ECMA 2012
Off to the ECMA’s in Moncton. Here’s my gigs: Friday, April 13th, 5:30 p.m. Plan B Lounge. Joining me are the always fabulous Iain Beaton (fiddle), Alex Keoughan (stand-up bass), and Jared Farney on drums. Then it’s on to the Cape Breton Embassy showcase at the Crown Plaza Hotel.. guaranteed to be a great party. I open at 9 p.m. with Kye Ehresman taking over the drumming duties, and the lovely and talented Jennie MacDougall on cello. On Sunday, it’s myself and Dylan Guthro closing out the SocanSongwriters Circle (Capitol Theatre, 1 p.m-3 p.m). Can’t wait!
Dylan Guthro launches new CD!
Opened for Dylan’s C.D. launch at the Carlton in Halifax. The sold out
crowd loved Dylan’s tunes. Congratulations bud!
Halifax Show- Thursday, Jan, 26, 2012, 8pm. Company House, Gottingen St.
Everyone’s invited to come out to my show at the “In the Dead of Winter” festival at the Company House, 2202 Gottingen Street, Halifax Thursday, Jan. 26th at 8pm. There’s some other great musicians on the show later in the evening including Mo Kenny at 9pm and Stewart Legere at 10 pm. Tickets are $12.00 in advance! See you there!
Cd Review in in Arts East Magazine!
Breagh MacKinnon
Voted Cape Breton’s Next Big Thing in a talent search contest, winsome young singer/songwriter Breagh MacKinnon presents 7 tracks on her self-titled debut EP. Her sweet, accomplished vocals are reminiscent of MoZella. The album is well-suited as backdrop for activities of quiet contemplation, like say, ironing or a long highway drive. Anguished but nicely restrained, Pretty Lies, begs multiple listenings: “You used me/ you said you loved me so/I’ve begun to realize/ you told me you would never let me go/they were all just pretty lies.” MacKinnon attends St.FX, working towards her degree in Jazz Performance, which should produce tremendous results. For musical samples: www.breaghmackinnon.com. – MP
Arts East Magazine
December 29th
Come out to “Songs and Stories” with Dave Sampson, Breagh Potter and myself! December 29th, 8pm at Flavour 19 in Sydney.
Nova Scotia Music Week
Off to Yarmouth today to play the Gordie Sampson Songcamp songwriters circle at Nova Scotia Music Week! Playing alongside Molly Thomason, Dylan Guthro, Mo Kenney, Dave Sampson, Carleton Stone and more. 5pm at the Art Gallery of NS (Yarmouth branch)
Dylan Guthro’s new album
Amazing day recording some vocals at Dave Gunning’s home studio for Dylan Guthro’s new album, very excited to hear the finished product!
Harvest Jazz & Blues Fest!
Off to Fredericton today for the Harvest Jazz and Blues fest today. Can’t wait to hear some great music, and sing some tunes with the lovely Babette Hayward:)
Show at the Upstairs Club in Sydney
Playing with some pals from St. F.X. tonight at the Upstairs Club in Sydney, 44 Dolbin St. Dave Sampson and I will be showing off some of our new tunes written at Songcamp, then the rock trio Pioneer Video will be closing out the show! 10pm to 1am.
Back from a wild week at Gordie Sampson’s Songcamp in Ingonish. So happy to have had the chance to learn from, and co write with such amazing songwriters. Had a whole lot of laughs and came away with 6 new tunes. I now have a case of the co-write bug! Off to Babette Hayward’s cottage in New Brunswick for a weekend writing retreat, with some other lovely songstresses later on this August!
Attending Gordie Sampson’s Songcamp in Ingonish
Taking off “down North” this Sunday to do some songwriting at the second annual Gordie Sampson songcamp. Come out and hear our new tunes at the Ski Cape Smokey Main Lodge on August 3rd at 7:30pm. Also featuring the talents of Carleton Stone, Molly Thomason, Mo Kenney, Jenny MacDonald, Dave Sampson, Dylan Guthro & more! Tickets available at Ingonish home Hardware, and Doucette’s Variety for $20.
The two Breagh’s at the Cape Breton Fudge Co.
