perform at the Normaway’s Barn Wednesday July 16 as well as Saturday July 19. He wore his fiddle hat for our three fiddler concert, fiddle masters Dwayne Cote and Jerry Holland accompanied him. His wife Hilda Chiasson also accompanied the trio on piano. Cormier then returned to the Barn July 19 for another packed gig where performed some of his newest works from his album, “The Messenger”. It was a fantastic evening of pure talent enjoyed by all in attendance.
Sources viewed: http://www.jp-cormier.com/themessengerreleae. se.html

Cyril MacPhee

CYRIL MACPHEE Cyril MacPhee’s professional musical career began to soar in 1995 as the lead singer of the Power Folk group “Brakin’ Traditions which contained both electric guitar, fiddle and drums’. This singer, songwriter and skilled guitarist has since released two solo albums, the first entitled “When I say I do” and the second entitled “Back on Track”. Most of the music has a country-folk sound much like that of Gordon Lightfoot whereas other songs have a pop sound. MacPhee has versatility in his music that is truly unique; He can take on a gentle melodic sound or a near-rock sound like Bob Lind. It is a welcomed treat to hear music with such a rich blend of folk, country and Celtic music.
MacPhee’s musical influences are extremely varied, “I loved everything from the Beatles to Harry Bibbs, a famous Newfoundland accordion player” and his mélange of styles shows through in his songwriting and musical style. Growing up just outside of St. Peter’s in a musical family, the young musician was immersed in Cape Breton ceilidhs and heavily influenced by his father’s Scottish and Irish fiddling as well as Country, Blue Grass and Folk singers like Stan Rodgers.

He has been nominated for two ECMA’s in 1998 for his first Album, “When I say I Do” and this rich tenor has toured with the famous American folk artist John Prine and has toured the Eastern Seaboard as well as Ontario and Quebec.
His love for music and his natural ability has been passed on to the up and coming generation. MacPhee’s 15-year-old daughter Haley has recently done a live recording for CBC at the Celtic Centre for the Arts in Judique . This young talented singer has proved herself to be just as engaging and talented as her father at the age of 13, accompanied him in his 2006 duo with Rob MacLean.

Marc Boudreau is "Steppin' it Up"

23 year old Marc Boudreau has just released his first CD entitled “Steppin’ it Up” and this young musician is doing just that. Boudreau began step dancing at a very young age and then took on the fiddle when he received it as a Christmas gift at the age of 8. He has since played in concert halls, festivals, ceilidhs with many fiddling icons including Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac and Buddy MacMaster. This Cheticamp native has also had the opportunity to play with the Nova Scotia Symphony and was featured on the 1998 East Coast Music Awards at Ashley’s kitchen party which was televised by CBC. Boudreau also played for “Fiddles of the World” in Halifax in 1999. His passion lies in traditional fiddle tunes.
His new album features Dave MacIsaac on guitar, Joel Chiasson on piano and JP makes a guest appearance on mandolin for one of the tracks.
The creation of this album has been a wonderful experience for the young musician and he, along with all fans of the fiddle anxiously await his second album. Marc will be playing at the Barn Wednesday, July 9 with Shelley Campbell, Michael Hall and Joel Chiasson on piano. It will be a great opportunity to hear this young musician’s most recent works. Come join as at the Barn July 9 at 8pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for students. Reserved Seating is extra.

Cape Breton Singers/Song Writers Unite

Singer-Song Writers Perform at the BarnCape Breton Singers/Songwriters will be at the Normaway’s barn Saturday, July 5th for a unique evening of original works by Cape Breton artists. Lisa Cameron, a singer-songwriter native of Margaree Forks will be sharing her songs as well as John Gillis from Inverness, Christine Campbell and Jeannie Beks, Peter MacInnis accompanied by Rick Mittiken and Scott Macmillan on guitar. They have been playing together since the spring and have been trying to learn each other’s original works so that they can develop a unique repertoire of Cape Breton written songs. Each musician brings something entirely unique to the group and the result is a wonderful blend of talented artists and rich harmony. Most of the songs are contemporary folk and will be sung by the writer and joined by the others singer-song writers and accompanied by Macmillan and Mittiken. One can expect an evening of talent and beautiful original locally written music. Saturday evening’s show begins at 8pm and the cost is $8 for adults and $4 for students. Reserved seating is extra.

