ILLUMINAQUA IN BLUE SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the grass absorbing the energetic and uniquely artistic Ashley MacIsaac experience. I was close enough to see the strings dancing on the end of his bow and to hear the time keeping pulse of his foot.

His delivery was a little restrained compared to what I was expecting, an opinion echoed by the performer's own acknowledgement of the absence of his previous revealing, kilt-flying antics. But he did not disappoint in any sense of the word. Not only did he and his band explode off the floating stage expertly relaying his stylised version of an already mesmerising musical genre, but he began and ended the show with an intimate and breath arresting solo performance. He proved, especially with the final set depicted in my photo, that he is capable of putting a rock spin on a folk circle.. and also of making his well worn fiddle sing the way it was meant to sing. He started off melodic and mystical and, with the precise timing consistent in Cape Breton music, he increased the tempo and got everyone else's soles helplessly tapping the concrete amphitheatre steps in unison. No drum required.

I should explain that the misty air you see above isn't the by-product of a well-positioned smoke machine nor is it a blush of fog from MacIsaac's birthplace. It made its way to the stage from the many iron pods of fire-burning wood that dot Welland's recreational canal every few Fridays in the summer. The combination of fire, water, music (and another facet that they don't mention in the event's marketing but should: the desirable smell of burning junks of wood!) culminate in a stellar way to spend a summer evening close to home!!

As I was leaning back on my hands in the grass, taking the occasional picture, I kept thinking that I should make my way up against that frame of stone blocks that lined the edge of the bank. I'm so glad I did it for his last set! Perched against the stones with my camera, I was in awe of the reflection cast by the calm canal water that separated me from the stage.