LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK

Subject: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: DonD
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 09:43 PM

My wife and I are planning a trip to New Brunswick and PEI in conjunction with an Elderhostel in October and I'll be asking for advice on where to hear the best music up there.

But -- in reviewing tje excellent promotional brochures from NB I note that there are lots of pictures of musicians, and a surprising number of them are picking left-handed. I thought they had just printed the photos backwards, but some are on pages with other pix with 'mormal' pickers.

So -- are there many left handers in Mudcat? And/or are there many in NB for some reason? (In Newfoundland, I would have accepted it without question, eh.)

Subject: RE: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Gary T
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 11:30 PM

I'm a ways from New Brunswick, but I play left-handed. Since I like to be called normal, I'm glad you labeled those righties as "mormal". :-)

Subject: RE: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Hrothgar
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 08:09 AM

Shouldn't somebody who is left-handed be more careful with the "shift" and "caps lock" keys?

Remember, God only made a few people perfect. He made all the others right-handed.

:-)

Subject: RE: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Marcus Black Wolf
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 10:23 AM

Left handed Irish person here - who received many very useful tips on buying a new acoustic guitar when I asked for help here a few weeks back. It been, as you probably well know a real pain in the arse to get a good quality acoustic left-handed in a style you like. Especially as I did not want to go via the Martin or similar route tried and tested route!

Subject: RE: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: DonD
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 11:47 AM

Hey -- I'm 'mormal' (righty) but some of my best friends are ... -- no offense intended to lefties, Newfies, or anybody! I can take disparaging remarks about my typolexia. (Did I just coin a new word?)

Hrothgar -which way do you play? And can it be that there are only three southpaws on board? I've always wondered why instruments are played 'backwards' when the left hand does the hard work -- fingering -- and the right hand just (?) strums why wouldn't a player put his best fingers to work on the chords? Likewise with golfers -- for a righty, the left arm does most of the work and vice versa.

Subject: RE: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Marcus Black Wolf
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 03:43 PM

Don D, some left-handers do indeed play with their strongest hand on the fingerboard, and on a related note the most infamous left-handed guitarist of all, Hendrix, wrote with his right hand. Very few people are entirely left or right handed, I for example feel more comfortable using a right-handed mouse, eat with cutlery the 'normal' way round, but just cannot seem to get anywhere playing guitar right-handed. I probably could if I REALLY persevered as I can write tolerably with my right hand if needed - I have considered relearning the guitar right handed on more than one occassion to be truthful.

On a side note I am trying to remember where Hrothgar's name is from as it sounds familar :)

Subject: RE: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 05:38 PM

What is the connection between left handedness and being from Newfoundland? I'm left handed. Is that the reason for my obsessive fascination with the culture of Newfoundland?

Subject: RE: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Hrothgar
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 04:15 AM

I don't play at all. I'm equally inept with both.

Subject: RE: lEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 12:54 PM

Don, I am curious about what you learned about music in New Brunswick. I am from Houlton, just across the line in the US, and have been loooking for something in NB to go to when I am home for long periods. What's happening where?

By the way, I am mormal too but my sister ain't!

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: DonD
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 09:00 PM

Gee, Naemanson, I was fishing for that information from you -- or better still from some Catter(s) in NB and/or PEI. I believe that there are a couple of Irish pubs in St. John and Charlottetown, and there should be some Francophone stuff in Moncton, etc. but I'm still fishing.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 09:44 PM

The Mudcatter known as gnu lives near Moncton, NB. If you send him a PM, he might be able to help you guys out with some good info.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 11:03 AM

Whenever I have crossed the border in search of music, live or recorded, all I can find is rock or country. I think if you want live folk music you need to go further east to the other maritime provinces. I know there are some people down around St. John because I met them at my father's place but I haven't heard hide nor hair of them in at least 8 years.

I hope one of the maritime Mudcatters can help us out with this question.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: VoxFox
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 02:55 PM

I know of two things coming up in my area of NB. One is the Irish Festival in July, around the 18th to the 21st and then there is th e Miramichi Folksong Festival (45 years) on August 5th to the 9th (www.mibc.nb.ca/folksong)If I can get the other website I'll post it later. VF

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jun 02 - 06:37 AM

Just got a PM on this thread from CC (tks). I'll try to scare up some websites as time permits later today. I use to have a bunch on hand for all four Atlantic Provinces. However, the Great January Crash wiped them out. I'll post them as I find them, rather than waiting until I have gathered all that I can.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jun 02 - 08:27 AM

Here's a start.... the last one has links to a number of festivals.

http://www.mibc.nb.ca/folksong/default.htm

http://www.villagehistoriqueacadien.com/main.htm

http://www.sagouine.com/

http://www.sn2000.nb.ca/comp/parc-aboiteau-park/

http://festival.acadie.net/

http://www.tourismnbcanada.com/web/english/search/int.asp

The last one may contain some of the ones above. There are a number of festivals which are "local" and don't have much advertisement. I'll see what I can dig up.

