ESKASONI, N.S. — Eskasoni’s Emma Stevens, an Indigenous singer who gained international recognition after recording Paul McCartney’s song Blackbird in Mi’kmaq, opened the Unama’ki Mawui’mi: A Cape Breton Gathering by singing the song that earned her an invitation to meet the famous former Beatle backstage at his Vancouver concert in July.
The 16-year-old Stevens was joined onstage for the Celtic Colours event by well-known Cape Breton fiddler Colin Grant and guitarist Carter Chiasson. The trio played before a full-house of about 300 people at the Sarah Denny Cultural Centre in Eskasoni.
The Monday afternoon session also included performances by fiddlers Mooney Francis and Anita MacDonald, and the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers. The event was hosted by the Eskasoni Band Council.
