You are welcome Cluin.

A couple of days ago a friend asked me if I would drive him and others to a Ceilidh in Big Pond, out Rita MacNeil's way, around the end of the month. He said that Buddy MacDonald was singing. I knew it was scheduled but thought it was about 12 fiddlers and their accompanists. I had been reluctant to go because I believe thousands of Cape Bretoners have OD on fiddle music. (It's not really Oxycontin.)

Still reluctant to go but I checked the ad. Turns out it isn't Buddy MacDonald, or Buddy MacMaster, or Norman MacDonald on the bill but Howie MacDonald. Howie is a fabulous fiddler - plays sweet melodical, tunes, with loose rhythm, not the stiff scratch-scratch-scratch like some of them playing traditional. You might have seen Howie if ya saw the Rankin's perform live.

Another fiddler on the bill, Dwayne Cote, plays with a bright whimsical touch. He does amazing stuff. They called him back for several encores at the big Robbie Burns concert in Sydney Mines this year. One of the organizers of the Robbie Burns concert was mother of the Barra MacNeils, so there were plenty of fiddlers. Cote stole the show. Maybe this Big Pond Ceilidh ain't such a bad idea.