ABRAM-VILLAGE – Jan. 12, 2022 – Islanders will be treated to what could probably be considered a “command performance” Saturday, Feb. 4, starting at 7:30 p.m. Mary Frances Leahy, the eldest daughter and “crown princess” of internationally renowned fiddling royalty Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, and PEI’s very own regal fiddler J.J. Chaisson, who is a member of the Souris area’s own royal Chaisson fiddling family, will be hitting the stage full force.
The Village musical acadien, located at 1745 Route 124 in Abram-Village, is overjoyed to be able to host these two highly reputed musical sensations, along with their high-energy and equally talented backup band as a key part of the Evangeline Region Winter Carnival. Local bassman Rémi Arsenault from the band Gadelle, who regularly plays with Natalie and Donnell, and Island guitar wizard Jake Charron, from The East Pointers, will back up both guest fiddlers. Cuban drummer and percussionist Frank Martinez will join the crew to back up Mary. The evening is expected to turn into “a ferocious fiddling frenzy” in no time at all.
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY
Mary Frances Leahy, who was born and raised in Douro, Ontario, is only 17 years old but has been playing fiddle literally from the age of 3 years. Her parents, originally from Cape Breton, taught her the basics when she was starting out; she then took many lessons from various other fiddlers, thereby broadening and perfecting her style of playing. She’s also a talented piano player and a proficient stepdancer.
She’s been touring all over the world with her parents and her younger siblings (which now number six!) for several years now. North America was treated to an overdose of cuteness from the MacMaster-Leahy kids when they appeared on the 2017 season of NBC’s “Little Big Shots” next to Steve Harvey. Mary, then only 12, led the whole crew as they fiddled and stepdanced their little hearts out in perfect unison. Mary has performed on several of the family’s contemporary Celtic albums but just recently released her first solo album.
FISHING FIDDLER OR FIDDLING FISHER?
In addition to being a reputed multi-instrumentalist, J.J. Chaisson is also known as “The Fiddling Fisherman” since he is a lobster fisherman who operates a fishing tour on his boat “Chaisson a Dream” during the tourist season. While supper is cooking and while people area enjoying their meal, J.J. treats them to a fun and lively show right on the boat. His sense of humour and his ease with everyone make him a natural for this type of job.
J.J. has collaborated on several award-winning recordings, including several solo albums: In the Genes (when he was only 14), Class Act and The Gift, which earned him the title of Instrumentalist of the Year at the PEI Music Awards. He was the youngest player featured on the Rounder Records CD The Fiddlers of Prince Edward Island.
He also acted as front man for the Celtic rock band Kindle, which was named Best New Group at the 2000 East Coat Music Awards. He has played with various other musicians and toured widely as a solo artist. He’s been all over Canada and the United States as well as Denmark. His guitar-playing skills also earned him an invitation to play at the Guitar Summit for Celtic Colors 2014 in Cape Breton.
Tickets for this show are $20 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under, and free for preschoolers. Tickets are being sold online at www.villagemusical.com. If there are any ticktes left, they will be sold at the door. This show is made possible thanks to contributions from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Canadian Heritage.
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PHOTOS: Mary Frances Leahy and J.J. Chaisson will be creating quite a fiddling frenzy as they perform Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Village musical acadien in Abram-Village. Tickets are now on sale.
For more information:
Marcel Bernard
President
Village musical acadien
marcel@villagemusical.com
902-315-1434