Well, there was a poem written by Robbie Burns, a Scot, something about things always going awry, or as John Lennon put it, “Life’s what happens when you are busy making other plans.” That’s been life this year, a bit up in the air, a bit mixed, and now an ‘annus horribilis’.

Most of you know what’s going on in my life. For those that don’t: at the beginning of 2024 I was looking at my retirement, the idea of getting away from university life all together focusing on my writing, my photography and my art and my social life, but life had other plans.

It was a good year to work through The Buzz, the local entertainment guide, which provided some good moments, listening to some good music. Some we were looking forward to, others were a delightful surprise—or disappointment.

To start with, the Good Brothers band, which was excellent. Old guys like me, but they were right on top of their game.

Not so fortunate was the next event, the Amanda Jackson Band, as the lead singer got sick and no one told us. The show went ahead, with a substitute who was apparently a real estate agent by day. First time I remember leaving a show early.

We went to the ECMA awards, not a lot of music but more of a ceremony… fashion, awards, who is who. In terms of actual music, not as much as we had hoped.

Went to a few other concerts that don’t stand out as much. Suffice to say a busy spring, filled with local, indigenous, and national artists.

As most of you know, I had a bit of a heart issue, late June, and things started going sideways. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I had big plans for a garden party this year, which was a success even with it unexpectedly preceded by a pacemaker. The big event was the night before when I took a group of close friends to hear Richard Wood’s ceilidh. For those who don’t know, he is an incredible fiddle player … good old Celtic tunes as well as modern. I like him as a friend, not just a fan.

Richard and I first met when I came to PEI in 2008, literally the first week I was here. At UPEI I was approached by a young lady. “You’re the dean, aren’t you?” she asked. “My boyfriend would like to talk to you.” I, of course, wanted to know who her boyfriend was and why he wanted to see me. She went on to explain who Richard was and how he had seen me on Compass, the local tv show, being announced as the new Dean of Education at UPEI, and recognized the name. (He’d been watching because he happened to be on the same night!) Richard had been playing in Kandahar on the night that my daughter Nichola was killed.

He and I met for lunch, and kind of clicked. I’ve later gone to many of his concerts on the Island. I decided that since I was having people from all over the world for the garden party, I would introduce them to Richard by going to his ceilidh up in Stanley Bridge the night before. It’s always a treat. Among many pieces, he played “Care Bear Forever,” a piece that he composed and dedicated to Nichola.

At the garden party itself, Sweetfern (a band made up of my friends Gary, Marcus and Shannon) was the opening act. They were followed by the Cuban Brothers, who I had first heard playing at the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market. They are classically trained Cuban musicians. I don’t have much Spanish and missed a lot of the lyrics, but I can tell they had incredible finger work and musicality.

The triumph of the show was a performance by my good friend Gordie Belsher and Todd McLean. They played a fabulous set of evocative music. The sun was going down in the late afternoon with people mingling under the tents. Todd left the stage and wandered around playing sax. It was an incredible moment. The colour and the scents of the garden, and then the sounds wafting over the top. It is one of my most overriding memories from an overall superb day.

September started with a show by Island musician Lennie Gallant. Lennie plays all over the world, bands, orchestra, family but also plays at home. It was this east coast show that we enjoyed in the Souris Playhouse. In the small theatre, we sat back and enjoyed a brilliant evening of his music. The only thing missing was my favourite of his songs, ‘There is a Storm Coming’. Leaving the hall with Victoria, I thought there was a fine line between fan boy and neighbour friend. I was thinking of stopping to visit with Lennie and Patricia, but there were a lot of out-of-town people hanging around and we had a long drive to get home. So I said good-bye to Patricia and we headed off.

Was there ever ‘a storm coming’ for me. I went to one more show before I fell sick.

This one was up in Hunter River, in the kind of place you flop down and become part of the scene. Folks from all over the world who are looking for local entertainment, others who are following the bands and events, and of course the locals. We’d come for an evening of Leonard Cohen’s music, and weren’t sure what we would get.

The theatre is a single incline arrangement with long rows you can only enter from one side—there’s no exit on the far wall. Given my experiences in different parts of the world, I find this situation somewhat difficult. First thing I look at when I go into a new room is where are the exits. In Hunter River it’s hard to reach them.

I had bought nice seats at the entrance end of the row so we did have an easy exit, and so I settled in happily. The place filled up, they gave the land recognition, and then the light came on and it was Tanya Davis, the poet laureate of PEI. Dead silence, a single spotlight, and then she started with the words:

‘The Hat-check Girl had Syphilis’.

My mouth dropped open as I knew it was going to be a fantastic night. I was instantly transported back to the 60s when I walked into the 5th form common room one morning and discovered a bloke called Graham Spencer had written that line on the chalkboard. This was my first ever exposure to Leonard Cohen. For whatever reason, as a young man, this one line blasted me away.

It must have been 1968. I then started reading and listening to Leonard Cohen, doing all the things you do as a 14, 15-year-old, in the day. Leonard Cohen became a mainstay of the sound track of my life, there for all the major moments. So here I am in Hunters River, PEI and the Poet Laureate is reading out this line … I became immersed in the show. In the music and magic of Cohen.

And it flew by—no break, no intermission. An amazing cast of people, including Amanda Jackson, the singer who I had hoped to hear earlier in the year (the one who had been out sick when I got the real estate lady instead).

The only problem (to me) was that it was advertised as a two hour event and it was slightly shorter than that. And of course they missed a few things. Though perhaps the answer was that they had played those songs at the last show.

Music is a big part of the island and it was fantastic to have this year with the musicians, all my old friends. Gordon, Lennie and Richard, I’m so grateful for your friendship and your music. Life has gone sideways, but hopefully I can continue to enjoy the music.

I’m not in a position to look too far ahead at the moment, but perhaps I will have one more blog in me.

Thanks to my daughter Victoria for all your hard work over the years. Any comments or thoughts please submit and Victoria will pass them along.