Post by Joe on Mar 4, 2006 20:14:04 GMT -5
Just in from Allister:
THE COTTARS YEAR END REVIEW, 2005
2005 proved yet another banner year for The Cottars of Cape Breton: a
second ECMA win; a 3rd CD; tours of Louisiana, California, and western &
eastern Canada; symphony shows; a concert with The Chieftains; appearances
at the big US festivals, and so much more. Here are some highlights:
The year began with the APAP Conference in New York City where the
Hilton was teeming celebrities. Following a performance at The Irish Arts
Center, The Cottars made the acquaintance of the latest edition of The Von
Trapp Singers (of "Sound Of Music" fame) and a friendship was begun. Later
that night, members of our entourage heard and met legendary guitarist Les
Paul at The Iridium on 51st and Broadway. At the airport, the Cape Breton
quartet ran into supermodel Cindy Crawford, who joined the Cape Bretoners on
their flight to Toronto.
Back home in Sydney, the band participated in ECMA celebrations. The
Cottars were thrilled to take the award for Best Roots/Traditional Recording
(for "On Fire), and then performed a big version of "Ready For The Storm"
on the national TV broadcast, complete with backing musicians and singers.
In February, The Cottars attended the Folk Alliance Conference in
Montreal, doing a show at The Hard Rock Cafe with both The Strawbs and
Canadian legends, Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Back at the hotel, members of the
entourage caught a set by the world-famous folksinger, Peggy Seeger (Pete's
sister).
In March, the quartet did a great show with John McDermott at Toronto's
luxurious Royal York Hotel. Days later, they saw the Irish band Lúnasa near
Harvard Square in Boston, then performed with Cherish The Ladies at Newbury
Port. Next it was off to Louisiana for an exciting St. Paddy's week.
April began with a tour of the Canadian prairies, where some band
members attended Juno Awards celebrations, and there ran into Burton
Cummings, Ron Sexsmith, and Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea).Later in the month, the group did two hugely successful shows with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax.
The spring schedule also included an extensive Maritime tour, as well as
an appearance in New York State where the Celtic quartet worked beside
Grammy Award winner, Tom Chapin (Harry's brother).
During the summer months, the band did The Stan Rogers Festival, an
outdoor concert with The Chieftains in PEI, a harbour-front concert in
Toronto, shows in The Berkshires in Massachusetts, The Adirondacks in New
York, and a bluegrass festival in Maine. August brought more appearances in
the US: Philadelphia, Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, New York, and Connecticut. A
highlight during this period was The Dublin Irish Festival, which attracts
80,000 patrons each year. Meanwhile, back home, the group performed at the
huge anniversary celebrations for The MacDonald Bridge and The Canso
Causeway.
The Cottars were kept busy throughout the fall with The Kansas City
Irish Fest, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton, and a wonderful tour of
California, where some band members caught comedian Dana Carvey (of "Wayne's
World" fame) live in concert. Next, following the signing of a US record
deal with Rounder Limited, the band recorded twelve tracks for a upcoming CD
("Forerunner"): seven of these were completed in Cape Breton, with the
additional five tracks being produced in Nashville. Gordie Sampson
supervised on the latter. In Tennessee, Jimmy Rankin dropped into the studio
to lay down a harmony track. Band members also saw bluegrass legend Jerry
Douglas in a 'live' performance.
The late fall brought more work in the northeastern US, Ontario, and an
extensive and successful tour of the dramatic Rockies area of Alberta and
British Columbia.
Besides performing, The Cottars had the opportunity to do some major
sightseeing: The Empire State Building, Carnegie Hall, Montreal's Notre Dame
Cathedral, alligators and paddle-wheelers in Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico,
dinosaur bones in Manitoba, Alice's Restaurant in Massachusetts, the Lake
George resort area of New York, the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Wheeling
in West Virginia, the steamboat Arabia (Kansas City), Banff National Park,
Radium Springs Spa, Haight-Ashbury and Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco,
the 1849 Gold Rush region of California, and the Shania Twain Centre in
Timmons, Ontario -- and too much more to mention.
