Dear readers, It’s been a while! I’m deep in the writing phase of my PhD dissertation on music, media, and memory in the English-speaking communities of the eastern Gaspé. This—along with car troubles and extensive travelling since last May—is largely why things have been so silent lately. A while back, some of you will remember I … More Songs of Wilbert Coffin – Article in Canadian Folk Music
… perhaps the most significant phenomenon in the English-speaking community was the 10-day Wakeham-York Homecoming Festival which ran for 25 years starting in 1978. I’ll say more about the festival in future posts but for now, I want to note that it has been both interesting but also very complicated trying to write about something I never experienced myself (I began coming to Gaspé about six years after the festival folded). Still, many people talk about the festival and I want to give it its due when I write about it. I’ll return to this topic at the end of the post. … More Gérard Durette at the Wakeham-York Homecoming Fiddle Contest
Happy St. Patrick’s Day dear readers, As much as this is a day for celebration for many in Gaspé and beyond, today I would like to pay a little homage to one of the longest supporters of Irish culture around Gaspé, Leo Fitzpatrick, who passed away last month. I’ll try not to make this too … More “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” – St. Patrick’s Day With Leo Fitzpatrick (1981 & 2007)
SPEC columnist Thierry Haroun has released another music video as part of his Gaspé Project music group. This time we have his song that he dedicated to the men and women who worked at Chandler’s Gaspesia Paper Mill which was closed in 1999. Thierry had moved to the Coast shortly before the mill closed and … More Paper Mill – The Gaspé Project
Thierry Haroun sent me this link for anyone wishing to live stream the video footage from tonight’s CD launch party at the Frontibus bistro in Gaspe. They’ll be on around 9:45 pm. Click the link around then to watch. http://livestream.com/accounts/6944075/events/6520447
One of the aims of this project is to provide aspiring musicians in the community with resources to develop their playing or singing. There’s a lot of practical knowledge about playing music among the wider Gaspesian community at home and away. The archives can, in a small way, help convey this know-how. In a region … More How To Chord For Fiddlers – With Brigid Drody
My friend Angie Levesque recently posted information on her Facebook page about an upcoming musical event of interest for those in the Gaspesian community. She has allowed me to share the info with you: Music, Music, Music A fundraiser for the Grade 6 year-end trip at Gaspe Elementary school will be held on March 20 … More Upcoming Music (03-20-2016): Grade 6 Trip Fundraiser, Gaspé Elementary
I just shared some fine old-time Gaspesian fiddling on our sister blog (Old-Time Fiddle Music From the Gaspé Coast). It features two fine fiddlers, Erskine Morris and Kingsley Marion, both playing this captivating stepdance tune that was once perhaps in wide circulation in the area. Here is the link to the music. If you know … More Uncle Peter’s Tune
In archival terminology, a “fonds” describes a collection of unique documents created by an individual or organization through their regular activities. Modern archival practice largely traces itself to post-revolutionary France and the conscious effort to safeguard the records of the new republic; the idea of an archival “fonds” has its roots here and we still … More Merry Christmas from the Leo Fitzpatrick fonds
Tonight is the monthly happy hour at the Douglas Community Centre. Bring refreshments and a snack to share and enjoy some music with myself, Nash Stanley, Norma McDonald, and Kathy Kennedy. We look forward to seeing some familiar and new faces and playing music for you. Date: December 18, 2015 Time: 5 – 7 pm … More Musical Happy Hour (5 à 7) at Douglas Community Centre Tonight – Dec 18, 2015