Very excited to be welcoming the lovely Breagh Potter back from touring with the Tom Fun Orchestra, to play a long-awaited duo show in Sydney! Thursday, July 28th on 15 Prince St. from 7pm to 9pm. Can’t wait:)
Last minute show at the CoHo!
I’ll be spending the weekend in Halifax, catching Mo Kenney, and Ria Mae tonight! Then back to the Company House tomorrow night to open for Bonnie Ste-Croix, show starts at 8PM, 2202 Gottingen Street.
Back in Sydney!
Back to work for the week.. Big thanks to Troy Greencorn, and the crew at Stanfest:) Had an unbelievable time. Met some amazing people and heard some lovely music from some favourites such as Ron Hynes, Catherine MacLellan, Rose Cousins, Del Barber, Mike Biggar, Babette Hayward, Mary Gauthier, the Spring Standards and many more!
Stanfest 2011
Hi everybody, got some exciting news this week! I won a short “tweener” showcase at Stanfest this weekend! I’ll be playing on the Mainstage from 9:45-9:55 pm, Sunday, the closing night of Stanfest. Can’t wait to hear some great music, and play for such a great audience:)
Antigonish Show with Molly Thomason, Friday May 27th
I’m off to Antigonish Friday to open for Molly Thomason’s CD launch at Dennis Hall, Coady Centre, St. FX, May 27th at 8 PM. Other Guest Artists including: Dale Murray, Christina Martin, Carleton Stone, Ruth Minnikin, Mo Kenney, and The Blue Engine String Quartet! If you’re in Antigonish, stop in and buy a copy of the new album!
“Heartstrings” is now # 4 on East Coast Countdown!
Thanks to all my friends and fans for keeping “Heartstrings” on the East Coast Countdown chart! here’s a link to the show:
http://www.eastcoastcountdown.com/
“Heartstrings” is now # 6 on the East Coast Countdown!
Thanks to all my friends and fans for listening to and voting for Heartstrings- it’s now #6 on the East Coast Countdown! Here’s a link to the countdown web site:
http://www.eastcoastcountdown.com/
Breagh MacKinnon on CBC’s Atlantic Airwaves (radio) Saturday May 14, 2011 5:05 pm
Just recorded an interview with CBC’s Atlantic Airwaves to be played on Saturday May 14, 2011 at 5:05 pm. if you’re free at that time, give it a listen! They’re also going to play some of the cuts from the album!
Showcases during ECMA’s, Charlottetown!
Come out to my showcases during the ECMAs.
I’ll be doing a solo acoustic show on Thursday, March 14 at 2:30 pm. at the Members Lounge, Delta Hotel
I’ll have my band with me for my ECMA showcase on Saturday, March 16, 11:30 a.m. on the Discovery Stage at the Murphy Community Centre.
Hope to see you all there!
Breagh
CD Sold Out
Apologies to people who have been trying to buy my c.d. (released Dec.
19th) and have not been able to find a copy. We are largely sold out.
New copies will be coming soon. It can also be downloaded on-line at
CD Baby or Itunes.
eastcoastcountdown.com
Breagh’s single “Heartstrings” was the producers pick on the Eastcoast Countdown!
The East Coast Countdown is a weekly, nationally-syndicated radio program that features the Top Ten hottest songs from Atlantic Canadian artists as voted by the public at www.eastcoastcountdown.com. In addition to the top songs of the week, the East Coast Countdown also plays some ”Producer’s Picks”, interviews with the artists as well as some old favorites.
The East Coast Countdown broadcasts on stations in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, Nunavut and internet radio as well.
What’s Goin On album review by Devon Strang
Local singer songwriter Breagh MacKinnonreleased her self-titled debut recording in January. The EP is a surprisingly strong effort for someone who left their teenage years behind only a month after the album’s release. With limited performing experience under her belt, MacKinnon has quickly developed a knack for melody and lyrics, and her guitar playing and arranging skills are compelling and even refreshingly unique. Joined by guests Jennie MacDougall on cello, Redmond MacDougall on percussion and banjo, Max Mackeigan on bass, Emi Xidos on bass, Eric Pushie on electric guitar and Todd Mercer on drums, the instrumentation is kept sparse and simple for the most part, but serves to create an accessible listen that puts the songs front and center.
