Gathering tradition
Little Middle Fiddle Festival at Glenaladale—Nov 1
When fiddlers gather, fun is inevitable. Now picture 50 fiddlers, jam sessions, concerts, great food, dancing, and cheerful people. Prince Edward Island is crawling with fiddlers, and a brand new festival is giving them all a chance to play on November 1 for the Little Middle Fiddle Festival, happening at the Glenaladale Estate and Tracadie Community Centre from 10 am–10 pm. The festival will celebrate the abundance of fiddling tradition on PEI, with familiar Island favourites, as well as a number of talented performers whom even fiddling fanatics may not have seen before.
The day will begin at 10 am with another edition of The Listeners’ Room series in the beautifully restored Schoolhouse at Glenaladale, an intimate 50-seat venue with glorious acoustics. The series has presented a variety of music genres over the past year. This special event will feature fiddlers Rowen Gallant, Ray Knorr, Romy Munkres, Karine Gallant, and Rannie MacLellan.
Following the Listeners’ Room, participants are invited to grab their own fiddles and join in for a Fiddlers’ Brunch and Jam Session from 12–2:30 pm, led by local fiddling favourites and food offerings by Chef Robert Pendergast.
At 3 pm, the festival moves five minutes down the road to the Tracadie Community Centre for the 50 Fiddles Concert. Featuring solos, duos, trios, and group numbers, the concert will follow the Island tradition of “everybody plays.” Roaming fiddlers are invited to sign up and perform. A house band will be available for accompaniment, anchored by PEI’s own Richard Wood on piano. The concert will close with ensemble numbers with all the fiddlers in attendance.
Following supper at the Centre, the festival will move back to the Schoolhouse at Glenaladale for square dancing and open jam sessions. Three separate spaces will host the evening’s activities.
Tickets are available for the Listeners’ Room and the 50 Fiddles Concert by calling 902-394-6131 or emailing glenaladalepei@gmail.com. Fiddlers interested in participating may register by calling 902-314-7950.