The date is set, the hall and caterer have been booked and the chosen entertainment has confirmed their attendance. Planning for Celebrate Unity 2018, to be held Monday, March 5, at the Unity Community Centre, is well underway.
Along with recognition of community volunteers, new and long-time Unity businesses, and exemplary service award winners; a delicious meal and good conversation with friends and neighbours, prepare to be well entertained. Performing at Celebrate Unity 2018 will be West of Mabou, an acclaimed Saskatchewan ceilidh band of five. Your toes will be tapping to the lively Celtic music they perform.
One of CBC Saskatchewan’s 2017 Artists to Watch, West of Mabou performs lively dance music steeped in the rich traditions of Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle and pipe tunes.
You can check them out at their website, http://westofmabou.ca/.
Almost all the pieces are in place for Celebrate Unity 2018. All that remains is for the Unity and District Chamber of Commerce to send out the invitation letters to this year’s selected honourees. Nominations are still open for the exemplary service awards.
If you know a business; business owner, manager or staff person; or a community volunteer who has gone above and beyond in serving the needs of our community, please feel free to make a nomination. Nominations are open until Monday, Feb. 5. Contact Helena by calling or texting 306-228-8780 or emailing helena@helenalong.com.
To attend Celebrate Unity 2018, watch for tickets to be available in early February at the Unity Credit Union.
West of Mabou band members are Scott Benson and Roberta Wallace, each on fiddle; Alex Rasmussen who plays pipes and whistles, Justin Easton on guitar and Jared Dormer on the drums. Each of the members is an experienced performer in his or her own right, having performed at festivals, competitions, pubs and ceilidhs around the world, including the World Pipe Band Championships, Canmore Highland Games, Western Canadian Music Awards, Canada Cup of Curling and the Ford World Men’s Curling Championships.
Together they have achieved such honours as making the Top Celtic Bands of 2017 on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast based in Austin, Tex.; debuting at number seven on the National Folk/Roots/Blues Chart, peaking at number 21 on the iTunes Canada World Music Chart and in first spot on the CFBX – Kamloops, B.C. – Folk/Roots/Blues Chart and getting international airtime in places as diverse as Maui, Hawaii; Glasgow, Scotland; Spall, Germany; Port Hawkesbury, Canada; Reading, England; and Indianapolis, Indiana. Their CD also made Album of the Week on the Blues and Roots Worldwide Radio Network.
The band has received glowing reviews, with comments such as “Lively, Celtic music highlighted by its virtuoso fiddle players and jubilant attitude” from Bucketlist Music Reviews in Montreal, Que., and “Great band. Great CD … I can’t stop listening” from Calum Macdonald of the Celticset in Scotland.
You don’t want to miss this lively evening of music, food and honouring of fellow community members.