A wonderful summer for an Island entertainer would be one where you could make music, and not have to go far from home to do it. Margie Carmichael is having that kind of summer. She books the entertainment and sings at the Trailside Cafe, sings with Steve Sharratt or Roy Johnstone at several events, appears in Hold the Haggis at Orwell Corner every Monday and at the Arts Guild every Thursday, sang at the BIS and Orwell Corner with her sisters when two of them were home during the summer, will put on a workshop at the Poetry Fair in August, and is involved in the Storytelling Festival which is being held in September. As well Margie is part of Lasses All, a quartet of women who love music and have great fun playing it together. They played at various venues during the summer.
I met this multi-talented musician, singer and entertainer at the Trailside Cafe in Mount Stewart. It was my first visit there, and I was surprised by the activity at this off-the-beaten-path restaurant. The occasion was a musical evening called "Raspberry Jam" which Margie created by inviting three women to make music and entertain customers during their meal. The restaurant was busy all evening, both inside and on the deck outside, and everyone seemed to know Margie here in her home corner of P.E.I.
Although she wasn't one of the advertised singers for the evening, Margie started the evening off, playing her guitar and singing as she filled in for Sandra Gellatly who had been scheduled to perform. Next was singer/songwriter Cathy Grant who accompanied herself on the keyboard. The last singer was guitar-playing Christina Forgeron, whose strong, deep voice carried throughout the café. Christina appeared here again later in August, and said how much she appreciated the opportunity which Margie had given her to perform her music. At the end of the evening, the three women sang together and, although the trio work was unrehearsed, the harmonies were wonderful. I was disappointed when they stopped.
The next time I saw Margie was at Orwell Corner in Hold the Haggis which ran Monday nights all through the summer and continues into September. She appears with Wendell Boyle, Roy Johnstone and Steve Sharratt every Monday night, and their creation proved to be such a hit that it was added to the Arts Guild lineup in August. These four people have worked together in various combinations for years and their ease with one another is apparent. The show had comedy, music and wonderful audience participation as each of the performers had the opportunity to show off their talents: Steve's songs, Wendell's storytelling, Roy's fiddling, and Margie's comedy as Flora, cosmetician for a funeral home. When they got together musically, the results were marvelous, particularly their version of "Prince Edward Island is Heaven to Me".
Margie loves to make music, entertain and share her talents, and she spent this summer doing just that. For this Island entertainer, it just doesn't get any better.