The Iron Mines Matinee was added to the Celtic Colours lineup of concerts last year at L’Arche Cape Breton Gathering Place, just off the Trans-Canada Highway in Inverness County on the way to Orangedale. The venue, which opened in 2018, certainly lives up to its name and proved to be an ideal spot to gather for some music on an October afternoon. The Iron Mines Matinee returns this year with local players and Gaelic singers hosting a newly-formalized duo from “out west”. Fiddler Donna Marie DeWolfe and pianist Allan Dewar will be performing together, showcasing their Cape Breton roots and connections. The Woodshed, an Alberta-based songwriting duo, will be making their musical debut at the Festival this year. Roots songwriters John Wort Hannam and T. Buckley offer a beautiful vocal blend of harmonies combined with gutsy and sophisticated songwriting and intricate guitar playing. Brother and sister Colin and Lili Watson were heavily influenced by Gaelic language and culture growing up on Cape Breton Island and today they proudly sing in the language. This is a concert about community and connection that you won’t want to miss!