The scenic town of Louisbourg has been a cultural crossroads for four centuries and tonight it will be the meeting place of some outstanding musicians from Orkney, Ireland, and Cape Breton in the annual Louisbourg Crossroads concert. The concert will take place in the Louisbourg Playhouse, a unique and intimate venue that was built as a theatre-in-the-round for a Walt Disney film. The Playhouse was dismantled and moved to town from the Fortress of Louisbourg, where they shot the movie. One of Kris Drever’s first Celtic Colours performances was at the Playhouse, back in 2002 with the trio Fine Friday. He has returned to the festival a few times since, as Artist in Residence with Lau or accompanying Phil Cunningham, but on his most recent visit, Kris took the stage solo and dazzled all with the subtle brilliance of his guitar playing and relaxed singing style. Allie Bennett is a versatile musician from Sydney Mines who is celebrating his 50th year in the Canadian music industry. Allie has played with pretty much every East Coast musician you’ve ever heard of. Tonight he’s teamed up with one of the most respected players and composers in the Cape Breton fiddle tradition, Brenda Stubbert. Irish singer and flute player Rìoghnach Connolly will add a dynamic presence to the night. Known for her bold voice and genre-defying style, she draws on Irish tradition while weaving in elements of jazz, soul, and folk, creating a sound that’s entirely her own.