Thanks to friends, family, associates and fans for making 2005 so
enjoyable and so memorable.
THE COTTARS YEAR END REVIEW, 2005
2005 proved yet another banner year for The Cottars of Cape Breton: a
second ECMA win; a 3rd CD; tours of Louisiana, California, and western &
eastern Canada; symphony shows; a concert with The Chieftains; appearances
at the big US festivals, and so much more. Here are some highlights:
The year began with the APAP Conference in New York City where the
Hilton was teeming celebrities. Following a performance at The Irish Arts
Center, The Cottars made the acquaintance of the latest edition of The Von
Trapp Singers (of "Sound Of Music" fame) and a friendship was begun. Later
that night, members of our entourage heard and met legendary guitarist Les
Paul at The Iridium on 51st and Broadway. At the airport, the Cape Breton
quartet ran into supermodel Cindy Crawford, who joined the Cape Bretoners on
their flight to Toronto.
Back home in Sydney, the band participated in ECMA celebrations. The
Cottars were thrilled to take the award for Best Roots/Traditional Recording
(for "On Fire), and then performed a big version of "Ready For The Storm"
on the national TV broadcast, complete with backing musicians and singers.
In February, The Cottars attended the Folk Alliance Conference in
Montreal, doing a show at The Hard Rock Cafe with both The Strawbs and
Canadian legends, Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Back at the hotel, members of the
entourage caught a set by the world-famous folksinger, Peggy Seeger (Pete's
sister).
In March, the quartet did a great show with John McDermott at Toronto's
luxurious Royal York Hotel. Days later, they saw the Irish band Lúnasa near
Harvard Square in Boston, then performed with Cherish The Ladies at Newbury
Port. Next it was off to Louisiana for an exciting St. Paddy's week.
April began with a tour of the Canadian prairies, where some band
members attended Juno Awards celebrations, and there ran into Burton
Cummings, Ron Sexsmith, and Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea).Later in the month, the group did two hugely successful shows with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax.
The spring schedule also included an extensive Maritime tour, as well as
an appearance in New York State where the Celtic quartet worked beside
Grammy Award winner, Tom Chapin (Harry's brother).
During the summer months, the band did The Stan Rogers Festival, an
outdoor concert with The Chieftains in PEI, a harbour-front concert in
Toronto, shows in The Berkshires in Massachusetts, The Adirondacks in New
York, and a bluegrass festival in Maine. August brought more appearances in
the US: Philadelphia, Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, New York, and Connecticut. A
highlight during this period was The Dublin Irish Festival, which attracts
80,000 patrons each year. Meanwhile, back home, the group performed at the
huge anniversary celebrations for The MacDonald Bridge and The Canso
Causeway.
The Cottars were kept busy throughout the fall with The Kansas City
Irish Fest, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton, and a wonderful tour of
California, where some band members caught comedian Dana Carvey (of "Wayne's
World" fame) live in concert. Next, following the signing of a US record
deal with Rounder Limited, the band recorded twelve tracks for a upcoming CD
("Forerunner"): seven of these were completed in Cape Breton, with the
additional five tracks being produced in Nashville. Gordie Sampson
supervised on the latter. In Tennessee, Jimmy Rankin dropped into the studio
to lay down a harmony track. Band members also saw bluegrass legend Jerry
Douglas in a 'live' performance.
The late fall brought more work in the northeastern US, Ontario, and an
extensive and successful tour of the dramatic Rockies area of Alberta and
British Columbia.
Besides performing, The Cottars had the opportunity to do some major
sightseeing: The Empire State Building, Carnegie Hall, Montreal's Notre Dame
Cathedral, alligators and paddle-wheelers in Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico,
dinosaur bones in Manitoba, Alice's Restaurant in Massachusetts, the Lake
George resort area of New York, the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Wheeling
in West Virginia, the steamboat Arabia (Kansas City), Banff National Park,
Radium Springs Spa, Haight-Ashbury and Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco,
the 1849 Gold Rush region of California, and the Shania Twain Centre in
Timmons, Ontario -- and too much more to mention.
Thanks to friends, family, associates and fans for making 2005 so
enjoyable and so memorable.