St. Peter's Kitchen Rackets

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St Peters, NS
St. Peter's Kitchen Rackets

Live, home-made music. We organize and promote live traditional music events in our part of Cape Breton.

Fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, harp, ugly stick, keyboards & percussion.... VOICE!.... Celtic, Cajun, Appalachian, Acadian, Old Time, Blues, Bluegrass, Country.... Swing! Open jams, concerts, workshops, dances....watch this fan page for upcoming events.

11/02/2025

Boy, 2 weeks has blown by quickly since our week of sessions and workshops during Celtic Colours. Here are a few more pics....I didn't get a chance to cover Roger Stone's workshops as I was too busy watching, but here he is arriving bright and early for our very first one. A few from Boyd MacNeil's fiddle workshops on workshop day 2. I'll try to post a few more from the sessions and other workshops in the next couple of days.

10/30/2025

It's been more than a week since we finished up Celtic Colours. Time flies. The festival concerts we attended were all amazing. And our KitchenRackets jams and workshops seemed to have some very happy participants. We will post pics and videos starting now to show you how the sessions went. This post shows afternoon of day 1, with Scott Macmillan leading a guitar accompaniment workshop and Donna Marie DeWolfe leading the tunes on fiddle. Two classes were held on Wednesday. Here's a short video and a couple of stills. Thanks to Jessika Bergman for being our photo/videographer that day!

10/15/2025

Our second jam of KitchenRackets Celtic Colours week went exceedingly well at the Bonnie Brae. More pics to come, but here's a sample few. Thanks to Colin MacDougall for taking pics today. And thanks to all the players who came out and to our audience too.We have two days of workshops coming up - if you didn't preregister and still want to come check out the program. we are gathered at the Bonnie Brae, 14 Toulouse St, St. Peter's.
https://celticcolours.kitchenrackets.org/

10/14/2025

Our first jam day at Celtic Colours today. Great turnout and great talent for this KitchenRackets acoustic session. The majority of players and audience here today are from away. Some are returning visitors from past years.

10/10/2025

Experience the magic of Celtic Colours in St. Peter's! From lively tunes to breathtaking landscapes, there’s no better time to explore the heart of Cape Breton.🎻

Don’t forget to check out our website if your interested in our workshops and festivities! 🍂

https://www.kitchenrackets.org/

10/08/2025

Meet your instructors for
“Learn to play Celtic music in Cape Breton”

(October 15-16) 🍂

Sixth instructor: Donna Marie DeWolfe, 🎻

Donna Marie Dewolfe, River Tillard, Cape Breton has been playing Cape Breton fiddle music since she was 10 years old and comes from a line of musicians on both sides of her family. Her great-grandfather on her father’s side was a fiddler, while her maternal grandfather was both a fiddler and a fiddle-maker. As a child, Donna Marie heard plenty of fiddle music in her home. Her father is a Cape Breton traditional music lover and he always had fiddle music playing in the house. Donna Marie is very active in the Cape Breton music scene, playing for ceilidhs and dances around the island and on the mainland. Donna Marie lists Shelly Campbell as a big influence on her playing as well as Donald Angus Beaton and Arthur Muise, having listened to many tapes of their vibrant playing.

You can sign up or learn more using this link ! 🍁
https://celticcolours.kitchenrackets.org/

10/07/2025

Meet your instructors for our “learn to play Celtic music in Cape Breton”

(October 15-16) 🍂

Fifth instructor: Richard Wood

For over three decades, 5x ECMA, 6x Music PEI Award-winning Richard WOOD has blown away sold-out audiences around the globe with his traditional-borne, fiery-brand of Celtic music.🍁

Career highlights include performances at the Kennedy Center, DisneyWorld, the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and on televised programs: Good Morning America, The David Letterman Show, Up Home Tonight, and Rita & Friends.

From winning countless step-dancing and fiddling championships to being named in MacLean’s Magazine’s Top100 Canadians to watch in the 21st Century, Richard has shared stages and tour buses with A-Listers like The Chieftains, Rita MacNeil, the Barra MacNeils, Ron Hynes, the Rankin Family, and Shania Twain.

