The Ballagh Bunch

August 7, 2014 · 0 Comments

One of Canada’s top musical families, The Ballagh Bunch, will hit the Fiddlefest stage at Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex this Saturday, August 9th. For the last decade the Ballagh’s from Teeswater, Ontario have been entertaining audiences from Disney World in Florida to major festivals and theatres from coast to coast across Canada.

Mom and Dad, Janice and Gary Ballagh, say the four kids, Devan, Michael, Paige and Matthew, “are growing up on us.” They range in ages from 23 to 14, with the whole family performing first rate shows built around traditional Irish, Celtic, Scottish and Canadian music. “We are looking forward to performing this year in Shelburne,” says Gary, “it is always fun to travel and perform with the kids. We will have a mix of traditional and original tunes for a jam packed afternoon of entertainment.”

With strong vocals and a wide variety of instruments, the Shelburne performance promises to be “lively and energetic.” Award winning dancers, the three oldest children Devan, Michael and Paige have “multiple step dance titles, including the Canadian Open Step Dance Champions in both group and solo classes.

The Ballagh kids learned step dance from the best – their mother Janice McMichael, of the McMichael sisters, who danced and competed in Canada and the States. The sisters were seen as guests on the Tommy Hunter Show and dubbed “Canada’s step dancing sweethearts” by the “late great Graham Townsend.”

Gary, a marketing rep for CKNX Radio in Wingham, runs the family farm, is a quest speaker, sings and plays guitar and banjo, and for the last half dozen years has been the Master of Ceremonies for Shelburne’s Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship. “I enjoy the kids and their comments,” says Gary referring to the competition, “I always ask them a few questions and sometimes the answers you get are extremely funny.” Gary says he was left speechless in 2011, when he was presented the invincible Vince Mountford Memorial Trophy.

At the Ballagh School of Dance, Fitness, and Music in their home, the accomplished choreographers and musicians share their talents with other young people in the area. Devan, now 23, plays fiddle, bodhan, flute, piano, sings and stepdances; 21 year old Michael, plays drums, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, piano and stepdances; 19 year old Paige, plays clarinet, piano, fiddle, sings and stepdances; and 14 year old Matthew plays drums, fiddle, piano, guitar and stepdances. Their CD, “The Ballagh Bunch – It’s All Relative” will be on sale at the show.

“Undeniable family dynamics, toe-tapping energy, and sprinkles of humour” will all be part of the Ballagh Bunch performance at the 64th Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship August 9th at 3:15 p.m. at the arena. Tickets can be purchased at the door of the CDRC or at Holmes Appliances and Music Shop, 135 Main St. West in Shelburne or by phoning 519 925-8620.

By Marni Walsh