The album begins with the haunting “Layers” that features a syncopated guitar trading off on a tasty lick with the bass guitar and vocals. Banjo and hand percussion join in to help drive a more straightforward pulse that frames the sophisticated and catchy chorus.
“Knees” is driven by staccato plucking of the stand up bass, while a muted guitar sound adds an almost ukulele-like exoticness that complements the playful lyrics.
“Heartstrings” is an accomplished full-band pop-rock production, whose anthemic chorus and string-section infused climax would sound right at home blasting from a car window during a late Summer “Top Nine at Nine”.
The guitar and bass of torch song “Pretty Lies” slink, creep and run along like the sly thief who makes off with the heart of the tune’s protagonist. The noir tone of the music and the vocals combine to form a chilling backdrop to this tale of “lazy days and crazy nights”.
“Encore” offers a more straight up, upbeat folk feel with a lone lo-fi guitar strumming out a whimsical tale of the “garden girl” and her friend the fortune teller.
“Inhale Exhale“‘s minor chords bring the focus back to a more sophisticated sound. The sparse instrumentation and laid back feel are still rooted in folk, but a lyrical and sonic darkness adds a touch of mystery and maturity. Hand percussion kicks in near the mid-point of the song and provides a rhythmic lift.
“Good Man” provides a modern take on the Cape Breton working song, exploring the life of the breadwinner who must commute the length of Canada to provide for his family.
With local music scene fixtures Mike Shepherd providing album design, Nathan Boone supplying photographs and Chris Jones engineering the audio, this debut is a thoroughly professional effort and one all participants should be proud of.
- Devon Strang (http://www.whatsgoinon.ca)
Breagh’s EP now available on CDBaby
Breagh’s CD is available for download from CDBaby. iTunes coming soon.
Thanks
Breagh would like to thank everyone for coming out and making the CD release a huge success. Here’s a few photos from the night. Video from the release will be posted soon.
Fledgling singer songwriter Breagh MacKinnon launches debut CD December 19
Having just turned old enough to begin gigging in the local bar scene in 2010, singer songwriter Breagh Mackinnon has been making the most of her initial year on the circuit, impressing local music fans and performers alike with her beautiful voice, skilled guitar playing and well crafted arrangements. On Sunday, December 19th she’ll sneak another accomplishment in before the year’s end – the release of her debut CD.
Though she began taking piano lessons at the age of six, it wasn’t until her final year of high school that Mackinnon began writing her own material and performing it for others. Within months, her first composition, “Pretty Lies” helped her win the 2009 Next Big Thing High School Talent Search organized by the CBU Students Union. On her website she reveals that her song writing styling has been influenced by many genres including selections from her her parents’ vinyl collection – legends Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell and Aretha Franklin – along with acclaimed contemporary artists Iron and Wine and Imogen Heap. MacKinnon is currently studying jazz at St. Francis Xavier University.
She will perform on Sunday with many of the guest musicians who played on her album including Jennie MacDougall, Todd Mercer, Max MacKeigan, Emi Xidos, Eric Pushie and Redmond MacDougall. Also performing will be local songwriters Adam White, Colette Deveaux, Dave Sampson and Alicia Penney.
CDs will be available at the show for $10 and are also available at the Cape Breton Curiosity Shop, Mary Janes, Wentworth Perk and Bay Music. Admission to the release is free.
- Devon Strang (http://www.whatsgoinon.ca)
Discovery Stage Showcase – ECMA 2011
(Charlottetown) – The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) announced today at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown the artists who will perform on the official ECMA stages as part of East Coast Music Week 2011 taking place April 13-17. Breagh will showcasing on the Discovery Stage.
CD Launch at Upstairs Club
Everyone’s invited to Breagh MacKinnon’s cd launch at Upstairs Club ( Corner of Ferry and Dolbin Street Sydney )
Sunday Dec 19, 8pm
Free admission!
Doors open at 8pm
19 years+
Cds will be available for 10.00— they’re also available at the Cape Breton Curiosity Shop on Charlotte Street and Wentworth Perk, George Street.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180876968589435
Come celebrate this occasion and hear lots of good music! Have a good holiday season!
