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Let’s have a ceilidh! What’s a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee)? It’s a joyful East Coast tradition — an evening where music, storytelling, laughter, and step dancing bring a community together. At the Stanley Bridge Hall, you’ll experience the very best of Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Island’s traditional music in one unforgettable night.
Set in the heart of the community, this lively evening features the wonderful Chaisson’s — Kevin Chaisson on piano, Louise Chaisson-MacKinnon on vocals, and fiddler Sheila MacKenzie — along with a rotating Cape Breton guest fiddler throughout the season, including  Troy MacGillivray and Andrea Beaton. Guiding the evening with warmth and Island charm is your host, Marsha Weeks, who welcomes visitors and Islanders alike with true PEI hospitality. If you’re spending time on Prince Edward Island, taking in a ceilidh should be at the very top of your summer must-do list.
Kevin Chaisson, a piano player from Bear River, PEI, comes from one of the Island’s most respected musical families. The Chaissons have played an important role in keeping traditional fiddling alive on Prince Edward Island and are closely connected to the beloved Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival. The family’s influence extends well beyond the Island, with members performing on international stages — including Kevin’s son Tim of the award-winning East Pointers.
Singer Louise Chaisson-MacKinnon brings a soulful voice and an impressive repertoire of Maritime favourites. From Anne Murray and Stan Rogers to The Rankins and beyond, her performances are filled with warmth, nostalgia, and songs that invite the audience to sing along.
Sheila MacKenzie, one of Prince Edward Island’s most admired fiddlers, began step dancing at just five years old before dedicating herself to the fiddle. A graduate of the Rollo Bay Fiddle Instruction Program, she has spent decades performing at ceilidhs, square sets, and dances across the Island. In 2006, she became the first female president of the PEI Fiddlers’ Society Executive Board and continues to share her love of traditional music with audiences and aspiring musicians alike.
Throughout the season, the stage also welcomes outstanding Cape Breton talent. Troy MacGillivray, originally from Lanark, Nova Scotia, began captivating audiences as a step dancer at the age of six. By thirteen, he was teaching piano at the Gaelic College in St. Anne’s, Cape Breton. With formal classical training, a degree in music, and international touring experience, Troy is celebrated as a master of both Cape Breton fiddle and piano.
Andrea Beaton, an acclaimed Cape Breton fiddler, composer, and recording artist, comes from one of Cape Breton’s most respected musical families. Known for her commanding bow technique and dynamic style, she has earned multiple awards and maintains an active international presence as both performer and teacher. Audiences especially love the energy, joy, and laughter she brings to every performance.
No ceilidh would be complete without step dancing, and you’ll be treated to world-class footwork that has to be seen to be believed. Gerard Beaton, from Mabou Cape Breton will be bringing his infectious energy and his sharp steps to Stanley Bridge. His dancing brings the music of our Scottish ancestors vividly to life and often have the crowd cheering for more.
All of this takes place in the charming Stanley Bridge Historic Women’s Institute Hall — an intimate venue with beautiful acoustics that honours the history of Prince Edward Island. The hall carries you back to a time when community gatherings were the heart of Island life. During intermission, be sure to bring a little cash for the Women’s Institute’s famous 50/50 draw and their equally famous ice-cream treats.
Come for the music, stay for the laughter, and leave with a little more Island in your heart.
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