SOUTH CARTHAGE – New England Celtic Arts will present the popular Maine based trio Ti’Acadie at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Dec. 21 in So. Carthage, starting at 3 p.m. A pre-show jam will start at 2 p.m., and will include a Christmas carol session with Phill McIntyre and Jody Kasregis. Audience members are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam for a few minutes with the artists.
Ti’ Acadie (Ti’ Acadie means “a little Acadia”) is a folk trio and dance band based in Maine, which is part of the region including the Canadian maritime provinces known as Acadia. This versatile group is equally at home playing for concerts, contra dances, or Cajun dances. Band members Pam Weeks (fiddle, mountain dulcimer, guitar, singing), Jim Joseph (button accordion, 5-string banjo, mandolin, fiddle, jaw harp, percussion, feet, singing), and Bill Olson (guitar, bass, singing, calling), perform a variety of music: traditional French Canadian, Acadian, and New England dance tunes; songs from Maine including sea chanteys and maritime songs; Cajun waltzes and two steps; old time southern tunes and songs; and original tunes written by band “tunesmith”, Pam Weeks, which range from sizzling reels and jigs to mesmerizing aires and sweet waltzes. In a concert, Ti’Acadie will tug at your heartstrings, singing a beautiful a cappella song in 3 part harmony, but be prepared, when these guys REALLY get going, with fiddle howling, guitar pulsing, accordion pumping, feet tapping.
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, but occasionally plays piano, mandolin, guitar, viola, cello, Celtic harp, flute, or saxophone. Her solid, rhythmic fiddle and dulcimer playing, often trading off harmony and melody with Jim, is the backbone of the Ti’ Acadie sound.
Jim Joseph normally plays one of three button accordions (a 3 row Castignari in A, D, & G; a single row Acadian Cajun accordion in C; and a single row Martin Cajun accordion in D). These, along with everything else he plays, make it hard to see him on the stage through all the instruments. But he is back there, having a blast with all his toys!
Bill Olson takes care of the “bottom end” usually on guitar, but occasionally on upright bass. His driving guitar “chunk” can be heard 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 (while playing! – how does he DO THAT??) and other bands, and has written scores of dances that are popular with other callers and dancers worldwide.
Skye Theatre 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. Reservations are required for this show. Call New England Celtic Arts at (207) 562-4445 for reservations and directions. More information at http://www.necelticarts.com
