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| Melanie Ross Breen and Marie Hare |
The Miramichi Folksong Festival began as a three-day event, in September, and prizes were presented to the oldest
singer, the youngest singer, the singer of the best French song and the singer of the best Aboriginal song, to name a few.
Instruments were not permitted as accompaniment at the Festival; in keeping with tradition, all of the songs had to be sung
acappella. It was not until decades later that singers were invited to bring along their guitars, banjoes, harmonicas and
other musical instruments. Fiddles, however, were always a part of the festival line-up. The 1958 festival was held in what
was then known as the Beaverbrook Town Hall, a gift to the community, from its namesake. Today, the festival continues to
takes place at the same location.
Susan Butler’s introduction to the Festival was in 1959, when she sang
“June Bee”, a song which was written by a family friend. At that time, tickets to the Festival cost one dollar,
and the proceeds from one show went to the families of the victims of the Escuminac Disaster.
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| Buffy Sainte-Marie |
In the early 1960’s the Festival became an August event and Dr. Manny continued as director until 1969. From 1970 to
1982, Maisie Mitchell directed the Festival which eventually became one of the many events during Canada Day festivities.
In 1982, the provincial minister of Culture and Heritage asked Susan if she would be interested in taking over the directorship
of the Festival, and offered her two hundred dollars to work with. Her predecessors were more experienced than herself but
she decided to take it on, with the understanding that when it ceased to be fun, she would step down. Twenty six years and
a whole lot of volunteer hours later, it is still fun!
In 1983, Susan had local businesses donate plaques for each performer, engraved with the number of years which each had performed.
Plaques, in lieu of cash payment, did not go over well, but by 1984, New Brunswick was celebrating its bi-centennial and there
was a lot of money dedicated to cultural events throughout the province.
The bi-centennial money was given with the hope that each event would continue for many years. Susan is proud that the Miramichi
Folksong Festival is one of the few events which still exist today. She is grateful for the corporate sponsorships which the
festival receives each year, the people who make up the audience, and for “her” volunteers. Susan likens being
director to being the captain of a ship; without her mates she would never be able to keep the ship afloat. She never expects
the Festival volunteers to do anything which she would not do herself. A few of her volunteers have been a part of the Festival
for twenty four years.
Because of her many years as director of the Festival, Susan has been the recipient of many prestigious awards, including
Member of the Order of New Brunswick, Member of the Order of Canada, and, most recently, the Minister’s Award for
Tourism Excellence. She is quick to say that the numerous awards which she has won belong to the Miramichi; no one person
can accomplish this on their own.
The festival has grown from a three day event, to a six day event with fourteen shows, including a breakfast, luncheons, evening
performances, a children’s show, and open air concerts. In addition to the traditional folksongs, contemporary tunes
are very much a part of the Festival. Over the years, local musicians have shared the stage with the likes of Bill Staines,
Graham Townsend, Ned Landry, Ron Hynes, Valdy, Lennie Gallant, to name a few. Allen Kelly has sung in both French and English
at every Miramichi Folksong Festival and, at 103 years of age, will again make an appearance this summer, his health permitting.
The Miramichi Folksong Festival is thrilled that internationally acclaimed folksinger/songwriter Buffy Sainte Marie will be
opening the festival this summer. She performs only twenty shows per year and Miramichi has been fortunate that she has chosen
us as her only performance venue in Atlantic Canada.
Other performers at this year’s festival include: Melanie Ross Breen returning home from Eastern Passage, NS; The Judy
McLean Dancers, from PEI; our very own Jim Morrison; Nonie Crete and Eugene Rea, from Fergus, ON; and Oran, from Oromocto.
The Miramichi Folksong Festival would not be complete without a performance by Ivan and Vivian Hicks, from Riverview, or the
Miramichi Fiddlers.
The festival hosts a number of fundraising concerts throughout the year; the next to be held at St. Mary’s Church on
June 14, when the Neil Michaud Choir travels from Moncton to perform with the Malaika Choir and the St. Mary’s Hand
Bell Choir.
The 51st Miramichi Folksong Festival will be held August 4-8 at the Beaverbrook Kin Centre.
