Tatamagouche -
For the first time in nearly three years, accomplished fiddler Julie Johnstone will perform for a hometown crowd.
Johnstone will be joining a number of other well-known artists from the region on stage at the North Shore Recreation Centre in Tatamagouche on Nov. 28 during a charity variety show.
"It gives me great pleasure to return to my early musical roots that have grown and spread to include a number of genres of fiddle music from old-time to celtic and cajun," said Johnstone, nee Patriquin, now a resident of North River.
The Nova Scotian born fiddler was recently recognized in Celtic Life, a nationally distributed magazine dedicated to sharing the culture, tradition, history, music and stories of all Celtic people.
In the past Johnstone, an award winning fiddler, has opened for country recording artist Cindy Church, and shared a stage with countless musicians, playing a wide range of different musical styles. For the last five years she has been a member of Andy LeBlanc and The Band.
Johnstone and her sister Sherry Martell have organized a night of music to help raise funds for a charity they feel passionately about, Pippa's Place, a loving home for AIDS orphaned and abandoned children in Kenya.
"Sometimes in our busy lives we are very shortsighted, only seeing the immediate needs around us," said Johnstone. "When I learned about this special project, I felt inspired by the woman tirelessly spurring it on, Dr. Pippa Moss, and was moved to help her on her journey to make life better for children who are suffering and are in desperate need of a loving family environment."
Moss lives in Tatamagouche, but works as a child psychologist at a clinic in Amherst.
With her very first paycheque more than 30 years ago, Moss sponsored a child in Kenya, and they have stayed in touch ever since. Five years ago, his daughter (also named Pippa) was born and contracted HIV at the hospital. That sparked Moss to see a need for better care for the children in Africa, many of whom don't even have parents, let alone sponsoring families from afar. As a result, Pippa's Place was born.
The show begins at 7 p.m., and will include performances by Greg Langille, Dana Jefferson, Kevin Aitchison, Bob and C.J. Prest and others.
Johnstone promises a toe-tapping exciting night of music, including country, celtic, rock and roll, old time, step dancing and more.
There will be early Christmas shopping opportunities, such as tree ornaments, wreaths, fudge, cakes, cards, and Johnstone will be donating the proceeds from the sale of her newest recording Passing On Tradition.
Refreshments will be served and admission will be by donation.
