Show Review – The East Pointers in Charlottetown, PEI

Photo Credit: Jen Squires

Who: The East Pointers
When: February 10th, 2018
Where: Confederation Centre of the Arts – Homburg Theatre, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Island trio The East Pointers may not have played much in Canada lately but they sure have made themselves known in the music scene. They released their second album What We Leave Behind in September of 2017 and have been collecting awards and nominations ever since. They are once again nominated for a JUNO award, after taking home the 2017 award for Traditional Roots Album of the Year, they collected four Music PEI Awards (Touring Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Group Recording of the Year, and Roots Contemporary Album of the  Year), and have been nominated for three awards at the upcoming ECMAs (Songwriter of the Year, Group Recording of the Year, and Folk Recording of the Year). On top of their plethora of award announcements, the boys have finally returned to give Canada a taste of their What We Leave Behind tour.

They played to a sold-out crowd at the Confederation Centre of the Arts Saturday night and had the entire theatre stomping, clapping and singing along. According to Tim and Koady Chaisson, it was a surreal experience to be able to play the Confederation Centre, having grown up on the Island and attending shows there since they were children. They made the crowd feel like it was just another Saturday night kitchen party, even bringing up several family members at the end of the show for step dancing and fiddle playing.

Throughout the night of mostly instrumental jig sets, they of course played a majority of their new album, including “Two Weeks”, “82 Fires”, and the emotion-laden “Miner’s Dream”. The audience was absolutely enthralled throughout the entire experience, clapping along to the beat with almost every song. The boys joked and told stories throughout the show, including taking jabs at guitarist Jake Charron, the only member of the band not from the Island. After their relentless teasing, he passed around an ‘official’ petition to become an official PEI citizen instead of an honorary one. Only on PEI folks, only on PEI.

They ended the night by bringing several family members on stage during the encore to play along to one of their final songs, gathering enormous applause from the audience for the many fiddle players and few step dancers. During their final number, the audience was on their feet for the entire set, clapping along to the beat.

You can easily tell when they play a show on the Island they have an immense passion and pride for their home and it comes through in their performance. They have several dates left on this tour and you do not want to miss this show if you have a chance to see it.

What We Leave Behind Tour:
February 13th – Sharbot Lake Country Inn, Sharbot Lake, ON
February 14th – Great Hall, Toronto, ON
February 15th – Dominion Telegraph Event Centre, Paris, ON
February 16th – Mavrick’s Music Hall, Barrie, ON
February 17th – St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, Upper Canada Playhouse, Morrisburg, ON
February 18th – Azrieli Studio, Ottawa, ON
February 27th – The Bassment, Saskatoon, SK
February 28th – West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, MB
March 1st & 2nd – Festival Hall, Calgary, AB
March 3rd – Arden Theatre, St. Albert, AB
March 4th – Communitea Cafe, Canmore, AB

Plus many international tour dates.

Connect with The East Pointers:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram

The East Pointers are also a centric part of the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, learn more about the event and cause here.