On Stage
Thank you for your support in 2011. Keep an eye on this page for our 2012 schedule.
Past 2011 Shows
Prayers & Prohibiton
Written by local authors Jonah Anderson and Joe MacDonald, "Prayers and Prohibition" is presented Thursday nights in July and August. The Law of Prohibition is in full effect and Sheriff Clyde Capone intends to keep it that way. However, when rumours start to spread of alcohol he takes it upon himself to hunt down the culprit. This play will have the hilarity pouring out as the audience becomes drunk with laughter. Throw in a shot of The Shopkeeper, a dash of The Reverend, a splash of The Local Paperboy and this becomes a cocktail you have to experience to believe. You don't want to miss this play!
Meaghan Blanchard – June 10 – Grand Opening Night
Meaghan Blanchard is a 22 year old singer/songwriter from Hunter River PEI. Her second album called "Chasin’ Lonely Again" won the ECMA 2011 award as “Country Album of the Year”.
Her first album "Changing Things" was released in September 2008. With that album Meaghan picked up four Music PEI 2009 awards and received two ECMA 2009 nominations. She has appeared on the ECMA Awards shows as a performerevery year since 2009, as well as the 2009 nationally televised Canada Games Opening Ceremonies.
Festival of Small Halls - June 17
Join Patrick Ledwell, Donna Morrissey, and musical guest when the Festival of Small Halls stops into the St Peters Courthouse Theatre for a night of storytelling.
Carmel Mikol & Ben Caplan - July 5 ($12)
Nova Scotia-based songwriter, Carmel Mikol, spent the last year touring extensively across Canada and the US. Her debut album "In My Bones" is nominated for three 2011 East Coast Music Awards (Female Solo Recording, Pop Recording, Rising Star Recording) and the title track took first place in the Folk Category of the 2010 Great American Song Contest. A fan favourite at festivals in Atlantic Canada and the US (Folk Harbour, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; Deep Roots, Wolfville, Nova Scotia; 30-A Songwriters Fest, Florida), Carmel has shared stages with Connie Kaldor, James Keelaghan, David Francey, David Myles, Meghan Smith, Jimmy Rankin, and Matt Anderson. She performed in CBC Studio H for Concerts on Demand and developed and produced “Roots to the Future”, a new creation project for Cape Breton’s Celtic Colours International Festival. Already this year, Carmel played Florida's 30A Songwriters Festival and participated in a month-long artist residency alongside four internationally acclaimed artists in the Escape To Create program
Colette Cheverie - July 8 ($12)
Blessed with a voice rich in natural tone and clarity, Colette has the rare ability to captivate her audience as she breathes new life into old songs of lost love, hardships, and tragedies of past immigrants. With her crystal-clear voice paired with stirring ballads and haunting melodies of traditional Scottish, Irish and English folksongs, Colette has the gift to create an atmosphere that connects with her audience so intensely - one minute bringing people to tears, the next, willingly bringing the audience along on a journey suggested by song. A native of Prince Edward Island, she has been gathering national recognition as a solo vocalist receiving Traditional Singer of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA). Her album "Hours Before Dawn" has earned her nominations for 2009 CFMA Traditional Album of the Year, 2010 Music PEI Award for Folk Recording of the Year and 2010 East Coast Music Award for Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year. Recently, Colette has officially showcased at the 2009 Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (OCFF) and at the 2010 Folk Alliance International Conference in Memphis, TN.
Baile Beag - July 9 ($12)
Formed in 2009, a trio of musicians have taken their name from the ancient Gaelic language of their ancestors. “Baile Beag” (pronounced balee-beck) means “small town.” Regular performers at the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse in downtown Charlottetown, Baile Beag plays the music of Atlantic Canada. Their repertoire ranges from traditional Celtic sing-along songs to fiddle tunes to more contemporary Maritime favorites. The group is comprised of Randy Cheverie and Jon Matthews both on bass, guitar and vocals, and Sheila FitzPatrick on fiddle. Randy is a former member of Boys in the Kitchen and both Jon and Sheila perform with the Celtic Ladies.
The Alphabettes - July 12 and August 2 - Emerging Artists Series ($10)
The Alphabettes are Bridgette Blanchard and Allieanna Ballagh , students at Bluefield High School.
