Take a step back in time this evening as one of the Festival’s most popular concerts lets you to Step into the Past at the Fortress of Louisbourg. North America’s largest historical reconstruction, the Fortress offers a glimpse of life in colonial Cape Breton around the 1740s. The evening begins with an authentic, traditional 18th century meal, served in period costume and character by candlelight. After dinner, a walk guided by the glow of lanterns through the cobbled streets of the reconstructed town, takes you to an acoustic concert at the lovely chapel in the King’s Bastion. Set against the beautiful candle-lit backdrop of this historic chapel, a carefully chosen lineup of performers will complete this unique blending of music, history, and atmosphere. James Keelaghan is a master storyteller whose songs bring the past vividly to life. Rose Morrison and Màiri Chaimbeul join forces to offer delicate layers of harp, fiddle, and vocals. Their music moves between Gaelic tradition and contemporary exploration, creating a sound that is both rooted and ethereal, and very well-suited to the occasion. Bradley Murphy and Mary Beth Carty have a variety of repertoire that will complement the experience from English, French, and Gaelic song to tunes and accompaniment on fiddle, accordion, and guitar. Step Into The Past is more than a concert. It is a full sensory experience and a rare opportunity to hear timeless music in a place where the past still echoes.