The McDades and Me – A concert for a lifetime!

Truth be told, I didn’t want to go out to hear the McDades a couple of nights ago. I have grown accustomed to watching television after supper in our comfy downstairs TV room. Acting however on an invitation from professional musician friends we dutifully trundled down to the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver BC, and wow, how glad I am we did. It was arguably the best concert I have ever attended.

Announcing the release of their third album, “The Empress” the 2023 Canadian folk music award winner and Juno nominee, The McDades, burst with pride along with fans and critics alike. In the tarot, “The Empress” is the third card; she represents the productivity of the subconscious and often brings strong bursts of creative and artistic energy. All these were on ample display Friday night—creative and artistic energy, coupled with instrumental brilliance, deep ensemble connection, wit and humour in abundance, and an obvious love of performance and of the music itself.

The McDades’ are known for stretching the boundaries of traditional music, being Celtic-rooted, but with much wider inspiration that is full of side trips and improvisations. Their programme included splashes of classical, jazz, bluegrass, Quebecois, rock, and folk classics. The chord changes and rhythmic re-working of Gordon Lightfoot’s Sundown was a real treat.

At the heart of the group are siblings Shannon, Solon & Jeremiah who grew up playing Canadian folk music alongside their parents and among artists from around the world; a unique upbringing that led to a love and respect for all music. Their ground-breaking compositions and innovative arrangements are characterized by stunning virtuosity and a near-telepathic interaction on stage.

Described by The Washington Post as “The Dizzy Gillespie of the Irish tin whistle  Jeremiah McDade produced sounds both delicate and virtuosic unlike any whistle playing I have ever heard. Strolling through the streets of Galway, Ireland a couple of years ago I have heard the Tin Whistle before. It is one of the most versatile instruments in traditional Irish music today. This humble instrument is also one of the most exciting instruments setting the scene alight today and pushing the boundaries of traditional Irish music. There’s no shortage of brilliant whistle players to look to for inspiration including Jeremiah McDade.

This was my first visit to the Venables Theatre, a modern, fully-equipped community theatre with a spacious lobby and ample stage, supported by sophisticated lighting and audio systems. Opening in February 2014 it is named for Named for Ernest Charles “Frank” Venables (1899-1986). Arriving in Oliver in the early 1920s Frank worked on the South Okanagan Lands Project. He established an orchard on fifteen acres of land south of town. His community involvement in education and health were extensive; he was for many years chair of the local school board and a noted bridge builder between Indigenous and settler communities. Regarding audience experience, there is no poor seat in the house, and they are spaciously distributed and comfortable.

I don’t listen to music much at home anymore, and rarely go out for live performances. I now enjoy writing (including this blog), and publishing my little book. The McDades will however satisfy my musical curiosity for many years to come. In fact, If I could book them for my funeral I would. That said, I don’t yet have a date, nor have they posted upcoming events on their website. So for now, CDs and streaming will do just fine.

Keep an eye out for them; you will be glad you did; they seem to tour mostly in Alberta and BC. They obviously love what they do—each member of the family and their talented guests—and they do it brilliantly, and so very enjoyably. I add my thanks to the South Okanagan Concert Society who brought them to Oliver. The work of volunteers and supporters in such programmes is invaluable, and is very much appreciated.