Hey folks,

It’s going to be an exciting end of summer for myself and four other musicians performing this year at the Celtic Colours Festival, as we take off on the road to Maine and New Hampshire for a string of gigs Aug. 20-30. We’re hoping to give you fine folks a snapshot of the Cape Breton traditional music you would get to hear alongside Celtic music from all over the world if you were to come visit us in C.B. for this year’s festival Oct. 8-16.

Here’s a great article giving a preview of what to expect that appeared in Aug. 11′s Lewiston Sun Journal.

Check out a full list of dates to the right for more information about the shows.

Not much better of a dinner deal than this...

Come for supper at 5:30 at the beautiful Highland Heights Inn in Iona this Sunday for an evening of tunes with Colin, Jason MacDonald (guitar & vocals), and Adam Young (piano).

Check out the Facebook event here.

Stopped in for a few tunes in Portland, ME on the same day as our gig in Lewiston, and got on the magic picture box.

Watch 207 interview and performance of Chicago Wildlife and a new tune called Gillian Jiggs right meow

CGB will return home from Maine Celtic Celebration and play a final show as a part of their Summer Tear at Governor’s Pub on Thursday July 22, with special guests Buck and Kinch. $6 at the door, show starts at 11pm.

After an awesome 4 years as a member of the Halifax-based band Pogey, it’s time to say goodbye and good luck to Ray, Warren, and Johnny as they forge on down new highways and byways, promoting their new release “Full Speed Ahead”, especially this weekend, as they take on the Colorado Irish Festival. Reflecting back on the many festivals and wonderful folks I’ve had the chance to meet during my time with the band, I would like to say thank you for supporting the band in all shapes and forms, and do continue to follow them on their adventures at www.pogey.ca ! I sincerely hope to see you all again down the road, if all goes well!

A special shout-out to Pogey’s drummer Zach Smith, who will be with the band until the Fall, and mandolin player Darren McMullen, who will be joining the Colin Grant Band on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bouzouki on their future adventures. Thanks for the tunes, and safe travels.

Cheers,

CG

I had a phone chat with Bob last week about ‘Fun For The Whole Family’ while in Toronto for Jeff Gosse’s wedding. Thanks to Bob for tracking me down!

Check out the media player for the June 20th show.

Check out Colin, Mike Hall, and Robbie Fraser at Le Gabriel Restaurant & Lounge in Cheticamp this Sunday June 27.

Want to see who’s going? Join the Facebook event here.

Playing at the Celtic Music Interpretive Center tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) 3-6:30pm. Come show your steps and don’t be shy.

Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Following on the heels of the 2009 summer release “The Toy EP”, Colin Grant plans to crank out his second full-length album entitled “Fun for the Whole Family” to kick-start 2010 with controlled abandon.

Teaming up again with co-producer/engineer Mike Shepherd of Lakewind Sound (www.lakewind.com), Colin set out to capture his evolving and versatile brand of Cape Breton fiddling in a series of sessions with a variety of close musical compatriots. Collaborators include his father, John Grant (highland pipes), New Waterford’s own Dougie MacPhee (piano), the driving traditional duo of Robbie Fraser & Chris Babineau (piano, guitar), fellow Louisbourg Playhouse cast mates Jason Kempt, Adam Young and Jason MacDonald (piano, guitar), multi-instrumentalist and fellow Pogey band member Darren McMullen, and the powerhouse combo of Jason Roach and Patty Gillis (piano, guitar). Rounding out the album are two tracks by the emerging Colin Grant Band, comprised of the rough and red-eyed blues/funk rhythm section of Merlin Clarke, Shannon Ezzat and Donnie Calabrese on drums, electric guitars and bass.

Taking a new approach, Grant’s new album leans heavily on his own compositions, while paying respect to various contemporary musical influences and friends.

Excited about a brand-new batch of tunes and a wealth of sounds from some of Cape Breton’s favourite accompanying musicians, Colin says “Fun for the Whole Family” promises to be just that; something for everyone, from indie scenesters to blue-haired bingo stampers.