HARVEY STATION STAGES WEEK LONG DON MESSER CENTENNIAL
What if Don Messer hadn’t died in 1973? Instead had regained his legendary zeal as a band leader, musician, composer and music entrepreneur?
Well, Canada and the global music village would certainly have been treated to many more years of fiddle driven Down East Music.
Only 63 when he died, Don’s TV career didn’t end with CBC-TV dropping his Jubilee as many now think. He had signed with CHCH-TV, an Ontario CTV affiliate, just a month after his last CBC-TV show aired and it was still on-going at the time of his death March 26, 1973. In fact, he had been working hard for weeks, preparing for his annual trip to Hamilton and the taping of 24 more Don Messer Jubilees.
Now, Harvey Station, after celebrating his May 9, 1909 birth with a three-day festival May 8-11, begins an even longer tribute to Don and his music. Billed as a Don Messer Centennial Celebration, Aug.1-8, it includes events in McAdam Station, Tweedside and Smithfield, as well.
Day Passes are $12 adults, for 12 and under $8(not including meals): visit website, www.ticketbreak.com or phone 1-866-943-8849. It’s eight days of family friendly entertainment starting this Saturday with: a Country Breakfast with fiddler Jesse Munkitrick at Harvey Curling Club for $8. 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. there are Artisan, Fiddle Making and Messer Memorabilia Workshops at the village’s Elementary gym ($2 or daily pass); 10 a.m.-4 p.m. a Fiddle Extravaganza at Harvey Rec Tent featuring Ivan and Vivian Hicks, Wednesday Night Fiddlers, Krista Touesnard & Carolyn Holyoke, Katherine Moller, Celtic Discovery Troupe, Fredericton Fiddle Orchestra, Will Toner & Kim Moller, emcee Rob Bagnell; 3 p.m. a Book Signing of Man Behind The Music, the Messer biography, by Johanna Bertin; 8-10:30 p.m. Canadian Fiddle Champ Scott Wood performs his Stay Tuned Show in the Harvey Rec Tent. Don’s long time manager Ken Reynolds and Johnny Forrest are attending
Sunday, 7:30-9 a.m., there’s a Country Breakfast at Cherry Mountain Masonic Lodge, $7 with fiddlers Tony Reader & Friends; 10-11:30 p.m.an Interfaith Church Service at Harvey Lake Shore (Route 636); 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. an Artisans, Memorabilia & Fiddle Making Workshop again in Elementary gym; 1-3 p.m. a La Famille Arsenault Kitchen Party, Harvey Rec Tent; 4:30-6:30 p.m. a Country Church Dinner at St. Andrews United for $12 and 7-10p.m. a Country Gospel Fest with local groups at Harvey Rec Tent.
Monday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. there’s a New Brunswick Day Celebration at McAdam Station featuring tours, dinners, shows and fireworks. 7-10 p.m. a Country Show & Dance at Harvey Rec Tent featuring Marge Howe, Allison Inch and Friends.
Tuesday, 7:30-9 a.m, there’s a Breakfast Buffet at Tweedside Hall with fiddler Debbie MacMillan $7; 9-10:30 a.m. a Don Messer Dance Experience (Square Dance) and another 10:30 a.m.-12 noon (Round) learning to waltz, fox trot and polka the way they did in Messer’s day, refreshments provided, at Harvey Rec Tent (to register, phone (506) 366-5766);12 noon-6 p.m., a Fiddle Competition at Harvey Rec Tent; 4-6:30 p.m. a Spaghetti Dinner at Newmarket Rec Center, Smithfield $10; 7-10 p.m. a Country & Western Variety Show featuring The Fiddling Landrys, Matilda Murdock, Kathleen Gorey-McSorley, Gaelstrum and Fiddling Competition winners at Harvey Rec Tent.
Wednesday, 7:30-9 a.m., a Country Style Breakfast at Harvey Lions Club $7 features fiddlers Donnie Watson & Ethel Piercy; then, a repeat of Tuesday’s 9 a.m,-12 noon dance workshops at Harvey Rec Tent; 2-5p.m., a Country & Western Concert by Dr. Ned Landry, Just Friends, Winston Crawford, Al Sherwood, others; 4-6:30 p.m. a Bar-B-Q Pork Dinner at Knox Presbyterian Church; 7:30-10:30 p.m. a Kingclear Jam/Dance at Harvey Recreation tent.
Thursday, Aug. 6, 7:30-9 a.m. there’s a Country Breakfast with fiddler Harold Cleghorn at St. Andrews United $7; 9 a.m.-12 noon an Open Fiddle Jam for anyone who plays, sings or dances at the Harvey Rec Tent; 2-5p.m. an Old Time Fiddle / Country Show & Dance at Harvey Rec Tent with Saint John River Valley performers; 7-10 p.m. a Harvey Grand Ole Opry Show featuring “C” Company with guests Fred Shaw, Allison Inch, Noel Nason, others.
The Celebration continues, Aug. 7 & 8, with Messer themed Harvey Community Days.
LINCOLN MUSIC TOMORROW
An Evening of Old-Time Country Music & Dance, Friday, 7 p.m, at Lincoln Lions Club features Debbie MacMillan, fiddle; June Blanchard, keyboards; Garth Jones, guitar; Jack McAffee,drums, Art Estabrooks, bass and vocalists Ernie (a.k.a. Antique Ernie) Blanchard, Dennis Tompkins, Terese Shannon, Priscilla Gaudet, Patrick Kelly, Roger Hunter, Tina Oviatt, Angie Siddall, others. Admission is a donation at door.
