A sold out audience was treated to an outstanding performance at the Mary Webb Centre for the Arts in Highgate on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. The nine talented musicians performed such a varied and excellent variety of songs, it was hard to believe that it came from one family. It was so obvious the Leahys have been exposed to music their whole lives.
Frank Leahy’s son Xavier played two different guitars, the fiddle and an accordion. Amazing. Their versions of well-known Christmas carols and hymns as well as their own songs dazzled the audience. Examples were Oh Come let Us Adore Him and Walking in a Winter Wonderland, sung a cappella. Three of the young girls step danced up a storm. They were so much fun to watch, especially when one of their aunts joined them. It was entertainment beyond music! The high energy step dancing (2-3-4 at a time!) and musical dueling and/or synchronization of fiddles and guitars and accordions and… oh my! The audience enjoyed seeing the band having so much fun on stage. It was like a Down East kitchen party with lots of audience involvement. When someone in the audience requested the band sing Farewell to Nova Scotia, no one in the band knew the words. One of the representatives from Village on the Ridge came up on stage and sang a few verses. Great fun.

Although there were 9 in the group, not all of them were on stage at one time. The younger ones would often leave the stage and later, one or more of them would come back on to perform in their own unique way. It was a concert that could have gone on for a lot longer than their encore song after the standing ovation. This was the last concert in a cross-Canada tour for Leahy and they thrilled to end it at the Mary Webb Centre, one of their favourite concert halls. The audience was delighted that they were back once again. The crowd appreciated that the winner of the 50-50 draw donated the money back to the Mary Webb Centre. It is to be added to the fund to help pay for the refurbished stained glass dome. It is hoped that this project will be finished within a year. Special thanks to our sponsors, the Fenton Families, Mitton’s Jewellery in Ridgetown and The Village on the Ridge.

The next concert is on January 20th, 2024 at 8:00 pm when magician and stage performer Keith Brown comes to Highgate to perform at the Mary Webb Centre for the Arts. Go to marywebbcentre.ca for more information.
If it’s at The Mary Webb Centre, you know it will be great!