Monday, Sept 17
For Immediate Release
Babs Batherson
Hi Everyone,
Thought I'd pass on some info on how the Minglewood Tribute went. Well on Saturday, Sept.1 the Government Wharf took on an air of excitement early in the day. The hustle and bustle started very early, the production company, CorDon, were busy getting the sound system set up and sound checks began immediately. I cannot say enough good things about the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and Fred Brooks, they went out of their way to make sure everything ran smoothly for us. What a great place to see and hear a live concert on the waterfront. I must mention the sound again, the PA was excellent. My compliments to CorDon! There were quite of number of fans that were delighted to hear that Labatt's and Keith's were the drinks of choice for the night. Not a sign of a Moosehead anywhere. The Kinsmen ran the beer concessions complete with fishing dories filled with ice and beer which the crowd managed to annihilate over the next two nights.The night opened with > The Blues Merchants who wowed us all with a few great rockin' blues tunes well sung by Ian Acker. Some of you might remember Ian from the band 'Battery' a few years ago. Ian is sounding better than ever. Wayne Nicholson was on next and I don't think I have ever heard him sound better. Wayne should tour more, he is a great singer and song writer and was the highlight of Friday night for me. He is currently signed with Loggerhead Records and has at least 3-4 recordings available. He did a version of an old Minglewood Band tune called' Nicholson Blues' written by Matt, Enver Sampson and the band years ago. Wayne also told some great Matt stories, one in particular about Matt sleeping on his couch for a week, while producing one of Wayne's recordings. All the while Wayne was playing the rain was threatening but held off. A chain-smoking Dutchie Mason was on next, even though his health is failing he, with the assistance of a wheelchair, commanded the stage like only Dutchie can. We got down to some real blues then with Dutchie's son Garrett on guitar and Bruce Moore(John Campbelljohn) on bass. The rain started to get a little heavy while Dutchie was on but nobody seemed to mind. The night was warm and a small drizzle of rain was a little release from the never-ending summer heat. Sam Moon, one of Matt's oldest and closest friends was on next. Sam is also godfather to Matt's daughter Aynsley. Sam had a lot of great Matt stories also to tell. He flew out in a flowing leopard print caftan and quickly launched into a Van Morrison classic that Sam has become known for called 'Moon Dance'. I think he must have made a mistake and said 'Rain Dance' because the heavens opened up with torrential rains with high winds that forced the rain sideways onto the stage. John Campbelljohn was due up next but the thunder and lightning started and it was time to call it a night. Too dangerous. We wanted it to continue as a living tribute to Matt so a decision was made to call it. The remaining artists all agreed to stay another night so weather permitting it was to continue the next night.
Matt was really bummed out to say the least, he was biting at the bit to play. My favourite line of the night was coined by Nigel Kearns, production coordinator for the concert when he said' Well, it's official now, Minglefest,we now have a festival." I failed to mention, right up until the moment the concert was postponed, nobody moved, the rain didn't seem to bother anyone. It was torrential but nobody was going anywhere. In fact it turned into the biggest wet T-Shirt concert Sydney has ever seen. There was magic in the air that night, 4,000 people that were there to hear great music and to support Matt. Rain pardon the pun didn't dampen anyone's spirits. I couldn't have been happier for Matt. After the rains on Saturday night we all headed for the Sydney Yacht Club which was practically next door to the concert and they agreed to lock the doors and let us party there all night. We were treated to Lennie Gallant (who was a surprise guest) and Matt singing together 'Black Spruce River' with just a piano accompaniment. Lennie was disappointed the concert was postponed as he wanted to do that song at the Tribute with Matt that night as a surprise guest. He couldn't stay over another night as he himself was booked elsewhere. Blair MacLean ( MacLean & MacLean) and Matt continued to entertain the crowd at the Yacht Club with some rousing drinking songs. Bruce Moore presented Matt with a beautiful blue jean quilt made by Sandy Brown. I will post some pictures of it. It is truly a work of art. All Matt's fellow musicians and close friends signed it. I know he will cherish it forever.
Both nights were great, good feelings, great karma, full moon, smiles on everyone's faces, couldn't ask for better fans. Everyone, plus those that could not make it on Saturday, returned on Sunday to swell the crowd. I had a concession set up with Cds, Tribute T-Shirts and hats for sale and had a huge collage of old posters and pictures taken over the past 30 years. The merchandise sold like hotcakes. If anyone is interested in the T-Shirts or hats they are still available either at live gigs or through Matt's web site. I would like to thank Julie, Shaun and Kevin. What great salespeople!
