a few jigs and reels

The Festival of Small Halls is a week-long Island music event, showcasing the province's many talented performers, with a focus on bringing traditional music and dance into tiny communities all over PEI. Our dear friend Irish Mythen was invited to perform at the festival, so Chris & I were more than wiling to check it out. Her performance was part of the "Go See the Ladies" event at the Victoria Playhouse in beautiful Victoria-by-the-Sea this past Friday night. She joined local performers Catherine MacLellan, Ellen MacPhee, and Pastelle LeBlanc. Both Ellen & Pastelle had Pascal Miousse join them on guitar. Pastelle & Pascal are members of the Acadian group, Vishten.

After the show in Victoria, we then headed onward to North Granville, where we took in the "Late Late Show" at the Lupin Valley Barn. As the festival contains many different shows on the same night, the Late Late Show was an opportunity for all the performers of the night to gather together at the same venue to keep the party going. That was like a traditional kitchen party - what a great time! Here are some photos* from the night:

Ellen MacPhee and the Scottish smallpipes, with Pascal Miousse on guitar:

Irish Mythen:

Catherine MacLellan:

Pastelle Leblanc & Pascal Miousse:

Onward to the "Late Late Show" - this is the outside of the Lodge (or barn):

Cynthia MacLeod & Gordon Belsher:

Irish again, with a little help from Nikki Shieck on sax:

Andrew White and The Once:

Vishten:

Hats off to the organizers of this event for its success, and to the many, many entertainers who gave their time and talent!

*All photos with the exception of the first one courtesy of Chris Wilkinson (let's face it - he's the photographer, and well, his photos turned out much, much better!)