Fiddling runs in the family for Cape Breton fiddle maestro Natalie MacMaster, who comes to Lethbridge to share the stage with Johnny Reid, Feb. 13.
MacMaster began fiddling professionally as a young girl of 16 and his since released 11 albums.
She married fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy in 2002.
Now their children are fine fiddlers who sometimes join them on stage, though they won’t be part of her slot on Johnny Reid’s tour, which comes to Lethbridge on Feb. 13 at the Enmax Centre.
“It will just be me,” MacMaster said after the first date of the 10 week tour with the country/ pop superstar in Vancouver at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
“ It’s amazing just how great they are,” she said.
“For sure we’ve encouraged them. We got them started at age four. If you get them started young, then they will get to like it, or find out if they like it whether it is music or hockey or other sports ,” she said.
“They’ll go on sleepovers with their friends and their bring their fiddles because they just love to play,” she continued.
She is excited to join Johnny Reid on tour for the first time.
“I’ve never toured with him before, but I’ve worked with him,” she said.
“I get to be a special guest with him in the middle of the show,” she said adding she will be joined by her 10 piece band.
“It‘s excellent to be able to play for Johnny Reid’s fans,” she said.
“ It’s an exciting show, people will come out of it feeling completely fulfilled on all levels,” she enthused.
She is looking forward to doing some writing with Reid during the 10 week tour.
She noted she has mostly been touring Stateside, but is glad to be back in Canada.
“About 90 per cent of my touring is in the United States,” she said adding it is a great feeling when people respond to traditional Cape Breton music in other countries,.
“It’s really gratifying. It’s like a fairy tale. I’m just playing traditional Cape Breton music that I grew up with. And people just get it,” she said.
“ It isn’t something that I would have expected,” she continued.
She is excited to bring her show to Lethbridge.
“ I’m playing with a 10 piece band. They’re all great players. It”s really fast paced. There’s instrumentals. I think it really strong,” she said,” adding there will also be some jamming with Johnny Reid.
“For sure. That’s the best part. So come out to see Johnny Reid and come and see him play. He’s the greatest writer. But he’s also an amazing performer,” she enthused.
Tickets for the show, which begins at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 13, cost $53.75-$88.75. Aaron Goodvin and JJ Shiplett are also on the bill.