Sunday we awoke to sunny skies but with slightly chillier weather. Nobody seem to mind after the blazing summer heat, actually is was a welcome relief. We spent the day getting organized for the night. The second night opened with John Campbelljohn playing a 'Moose' penned tune called 'Excuse My Behavior' which I believe is the opening cut from John's just released CD called 'Nerves of Steel'. This cd had been released a while ago in Europe where John and the boys tour quite frequently and have built a loyal following. He did a great version of a Leon Dubinsky song 'The World Is Crazy' from their 'Hook, Line & Slinker' cd which won John a slew of blues awards in Canada. Next on board was Buddy & The Boys which opened their set with Ronnie MacEachern singing 'Driver MacIvor' soon followed by the crowd pleaser 'Working at the Woolco Blues'. Sam Moon next appeared on stage to introduce Matt to the crowd.
Giant spotlights appeared out of the dark to the top of the hill where a police escort of Harley motorcycles appeared followed by a white stretch limo which proceeded to the front of the stage. Matt dressed in his trade mark black hat and a blk leather jacket steps out so dramatically while playing a Rockin' Blues lick and immediately launched into East Coast Blues by the time he hit the stage. Matt said it was the first time the police escorted him to somewhere where he actually wanted to go. At the end of the East Coast Blues the Mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, John Morgan hit the stage. He stated that he and the council of the CBRM wish to express their pride in one of Cape Breton's favourite sons and they would like to thank him for the past 35 years, for expressing the culture and sentiments of our Island through his music. He ended by stating that Matt is truly one of Cape Breton's greatest Ambassadors. I was at the front of the stage taking pictures of Matt with the Mayor and wasn't paying attention to what was happening next. Someone ended up dragging me onstage where the Mayor presented me with a bouquet of flowers in celebration of putting up with Matt for over 35 years and more or less said 'behind every great man is a woman'. I will have to agree with him there! Couldn't have asked for a better crowd. The cheers were deafening and Matt had the crowd in the palm of his hand for the rest of the night. Grant, Neil, Jim and Dylan were all in top form.
Before Matt launched into 'Cape Crusader' he brought 'Moose' (Ken LaRocque) out on stage. The song was co-written by Moose, it is hard to say who was on stage the longest me or Moose. Matt did not know Moose would be there since he lives in Thunder Bay and was truly surprised and delighted. Matt continued the night doing all the crowd's favourites, ending with the crowd pleaser 'Can't You See'. All Matt's fellow artists joined him onstage and did a righteous version of Can't You See. For the first encore they jumped into the theme song for the night 'Rockin' The Blues' and they were finally allowed to leave the stage after doing 'Caledonia' where we even got to see Bette MacDonald and John Campbelljohn do a great jive on the side of the stage. The party had just begun for us! We commandeered the Yacht Club for another all-nighter. This time the Blues Merchants were on hand to entertain us for the night. We partied until the break of dawn. Note of interest - Matt's son Shane was the last one to leave the club on Saturday which just proves the adage ' What's in the dog is in the pups'. His son by the way who lives in Red Deer drove for 5 days to make it home in time for the tribute.
The next morning, feeling a little seedy, thirsty and hungry, we proceeded to the Crown & Moose Pub at the Delta where we continued our celebration with Sam/Dana, John Campbelljohn, Moose, Grant and a few others by stuffing ourselves with fried eggs and blood pudding before heading off in all directions. It was our pleasure to have Moose as a house guest for a few days. We were hoping to take him around the Cabot Trail but the weather had a different idea. Instead Matt and Moose spent the next few days penning a new tune that you all will surely hear on Matts next Cd We succeeded in turning Moose into a real scallop junkie and hopefully we will see him back next year.
As a Cape Bretoner it is hard to attend any form of entertainment on the island that does not feature some form of Gaelic or Celtic music. This one was certainly it. There wasn't a Gaelic or Celtic song to be heard which was refreshing to say the least. Not that I dislike Celtic music, we have just been overdosed with it.
Matt and I would like to thank so many people that made this event successful. Marg,Hilda, Joella and Max of Rave Entertainment, the production crew that made everything run so smoothly, Nigel and Bill. Julie and Shaun and Matt's brother Kevin ,who came down from Ottawa for the tribute, who helped me immeasurably. All the volunteer workers, friends who gave their time to work on our behalf, Debbie, Blue, Marcus, Drew, Colleen, Edie, Coleen, Bert, Gloria, Carole, Dan, Pearl, Joanne, Sue, Dana and Harold to name but a few. The CBRM, the Yacht Club, Kenny MacDougall from Island Folklore, Subway, Delta, CJCB-K94, Cape Breton Post, Sandy Cooke and the Halifax Herald that ran an amazing 4 page spread on Matt, Casino Nova Scotia and most of all the fans that came.
It is official, now it is going to be an annual 2 day festival held every Labour Day weekend called 'Minglewood Rock n' Blues Festival' which I am sure will be shortened to Minglefest(I rather like the name 'Minglewoodstock'). So any of you guys wishing you were there have a whole year to make plans. I will have some pictures of the night on Matt's site shortly.
Cheers
Babs