BAXTER/MOORE REUNION MONDAY
A joint Baxter/Moore Family Reunion on New Brunswick Day, Aug 3, at Nauwigewauk Community Center started with Harry Baxter writing: “I’m 74, and after serving in the RCAF lived in BC from 1970-2003. Now, living in Riverview, NB, I feel a need to meet relatives.”
This 2009 Reunion opens with a Family History DVD viewing 1-2 p.m., followed by four hours of musical entertainment:15-25 minute sets by Roy Clayton & Friends, Justin Baxter & Friends, Carl Baxter, Sylvia Campbell & Geraldine Charters, Ernie Baxter, Flossie & Glossie, Paul Porter Naigle, Bob Baxter & John, Harry, Hollie & Ernestine Baxter, Juanita & Frank White and Jessica & Friends. Then the Tuesday Night Tradition band…Ruth & David Branscomb, Kenny, Randy & Lynn Herrell…play modern/ traditional country and country rock, 8-10 p.m., for a dance.
JENNIFER FOSTER SATURDAY
Jennifer Foster (a.k.a. Jennifer LFO) performs selections from her new CD, Songs From The Alien Beacon live Saturday, 9 p.m. at the Blue Olive, Saint John.A Hampton native Jennifer is traveling with her Toronto band.
MIRAMICHI FOLKSONG FESTIVAL
Tickets to the Official 52nd Miramichi Folksong FestivalOpening Concert by Acadian folk singer songwriter Edith Butler and fiddling sensation Samantha Robichaud, Monday, Aug. 3, 7 p.m. at Miramichi Civic Centre are $25 at Bill’s Quick-Way and Book’s Inn, Miramichi, Stitching Post, Bathurst (call 622-1780 or 623-2150). They’re $30 at door.
A Pre-Festival Open Air Gospel Concert, Sunday, 2 p.m., on the Beaverbrook Kin Centre Patio features Trinidad born David Gopee with local performers (free will offering). An NB Day breakfast with music, Monday, 9-11:30 a.m. at the Kin Centre is adults $6, children $3. Aug 4-6 daily Noon Luncheons & Live Music 11:30 a.m.-1p.m. cost $12 adult, $6 children. There is a Tribute To The Late Allen Kelly, the Festival’s longest performing lumber camp singer, Aug 4 at 2 p.m.; a Special Children’s Day show Aug 5, 2 p.m. limited to 15 applicants, call 622-1780 by Aug 1. A Storytelling workshop, Aug.6, 2 p.m.
Besides the Edith Butler Opening Night Concert at Miramichi Civic Centre, there are four evening concerts at the Kin Centre. The AUG.4 CONCERT, features the Miramichi Fiddlers, David Stone, Melamie Ross Breen, Gerry Roberts from Ireland, Frank McGibbon, Cathy Daigle, many others. The AUG. 5 CONCERT, features The Fiddling Landrys (Alexander & Allison), the great grandchildren of Ned Landry, who fiddle, play various instruments, sing, and yodel, plus many other performers. The AUG. 6 CONCERT features NB’s music ambassadors Ivan & Vivian Hicks, Robert Currie, Gerry Roberts, Steve Heckbert, Wesley Jagoe, Melanie Ross Breen, Smith School of Highland Dance, the Gillis Family, Elizabeth Smith, Peter Pacey, many more. A Jam Session follows at Black Horse Tavern across from Kin Centre.
The above Evening Concerts start at 7:30 p.m., are $12 advance, $15 at door. The Closing Concert, AUG. 7, 6 p.m. is a Dinner Theatre titled Whoop, Step & Driver performed by the Hertiage Players. Tickets are $25 by reservation only. Call 622-1780 or email bb2@nb.sympatico.ca
For more details visit www.miramichifolksongfestival.com.
FUNDY BAY FESTIVAL EVENTS
Events at the upcoming Fundy Bay Festival, Aug 6-9 in Saint John include a Seniors Tea-By-The-Sea featuring Debbie Myers in a Tribute to world famous Opry stars, Aug.7, 2-4 p.m. at the Cruise Ship Terminal. Debbie Nashville entertainer Shirley Myers sister. Their father was Gerry Myers of CKCW Radio’s Bunkhouse Boys. Debbie has been a New England club star for two decades. Visit web-site www.debbiemyers.net
An East Coast Country Showcase, Aug 7, 7 p.m. features Steve Lyons & Lost Highway with Sam Aucoin, Anna Marie Burke, Randy Vail, Joyce Boone, Reg Gallant, Marc Durelle, Del Warden, Allison Inch, Mark Hill, Chelsea Golding, Rick & Cheryl Russell, Clayton & Donna Colpitts. Tickets $12.50 at Beats & Bytes 652-2274, Saint John Sewing Centre 634-8757; Morris Music 672-5556 or at door.
Fundy Bay Festival’s Bluegrass Day, Aug. 8, 2 p.m.at River Valley Middle School, Grand Bay-Westfield, features Ray Legere & Acoustic Horizon, (Ray, Frank Doody and Paul Hebert0. There are only 200 tickets at $5 so hurry! Visit Grand Bay Pharmacy or call 738-8406. A pre-concert 45-minute fiddle, mandolin, dobro and 5-string banjo workshop, at 1 p.m. is $5, also.
