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The Ballagh Bunch featured at this year’s Fiddlefest Aug. 6-10

July 30, 2014   ·   0 Comments

The 64th Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship will take place in Shelburne next week, with The Ballagh Bunch among this year’s entertainers.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Shelburne, the five-day festival features Canada’s top fiddlers in competition for thousands of dollars in prizes.

As usual, community events in conjunction with the Championship include camping, a giant fiddle parade, an open air market, non-denominational church service and 24-hour meals at the Legion, and organizers are working on adding more experiences to make the 64th a spectacular not-to-be-missed package of fun and entertainment.

This year’s event will start with a Barn Dance and Jamboree at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, at the Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex (CDRC), which later in the week will also be the scene of the fiddle contest. The fun-filled evening of open mic playing, dancing, and singing will be hosted by a CKNX Wingham personality. Admission is $5 payable at the door.

The Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship starts with the playdowns on Friday, August 8 at 1 and 7 p.m. at the CDRC (Shelburne Arena). Classes that will compete in the afternoon include the young (9 and under, 12 and under) and the young at heart (56 and over). The evening features the remaining classes, including Duet, Novelty, Junior Champion, and Champion. Contestants are already registered from as far away as New Brunswick and Alaska.

The contest finals on Saturday, August 9 at 6:00 p.m. will feature the competition, entertainment by The Ballagh Bunch, and the judges’ showcase with Webb Acheson, Chuck Joyce, and Karen Reed.

The Ballagh Bunch will also perform in Saturday afternoon’s fiddle and stepdance show at 3:15 pm.

The Ballagh Bunch is a group of lively, energetic performers, who put on numerous shows containing Irish, Celtic, Scottish and traditional Canadian music stylings. With a variety of musical instruments, such as fiddles, drums, guitar, vocals, feet and much more, the Ballaghs put on a thrilling and captivating show that is sure to please everyone with its unique variety. The three older siblings, Devan, Michael and Paige, have obtained multiple step dance titles, including Canadian Open Step Dance Champions in both group and solo classes.

This award-winning group starred in an eight-week run of Drayton Entertainments’ production of Canadian Loonie, which was then followed by a sequel, Sorry I’m Canadian. The Ballagh Bunch have been performing as a group for 10 years at various theatres, festivals and fairs. Their creative rhythms and arrangements, along with the visible joy of making music together, make their performance quality second to none. The love for composing also comes through in their music, and their show features original material and arrangements. You will be sure to enjoy their toe-tapping show!

Becketts return to Shelburne

After an absence from the Shelburne competition of almost a decade, the Rotary Club is excited to present Linsey and Tyler Beckett in concert on Thursday, August 7 at 7:30 p.m. The Beckett Family is sure to get your toes tappin’ with their arrangements of traditional country music and old time fiddling. Their show captures the corners of traditional music from Western Swing to Bluegrass, includes exhilarating step dancing, down home humour, ole tyme fiddling and special guests. The Beckett Family have three recordings available, “Fiddlin’ 4 Generations,” which included great grandpa, Elmer Beckett, “Changing Times” and their latest, “The Roots of Our Raising.”

Proceeds of the Fiddle Championship support Shelburne Rotary’s many charitable projects, including: development of, and major financial contribution to, new BMX riding area in Greenwood Park; renovation and expansion of the Centre Dufferin Recreation Centre (Shelburne Arena); Headwaters Health Care Centre; re-development of the Shelburne Library; Girl Guides and Boy Scouts; minor sports, such as: hockey, baseball, figure skating, lacrosse, soccer; Shepherd’s Cupboard food bank and many more!

Ticket prices, information

Event Package (Thursday evening, Friday and Saturday) adults $45, youth (12 years and under) $22;

Beckett Family Show (Thursday, 7 p.m.), adults $20; youth $10;

Competition Playdowns(Friday, 1 and 7 p.m.) adults $10, youth $3;

The Ballagh Bunch (Saturday, 3:15 p.m.) adults $7, youth $2;

Fiddle Championship (Saturday, 6 p.m.), adults $20, youth $10.

Tickets: By phone at 519-925-8620 or at www.ShelburneFiddleContest.com/tickets.

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