Richard has played for King Charles III, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, William and Kate (Prince & Princess of Wales), Prime Ministers, Senators, Governor-Generals, and the Emperor of Japan, but he is most proud to have entertained Canada’s Armed Forces in the North Pole, Bosnia, & twice in Afghanistan 🎻

You can sign up or learn more through this link:
https://celticcolours.kitchenrackets.org/

10/06/2025

Meet your instructors for our
“Learn to play Celtic music in Cape Breton”
Worshops during this years Celtic Colours • (October 15-16th) 🍂

Fourth Instructor: Scott MacMillan 🎻

Scott Macmillan is an award-winning composer,
conductor, and guitarist based in Nova Scotia. For over 40 years, he has explored genres from Celtic and classical to rock, jazz, and choral, earning acclaim for works like Celtic Mass for the Sea and the film score for Dawn, Her Dad and the Tractor. His innovative compositions, including 12 & Change and Woodland Revival, blend diverse musical traditions and highlight his deep connection to nature and community.

Scott has played a key role in the success of artists like Rita MacNeil and the Rankin Family, and has led orchestras and collaborated across Canada and beyond. A passionate mentor, he teaches at Dalhousie University's Fountain School of Performing Arts. Scott brings energy, heart, and a lifetime of experience to every performance and workshop. 🍁

10/05/2025

Meet your instructors for our
"Learn to play Celtic music in Cape Breton"
Workshops during this years Celtic Colours • (October 15-16th) 🍂

Third Instructor: Roger Stone 🎼
Roger Stone is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist, singer, and storyteller whose deep musical roots trace back to Richmond County, Cape Breton. Known for his skilled guitar and banjo work, voice, and song-writing, Roger brings decades of experience to the stage and classroom, blending technical know-how with a generous spirit of mentorship.

He has performed locally and internationally, with a career that began in bluegrass and folk and evolved through well-loved bands such as Brakin’ Tradition, Breton, Miller’s Jug, and the long-running McGinty. Whether performing solo or collaborating with others, Roger’s original songs and compelling interpretations resonate with heart and authenticity.

Now based in Prince Edward Island, Roger continues to teach and perform. In 2025, he joins fiddler Richard Wood, the Small Halls Festival, Pirates of Halifax, and Celtic Colours—continuing his lifelong journey in music and storytelling.🍁

Come see Roger at 9:30am and 11:00am on the 15th of October 🎻

10/04/2025

Meet your instructors for our
“Learn to play Celtic music in Cape Breton”
Workshops during this years Celtic Colours 🍂
(October 15-16th)

Second Instructor: Kevin LeVesconte 🎻
Kevin is a Cape Breton fiddler and pianist, hailing from St. Peters, NS. He has been immersed in Cape Breton’s rich traditional music and culture his whole life. From kitchen parties to dance hall performances, his dedication and abundant musicality has quickly captured the hearts and ears of listeners from near and far. He began playing the piano and fiddle at a young age, and holds the philosophy that music is the ultimate journey- there is always something new to learn.

Over time, his style and dynamics have morphed into a unique and driving interpretation of traditional piano accompaniment and fiddle performance. With powerful grace and intuitive flexibility, Kevin is highly accomplished in a variety of genres.

His memorable style leaves its mark – perfectly blending emotional influence and technical skill in a way that touches your heart and moves your feet.

Kevin will be instructing the Fiddle and Piano Magic workshop at 1:30 and 3:00 on the 16th 🍁

10/02/2025

Meet your instructors for our
“Learn to play Celtic Music in Cape Breton”
Workshops during this years Celtic Colours🍂
(October 15-16)

🎻First instructor: Boyd MacNeil
Boyd MacNeil always knew that music would be a big part of his life. The youngest sibling in a musical family, Boyd received his first violin lesson at the age of four, and a few years later made his performing debut at a local Remembrance Day ceremony. In his mid-teens, Boyd and his brother Ryan were special guests in the odd concert with already established quartet, The Barra MacNeils, and officially joined the group in 2005, after ten years performing and recording with their own band, Slàinte Mhath. Music took on a greater meaning for him when he started traveling and performing with the Barra MacNeils regularly and witnessed time and again how the group’s music could move, affect and transform an audience. Boyd MacNeil has toured Japan with Celtic music legends The Chieftains, and continues to explore many musical ideas within and in addition to his work with The Barra MacNeils.

🍁Boyd will be instructing the 9:30 workshop time on October 16th “Cape Breton Fiddle - Intermediate”
You can sign up or learn more through this link:
https://celticcolours.kitchenrackets.org/

09/30/2025

Heading to Celtic Colours? 🍂
Don’t miss two full days of hands-on music workshops in St. Peter’s – October 15 & 16! 🎶

Learn from Cape Breton’s finest traditional musicians in small group sessions where you’ll play, learn, and connect with others who love Celtic music.

👉 Spaces are limited, so be sure to register in advance at https://celticcolours.kitchenrackets.org/

Address

St Peters, NS
B0E3B0

Telephone

+19026315050

Website

http://www.kitchenrackets.org/

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