CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Friday’s ceilidh in the Katherine Hughes Memorial Hall at the Irish Cultural Centre in Charlottetown will feature Pendergast family members Shane Pendergast and Andy Doucette.
Shane Pendergast hails from Tracadie Cross, the grandson of two Irish tenors and the son of well-travelled local musician Michael Pendergast. Shane recently recorded an album of folk music (Place to the Name) steeped in East Coast tradition and performed regularly during the winter in Toronto, where he had been attending film school.
Andy Doucette is from DeBlois and is multi-instrumentalist, as he is a fiddler and also plays guitar and bass. He is also a member of the Pendergast family. He will bring an Acadian flair to the night with his lively fiddling and fast-tapping feet.
The Pendergasts often surprise the Benevolent Irish Society (BIS) with whomever is available from the family to perform on a particular evening. Sometimes it will be David, who arrives guitar in hand, sometimes Robert and possibly Monique. Unfortunately, uncle Tom McSwiggan, who is a regular with the Pendergast family, is home in Ontario this summer due to coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) restrictions and will be sadly missed by BIS patrons.
A fast-paced night with a superb mix of old songs and some new songs penned by Shane (Tea and Tunes) along with some laughs are expected.
There will be a 50/50 draw during the evening at the wheelchair-accessible and air-conditioned hall and a light snack is served during the intermission. The hall is licensed. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8. Admission is $15 at the door. Children 12 and under remain at $5. Everyone is welcome but due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions only 50 people can be in the hall, so arrive early to assure a seat. The hall is located at 582 North River Rd.
For more information, call or text 902-213-3924 to reserve seats.