Haunted Hearts - July 16 ($15)
Haunted Hearts write a loose blend of music, most identified as Alt-Country or Americana, though a deeper look into their music reveals a much longer list of sounds, styles and influences. Formed in October 2008, the band is comprised of Dennis Ellsworth (songwriter, vocals, guitar), Mike MacDougall (drums and percussion), Johnny Ross (piano and organ), and Mark Geddes (bass and vocals), and Thomas Webb (pedal steel, guitar, banjo). The songs ease and haunt with beauty, and might sound something like a cry from the dark side of the soul, an old time honky-tonk howler, a tear stained whiskey ballad, or straight ahead loose country groove. Whatever it is, it is captivating. Haunted Hearts has two full length albums, Thank You, Goodnight (July 25, 2009) and Howdy (September 25, 2010). In January 2011, Haunted Hearts were big winners at the Music PEI Awards (Album of the Year, Group of the Year, Country Recording of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year).
Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys - July 20 ($15)
Down-East fiddle music gets a sincere and energetic reshaping thanks to East Coast Music Award nominee Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys. This four-piece group of seasoned musicians hail from the rich and dynamic PEI music scene and have collectively toured North America and the UK with ECMA winners the Grass Mountain Hobos.
Within months of forming the Rhythm Boys and releasing their self-titled debut CD, the band has received two Music PEI awards in 2011 for Roots/Traditional Group of the Year and Instrumental Recording of the Year. A talented dancer, Gordie has been dancing since his childhood. Dubbed "Crazy Legs", his unique style of clogging captivates audiences of all ages. The energetic fiddling and dancing of MacKeeman leads the Rhythm Boys through one rousing and reflecting song after another. It's the sort of the genuine East coast fiddle music that makes it memorable for those who haven't experienced it yet, and reassuring for those who never forgot it.
2nd Annual Frank Ledwell Storytelling and Comedy Festival – July 22, 23, 24 ($10)
The Frank Ledwell Storytelling and Comedy Festival is a three day festival paying tribute to the late Frank Ledwell, former poet laureate of Prince Edward Island, prolific writer and cherished son of St. Peters Bay. Stay tuned for this year’s line up!
Drea MacDonald – July 27 ($10)
A restless soul by nature, Prince Edward Island's Drea Macdonald pens songs that offer a fresh perspective on the "tried and true" themes of lost love, growing up, and hitting the road. She has recorded two e.p.'s from 2008 - 2010, and is currently working on a full length album with a new backing band, "The Wildebeards". Performing solo, Drea boasts strong vocals carrying confessional lyrics, and aggressive acoustic strumming. With the band, she trades her acoustic for an electric guitar and turns on the rock n’ roll.
Katie McGarry – August 5 ($12)
Katie McGarry is a relative newcomer to the music scene on the East Coast. Make no mistake, having grown up in a musical family, this talented 23-year-old is ready to stake a claim to a place in the rich history and tradition of East Coast singer/songwriters that have made their mark in the music business. Growing up in Belfast, PEI, music became a way for Katie to express her thoughts and views of the world she experienced. Like many young Island performers, she began playing music and singing in church and at community benefits. At 18, she started writing and performing her original songs wherever there was an opportunity to perform. The positive response to those early performances created a confidence and belief in Katie that she just might have a future in music. Her first album is called “My Side Of Town”.
Jason MacDonald – August 6 ($12)
Jason MacDonald's passion for music plays out in a driving acoustic fashion with energy, wonderful storytelling and a warm personality that connects immediately with his audience. With award nominations following his two recordings and most recently a 2009 Top Honours in the Indie International Songwriters Contest plus an Independent Singer-Songwriter Assoc. nomination under his belt, Jason is about to add another chapter to the rich musical hertage of his Cape Breton home. Jason's debut CD "Leave my Mark" was released in 2002 followed by "The Day" in 2005. Critically acclaimed, the releases led to nominations and showcases at Nova Scotia Music Week , East Coast Music Awards and Canadian Country Music Awards. In 2009 Jason expanded his fan base in the United States with a New England tour and performances at the Milwaukee Irish Festival. Along with a busy performance schedule, Jason is presently working on a new recording that will be released soon.
Cynthia MacLeod – August 12 ($12)
From her home base in tiny Prince Edward Island, Canada, fiddling sensation Cynthia MacLeod has built an international reputation that is expanding around the globe. It's a reputation founded in raw talent, nurtured by boundless energy, and polished to a gleaming finish by a decade of touring that has taken her across Canada, through New England, and as far away as Japan. Audiences far and wide have thrilled as this tiny dynamo takes the stage for whirlwind performances that garner spring-loaded standing ovations everywhere she performs.
