Dave Gunning’s popular song “These Hands”, written with George Canyon, asks “What shall I do, with these hands of mine?” The song goes through a list that includes saving lives, stopping wars, ending evildoing, and comforting the vulnerable—each and every one a just and noble pursuit. But towards the end, the song mentions that “…some hands wrote ‘the times they are a-changing’”. And this sentiment carries a lot more weight than many may realize. Saving lives, curing diseases, and stopping wars can clearly make the world a much better place to live in, in so many ways. But the value of a song, a dance, a tune, or any form of artistic expression really, can have as much impact as the grand gesture. And yes, it’s an obvious metaphor, or maybe not much of a metaphor at all, but Cape Breton fiddler Shelly Campbell and piano player Allan Dewar are often using their hands to get you on your feet at the dance, as New England’s Pine Tree Flyers use their hands to make music. Dave Gunning, Shelly Campbell and Allan Dewar, and Pine Tree Flyers all bring untold joy to every dance or concert they perform in through the music they make. And that can change the world too. You’ll feel it tonight in Inverness.