Brett Thoms
Shawville March 19 2022
The house was packed on Saturday at the Little Red Wagon Winery as people gathered to attend a Celtic music concert performance by Dennis Alexander and Friends.
The group of musicians was composed of Dennis Alexander, Frank Cassidy, Jeff McClintok and Ellen MacIssac.
The band played a variety of Celtic music . . .
ranging from Irish, Scottish and beyond. They played instruments ranging from the fiddle, the accordion, the banjo and the keyboard. Ellen Maclssac, who is familiar with various Gaelic languages, even sang a few songs in Irish and Scottish Gaelic.
Many of the songs had a connection to Irish folklore, or of loss and romance. For example, one song performed by the group was about a woman who dressed as a sailor to follow her love who had been drafted off to war. Another more tragic story, about those who had to leave Ireland to work in England and longed to return to their homeland.
Alexander, who is Pontiac native from North Onslow, is an accomplished fiddler and fiddle maker.
“I feel right at home here,” said Alexander about his return.
“It just so happened that you know, things have been opening up around St. Patrick’s Day so it gives us a good time to celebrate, play some music together and enjoy the company of all of these great people,” said Cassidy about the night.
He went on to say that the fact they were playing Celtic music around St. Patrick’s Day was incidental, given their significant experience playing traditional Irish music and therefore playing it all year round.
“The venue is lovely, said McClintok. “I mean, it’s got a lovely acoustic sound to hear.”
The crowd was encouraged to participate in the performance as they sang along, clapped and stomped along with the rhythm of the music.
The band liked the crowd and the crowd seemed to like the band back, as the winery stayed full throughout the performance.
Live music performances are booked at the Little Red Wagon all the way up until August according to Scott Judd, its owner.
