Roy Johnstone, MusicianAbout Roy Johnstone
"One of the Island's most accomplished fiddlers " Doug Gallant, the Guardian
Roy Johnstone has been active in the East Coast musical community for the past thirty years. Not only is he one of the most accomplished fiddle players in Atlantic Canada but he has also received accolades for both his music compositions and his studio production. He is an active recording artist and has 4 solo albums to his credit for which he has multiple nominations for ECMA awards. His most recent CD, entitled "Longshore Drift" with Steve Sharratt was released in the fall of 2008 and he recently re-released in digital format his ECMA nominated recording Rolling Waves.
His music has also been featured in award winning NFB and independent film productions and he has been invited to perform with many of the region's most noted artists such as J.P. Cormier, Laura Smith, Lennie Gallant and jazz pianist Doug Riley. The Highland Council of Scotland commissioned Roy to write music to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Scottish settlers coming to Prince Edward Island. This music is featured in a new international recording entitled An-t Eilean, the Island.
His musical career has taken him to Iceland, Scotland, Mexico, Cuba, and the United States. He was presented with a Government of PEI Official Musical Ambassador award and he is often requested to highlight many dignitary events such as the recent Governor General's visit to Charlottetown, two Royal Visits, a Canadian Trade Mission to Iceland, Maritime tourism promotion to New England, a Maritime Premiers Conference and an Ireland Trade Commission in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
New Hampshire Highland Games, Loon Mountain, NH
Join Roy and steve for a fantastic weekend of music, highland games and festivities. This is the 35 anniversary of this festival with over 30,000 in attendance last year.
For more info see NHHG's website . http://www.nhscot.org/
Highland Dancers
Pipers, drummers and highland dancers .The heart of the Celtic spirit.
The Poetry of Dance
The dancers make it all look so easy when we know it's been a lot of hard work and play .
Waiting for the show to begin
The College of Piping show Highland storm is coming to it's last performance for this summer's season. Pipe band members chat while waiting for the show to begin.
Old triangle Session August , 2010
A bit of a breather between tunes lead to some animated discussion ......
Red Sands Potato Festival, Victoria by the Sea
Roy and Steve Sharratt will be performing for this festival in Victoria. Come to the party with vendors, food, and music.
Opera House Concert, Derry, NH
Join Roy and Steve for an intimate evening in concert. Opening night of their 2010 New England tour. For info contact Brenda Caldwell at 603-437-0630. This is a fundraising concert for the renovated Derry Hall.
Speed the Plough old photo
Tracy Gallant sent me this old photo and article from la Voix Acadian. The photo shows Lennie Gallant, Margie Carmichael, Sigrid Rolfe and myself circa 1979-1980.
Tunes for Fiddlers
I'm offering to send fiddlers tunes . The tunes are played slowly for easy learning and I usually provide a written version to accompany the mp3 audio version. The tunes are suitable for beginner to intermediate players and are selected from some newer tunes I'm learning or from some of my favourite session tunes. There is no charge for this service but you can make a contribution to my string and bow fund if you are feeling flush. (pay pal or cheque)
Send me your email address and request to be added to the fiddle tune list.
Roy
Rolling Waves Recording Digital Re-Release
This recording featuring favourite Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton tunes is now available for purchase. The recording was nominated for an East Coast Music Award and features Roy on fiddle with Grady Poe on guitar and Lennie Gallant on bodhran.
There are two bonus tracks included in the complete CD download. MacPherson's Lament from the unreleased recording "David's Gift" in which Roy is joined by the Bonshaw Boys and O'Carolan's Farwell to Music which is part of a solo fiddle recording that Roy is presently working on.
Blue Jig
The idea for this tune came from a little jamming session with steve one day. The marriage of a twelve bar blues progression with an Irish jig. It let's us stretch out and do a little improv.
Roy and Steve First utube video
Check out roy and steve's first u-tube video:
A marriage of a Acadian tune, le Mois de Mais, an Irish hornpipe the Rights of Man and the same tune as a reel.
It was filmed at our concert at the beautiful Skye Theatre in Maine . Thanks to Chris Buschmann for use of the video footage (Videos Close to Home) and thanks to Phil McIntyre for inviting us to perform at the Skye theatre.