Just as remarkable is the acceptance and respect accorded Cynthia by her peers. In a part of the world known for dazzlingly talented fiddlers, fellow musicians have awarded her more than a dozen Prince Edward Island Music Awards, including multiple awards as Roots/Traditional Artist of the Year and Instrumental Artist of the Year. She has also been chosen by audiences as Entertainer of the Year based on her breathtaking live performances.
Ashley Condon – August 14 ($12)
Raised between two potato fields on Prince Edward Island, Ashley Condon is the grandchild of Bill Leblanc, a Canadian country pioneer who once spent the night in jail with Hank Snow. Like pecan pie – sweet and nutty – Ashley has won audiences over with her larger-than-life stage presence and down-to-earth charm. Growing up on everything from old-time country to folk, blues and southern rock, her music resonates. The success of her 2007 EP I’ve Got This Feeling garnered the attention of Ontario native and ECMA-nominated producer Joel e Hunt (Teresa Ennis, Old Man Leudecke). The two have joined creative forces for Ashley’s debut, full-length album Come In From The Cold, released on June 15, 2010. The record features award-winning instrumentalist Dale Murray (Cuff The Duke, Matt Mays) on pedal steel and electric guitar and Jeff Bird (Cowboy Junkies) on mandolin, bass and harmonica.
Dakota Oliver – July 26 and August 16 – Emerging Artists Series ($10)
Fifteen-year-old Dakota Oliver is one of PEI’s up and coming singer/ songwriters. Hailing from Summerside, she began to sing at the age of 11 when she performed in her elementary school musical.
Dakota is no stranger to music or the stage. She has been traveling around PEI and the Maritimes with her father, Johnny Oliver for the past few years. In her father’s three CD’s, Dakota has played a vital part playing keyboard, back-up vocals and also sings a duet with her dad on each CD. Dakota plays saxophone in her school band and is a member of the school’s Vocal Ensemble.
Jon Matthews - July 13 and August 17 ($12)
Few people on the Prince Edward Island music scene could claim to be any busier than Jon Matthews. A native Cape Bretoner who moved to P.E.I. in 2002, Matthews has carved out a full time career in music by wearing a number of different hats: singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer and broadcaster. He wears each of them very comfortably. With two solo albums to his credit, Matthews’ songs have won him accolades both globally (honourable mention, 2007 Singer Songwriter Awards) and in his chosen home province (four nominations, including Songwriter of the Year, 2007 Music PEI Awards). He has appeared at prestigious venues such as The Stan Rogers Folk Festival and the PEI International Shellfish Festival, and opened for, or performed with, such Canadian music luminaries as George Canyon, J.P. Cormier, The Barra MacNeils, Dave Gunning, Rose Cousins, Nathan Wiley and James Keelaghan.
Nathan Wiley – August 20 ($15)
Nathan Wiley is a musician with a vision. And that vision comes into sharper focus than ever on his third album, The City Destroyed Me, a collection of thirteen tracks penned over a solid year of writing by Wiley, culled with the aid of his producer, Steve Berlin. Hailing from the Maritime town of Summerside, PE, Wiley first earned acclaim for his 2002 debut Bottom Dollar, picking up an East Coast Music Award (ECMA) for Alternative Album of the Year in the process. He made good on the promise of that release with the ECMA-winning follow up High Low two years later. His blend of classic sounds with a modern, slightly world weary perspective struck a chord with listeners, as songs full of subtle melodies and lyrics addressing those unquenchable yearnings inside all of us wormed their way into their ears.
Brielle Ansems – July 19 and August 23 - Emerging Artists Series ($10)
Montague's Brielle Ansems plays the guitar, piano, saxophone, flute, alto sax and piccolo. But it is her singing that catches attention.
Dennis Ellsworth - August 31 ($10)
Dennis Ellsworth is an award winning songwriter from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He's been at this a long time, touring with and contributing songs to the work of The Rude Mechanicals, Tuesday, and Battery Point. His current group, Haunted Hearts is making waves all over with their unique brand of Americana/Alt-Country music. His debut solo recording, "Chesterfield Dweller of the Year" was recorded in Toronto, Ontario while Ellsworth was hanging from the jaws of the big city. It was released in December 2009, after moving home to PEI, and presents a collection of soft, beautifully crafted songs that charm with stories of love, hope and heartbreak. The song writing is precise and the production is lush, while maintaining a terrific live off the floor, organic room sound and feel. Dennis dabbles as a producer, and aside from producing almost all of his own work, Dennis recently produced Katie McGarry's debut EP, "My Side of Town". A new solo album is in the works and is expected to see a release this year, just in time for Dennis’ favorite time of year, late autumn.
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