NOVEMBER 8, 2006

ATRS & ENT

ARTAIN

SNL

THE CADRE @ 16

Four PEI Music Awards Nominations for Catherine MacLellan

Kent Aitken Reporter

If nothing else, my conversation with longtime Islander Catherine MacLellan convinced me that on top of being a talented musician, she’s also

“just about the nicest person going, a great representative of our province. She has indeed been representing us; MacLellan just got home from a fall tour in Quebec and Ontario, where she snuck out several times over the last few years to keep her name on people’s lips.

Apparently it is around Prince Edward Island’s music community. The Prince Edward Island Music Awards ate slated for November 10th, and MacLellan’s name is everywhere. She’s obviously impressed some people that count, poised to be this year’s big winner, she’s been nominated

for Female Vocalist of the Year. Songwriter of the Year Album of the Year Folk Recording of the Year

All of which she thinks is “silly” - Not the awards, of course, simply the fact that she was nominated for so

many. Even for a Prince Edward Island based artist she’s humble.

“T think it’s a bit of recognition for what I’ve been doing. I’ve been really busy,” she explains. MacLellan has successfully been balancing touring to promote her album Church Bell Blues, working on her new album, and raising a child that turned 1-year-old on Halloween. “T’m taking a bit of a break right now to do some writing, getting ready for the new album which will be ready sometime in the next year. I’m going to keep touring somewhat steadily.” :

Part of that touring involves co- headlining the upcoming awards show this year, with Lifetime Achievement award winners Haywire. (reuniting for the event) and Group of the Year nominee Bluestreak. “I think [the PEI music scene] it’s stronger than it has been in a long time. We’re at another peak,” she says about the awards. Her basis for comparison is her string of appearances at Stanfest in Canso, Nova Scotia and last year at the ECMA

Photo: Google Photo Search Catherne Maclellan Press Photo Shoreline Music Line-Up

Roots Room. She also had been scheduled to play last summer’s Shoreline Festival as well - unfortunately lined up for the third day which .was rained out.

If you’ve ever listened to MaclLellan’s music, there is a timeless quality to it. The songs could have been written yesterday or forty years ago, testament to her storytelling ability, which fortunately is

accompanied by the strong, rich and noticeably confident singing voice it deserves. MacLellan, now in her mid- twenties, sounds deceptively experienced. I asked her how her musical style came to be what it is.

“My dad tried to instill in me a liking for “good” music, as he would have put it: folk and blues. It’s all a big mystery and I hope that never goes away.”

Answers to last week’s crossword —

DOWN ACROSS 1. Name for Greek city state. 1. Working class labourers 3 Type of Christie cookie. 12. Feline. 6. Capital of Ontario. ~ 20. Instead, in place of. 11. Anactress of tragedy. 26. Latin dance. 12. Type of Cigar 33. Brimless Hat. 25. Overbearing pride or arrogance. 41. “__ what?’ 40. A voluntary withdrawal from federation. 46. Born (maiden name reference) 49. Elephant tusk material. 50. Underwater projectile. 58. Sportswear company. 59. Reject. 60. City of Morocco. 65. “Aboy named __.” Song.

65. To remove fleece from.

73. Gr. “action” established practice. 83. Turnon, provoke.

108. A specific mode of gov’t.

115. Grass covered surface soil.

117. A wooden beam joint.

123. “Family Guy’ daughter.

125. Executive head of a company.

68. Indicates two.

72. A public address.

79. The extent of variation.

86. Adam’s girlfriend.

90. Stockwell ““__”.

99. Metallic element.

104. Gr. Myth Southeast wind god — 115. Greek philosopher/corruptor 123. Birthplace of Mohammed. 134. A system of doctrines.

139. Old World carnivorous animal

Crossword and Answers Courtesy of Shelly Bridges