Fiddling Don Roy to play Sunday at Skye

SO. CARTHAGE -- New England Celtic Arts will present Maine’s Don Roy band at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center on Sunday at 7 p.m. A pre-show jam at Skye Theatre will start at 6:15.

At the forefront of the Franco American community in the Greater Portland area, one finds the musical duo of Don and Cindy Roy, who have long entertained audiences in the Southern Maine area and beyond.

Don is a champion fiddler with depth in many styles of fiddling. Hailing from roots deep in the Maritimes and Quebec, the Roy's musical passion lies with the French Canadian tradition followed closely by Celtic music. He has been a member of many successful groups including bluegrass, Irish, and French and directed the popular Maine French Fiddlers for its duration. Don has received Fellowship awards from the state of Maine in 1994 and 2001 for excellence in traditional music. Don's CD “Thanks for the Lift” earned a nomination for the National Heritage Award.

Cindy, also a member of the former Maine French Fiddlers, is well known for her step dancing piano accompaniment which is among the best in New England.

Augmented by her rhythmic feet, she adds life and enthusiasm to the music. Some of Don and Cindy's families were getting for house parties long before Don and Cindy met on a blind date to play music in 1980. The heritage continues and Cindy and Don will entertain you with a blend of fiddle and piano styles that are common to traditional musicians of Maine.

Jay Young plays upright bass with the group. Jay began his musical evolution playing folk music on a 12 string guitar in the 1960's. He slid into playing electric guitar in a blues band influenced by the Chicago blues style and then in a series of rock 'n roll bands. He started playing electric bass in a country band in the 1970's. Jay claims his country band played in clubs that should have had chicken wire in front of the stage. He spent one cold fall weekend playing outdoors at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix with gloves on his hands. Jay started playing upright bass in the 1970's with a church choir and soon joined a bluegrass band.

With Don and Cindy, Jay's bass playing ranges from a minimal definition of the chord progression to a jazzy walking bass style. He's dedicated: he once played a gig a week after trying out his son's skateboard and breaking his arm. He's been accompanying Don and Cindy Roy for many years in a variety of bands including The Maine French Fiddlers and at times it is hard to distinguish Jay's bass playing from Cindy's left hand rhythms on the piano. Jay claims he has a psychic connection and knows what Cindy is going to play before she plays it.

Skye Theater is located three miles west of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Dr. off Winter Hill Road and Rt. 2 in South Carthage. Ticket price is $15 at the door. For reservations at Skye Theatre call 562-4445.