As for local pubs, the only one in Moncton that I am aware of which has a website is.... gee !!!, where'd that go ? I'll be back.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jun 02 - 08:46 AM

http://www.monctonlife.com/

http://www.capitol.nb.ca/temp_eng.html

http://www.moncton.org/search/english/events/eventssearch.asp

Still looking for the schedule for The Pumphouse Brewery which features local talent every Saturday afternoon and evening.

I am sure that the brochures you have will give you the names of cities and villages to search, as I have done for Moncton. I don't know if the top link will take you directly to the Coliseum-Agrena as I had intended, so be sure to check it out.... Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, etc.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jun 02 - 05:02 PM

Okay then, I guess that's about it for me. Obviously, if any more was needed or if anyone else is interested, there would be someone else posting. Must be a dead thread with noone interested anymore. I'll post the Pump House Brewery uopcoming events when I get it.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Jun 02 - 05:06 PM

Gnu, I've been busy looking at all those sites. And I'm not even the one who originated the thread!

Thanks for the postings.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 06:50 AM

RATS !!!!

http://www.tourismnbcanada.com/web/english/search/int.asp does not work. And that page has a whole slough of events. I will go to http://www.tourismnbcanada.com, write down the steps to get to the page I intended, and post them here. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Nae... you're welcome. Only too happy to help.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 07:24 AM

http://www.tourismnbcanada.com/web/english/main.asp

Click search, click events. Go back to search and search music, festival, folk, lobster, etc.

The search can reveal some other interesting stuff if you search a placename, like Shediac... why the Shediac Lobster Festival doesn't come up under a search for music is beyond me. And there are lots of frolic but a search reveals no matches, even if you spell it frolique, bain jeezo ! The big fete is Aug 15 when flags and stars are everywhere and there is much celebration. But I'll be darned if I can find it... I guess it's too big to be described as an event. Just follow the Cajuns on their way up here.

Only one word of caution. When you visit a tourist town like Shediac, do not be surprised at the prices. Such towns have a lot of businesses which make their money in only four months. Of course, your US $ is around 1.65 Cdn, so it's not too bad. Just gas up before you cross the border, eh !

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: DonD
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 10:52 PM

Thanks, Gnu! I'm looking forward to being in St. Martin in October, so the festivals won't do me much good unfortunately.

I was more interested in pubs with music as wewander around before and after the week-long Elderhostel, maybe like the Pumphouse you mentioned.

How cold is it in October, anyway?

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 06:52 AM

In St. Martins you will be on the coast of the Bay of Fundy so breezy and cool (5C, approx, cooler than inland, but more steady) will most likely be the order of the day. Inland, during October, you may have your woolies on in the early morn and change to shorts and t-shirt by mid-morning.

For the southeastern portion of NB, excluding the Fundy coast, I am expecting dry, sunny weather, with cool nights (about 0 - 5 C) and warm days (15 - 20C) from the new moon, 6 Oct, to around 25 Oct. Although snow is uncommon in late Oct, it is not unusual, but it seldom lasts long because the sun is still strong and there is still eleven hours of daylight.

The reason I delineate "SE portion of NB" is that there is quite a difference in weather in NB as you travel north and, of course, into the hills. For instance, to get to St. Martins, you will travel through the Kennebecaisis (Sp ?) Valley near Sussex. This area has a growing season equal to southern Ontario, which surprises many people. However, 50km north, in the hills, you can only grow potatoes and pulp.

A word of caution. Drive slow after dark. Warm sun = warm pavement for an hour or two after dark. Moose like the warmth from the pavement. Them swamp donkeys weigh a thousand pounds and they got five foot legs. All you got is a windshield.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 02 - 08:58 AM

http://www.pumphousebrewery.ca in Moncton.

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 02 - 08:59 AM

Subject: New Brunswick (Canada) Summer Music Fest From: Celtic.Relics.com Date: 27-May-02 - 02:45 PM

There are plenty of great music festivals coming up this summer in New Brunswick Canada. Hope some are able to attend and able to take in some Maritime hospitality.

July 18-21, Canada's Irish Music Festival on the Miramichi. (http://www.canadasirishfest.com)

August 9-17, Festival By The Sea, in Saint John. (http://www.festivalbythesea.com)

September 11-15, Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, in Fredericton. (http://www.harvestjazzandblues.com)

Subject: RE: LEFT HANDED PICKERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK
From: Willie-O
Date: 23 Jun 02 - 09:08 PM

Thanks for all the links Gnu. I'm planning a road trip to NB about July 15-22. I want to to spend several days on Grand Manan I., look up relatives in Saint John/Kennebecasis area, and maybe take in some music what I can find...

by the way folks, you always spell out the Saint in Saint John, they don't like being confused with St John's, Nfld.

Willie-O