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SOUTH CARTHAGE – New England Celtic Arts will host Maine’s popular trio Ti’ Acadie at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage, Maine on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The concert will be preceded by a potluck supper starting at 6 p.m. followed by the concert at 7 p.m. The concert will feature lesser-known ancient and modern seasonal songs and tunes from Appalachian, Cajun/Zydeco, Gospel/Doo-wop, Celtic, Quebecois, and Maine traditions.
Band members Jim Joseph, Pam Weeks, and Bill Olson will be playing a variety of instruments including fiddle, hammered and mountain dulcimers, mandolin, cello, button accordion, banjo, guitar, and bass.
The trio is well known for their inventive instrumentation and gorgeous three-part harmonies.
The band owes its name (pronounced Tee Ah-Kah Dee) to its home base in Maine, part of the region including the Canadian Maritime Provinces known as Acadia (Ti’ Acadie means “a little Acadia”). The versatile group has derived its popularity from playing concerts, contra dances, and Cajun dances.
Pam Weeks is a talented multi-instrumentalist as well as a tunesmith. In Ti’ Acadie Pam focuses on Cajun, Old Time, and Quebecois fiddle, and mountain dulcimer in an amazing flat-picking style all her own, occasionally adding piano, mandolin, guitar, viola, cello, Celtic harp, flute, and saxophone. Her solid, rhythmic fiddle and dulcimer playing, often trading off harmony and melody with Jim, is the backbone of the Ti’ Acadie sound.
In addition to joining in on vocals, Jim Joseph plays button accordion, five-string banjo, mandolin, fiddle, jaw harp, and percussion. Bill Olson takes care of the “bottom end” usually on guitar, but also occasionally on upright bass. His driving guitar “chunk” can be heard on most clearly on the band’s Cajun and French Canadian tunes. For old time tunes he uses the traditional “bass run” flat picking style. Bill also calls contra dances with Ti’ Acadie and other bands, and has written scores of dances that are popular with callers and dancers worldwide.
Skye Theater is located 3 miles West of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Rd and US RT. 2 in South Carthage. Ticket price is $10 at the door. Call New England Celtic Arts at (207) 562-4445 for reservations and directions. More information at: www.necelticarts.com.