Cape Breton Fiddle- a few musicians worth noting ♪

Fiddler Jerry Holland is recognized internationally as a Celtic fiddle master and has impressed audiences all over the world! His performances are emotional and highly energetic, and are impossible to listen to without tapping ones foot or jumping to the dance floor. He has recently bought the Ceilidh Trail School of Music in Inverness, NS.
He has influenced many youth fiddlers like Kristin Shaw who will be playing with him along with Kimberley Fraser and Brenda Stubbert, two fellow instructors at the Ceilidh Trail School of Music. Kristin’s father Kelly Shaw who is also a fiddler learned from the great Jerry Holland so she owes her passion for the fiddle to Holland. Like Jerry, this Youth fiddler sticks to traditional upbeat and fun tunes. 15 yr old Kristin says she likes to play predominantly Scottish-style fiddle which is mainly found on the Western side of Cape Breton. Kristin says she doesn’t really remember taking up the fiddle but has always played, without any formal instruction. She enjoys playing reels the most because they can go on as long as you want them to and they’re fun and upbeat. This budding star has played at various concerts, at the Normaway’s Barn and is playing at the Ceilidhs in Inverness each Thursday night and plans to play with a group of youth fiddlers at the up and coming Celtic Colors festival this fall.
Brenda Stubbert, is another well-known Cape Breton Fiddler and is also teaching at the Ceilidh Trail School of Music. She is a composer as well as a phenomenal fiddler. She began dancing and piano at age five and picked up the fiddle by the age of 8. She is now fiddling full time and her fiddling has taken to Mexico, Ireland and Scotland. Many of her compositions have been recorded by other musicians. She has even played for the Queen herself when she visited Halifax!
Kimberley Fraser has been a student of the fiddle since the age of six and took up Cape Breton piano accompaniment at age 9. She now teaches piano, fiddle and step dancing privately and at various workshops like that of the Ceilidh Trail School of Music.
She has performed at the Louisbourg Playhouse for the Spirit of the Island for several summers. She was also awarded with the Tic Butler Memorial Award for her contribution to Cape Breton music and culture. Fraser released her debut album entitled Heart Beind the Bow in 2000 and in 2002 appeared in a TV special “Sweet is the Melody which was aired on CBC as well as PBS in the US.
The Normaway’s Barn doors will be swinging open to welcome these talented musicians for a spectacular cultural evening of Cape Breton Music and dance. The show will begin at 8pm and admission is $8.00 for adults and $4 for students. Reserved seating is extra.

July Entertainment Schedule

Wednesday Night Three Fiddler Concerts and Square dances
Adults: $8.00 Students: $4.00 Reserved Seating: Extra
Show begins at 8pm, Square Dance to follow


Wednesday, July 2nd
Fiddlers Brenda Stubbert,
Kimberley Fraser,
Jerry Holland and
Youth Fiddler Kristin Shaw

Wednesday, July 9
Fiddlers Marc Boudreau ,
Michael Hall,
Shelley Cambell and
Joel Chiasson on piano

Wednesday, July 16
Lord of the Strings JP Cormier and

Hilda Chiasson, joined

by Dwayne Cote

For More details on artist:
http://www.jp-cormier.com/

Livingroom Entertainment

Thursday, July 3rd
Fiddlers Kelly and Kristin Shaw

Friday, July 4th
Folk Singer Louis Aresnault

Sunday, July 6th
Folk Singer Louis Arsenault

Monday, July 7th
Fiddler Chrissy Crowley
For more details on this artist see: http://www.chrissycrowley.com/

Tuesday, July 8th
Derrick and Melody Cameron
Guitar fiddle and dance

Thursday, July 10th
Singer Songwriter Lisa Cameron

Friday, July 11th
Folk Singer Louis Arsenault

Monday, July 14
Fiddler Chrissy Crowley

Tuesday, July 15
Derrick and Melody Beaton

Thursday, July 24
Rachel Davis

Friday, July 25
Louis Arsenault

Sunday, July 27
Lisa Cameron

Monday, July 28
Louis Arsenault

Tuesday, July 29
Derrick and Melody Beaton

Thursday, July 31
Rachel Davis

Saturday Night Gigs at The Barn
Saturday, July 5th – Singer Song Writer Circle

Lisa Cameron
Jeannie Becks
John Gillis
Christine Campbell
Peter MacInnis
accompanied by
Scott MacMillan and Rick Minniken

Saturday, July 12th

Andrew White and Gillian Boucher
For more information on Andrew White: http://www.andrewwhitemusic.com/

Admission- Adults: $15.00 Students: $10.00 Reserved Seating:Extra