Perth-Andover Days
(L to R) Front Row: Charlene Jamer, Maxine Styles, Betty Kilcollins,Bonnie Arnold, Naida Maynard, Sharon Dixon
Second Row: Russell Baker, Wayne Sabine, Jerry Smyth, Leonard Gaines,Jim Dee
Back Row: Donald Hargrove, Richard Ross, David Briggs, Daymon Baker
Stephanie Kelley
Lots of fun events going on around all our river valley communities this summer. Perth-Andover Days kicked off on August 1st and ran through the weekend.
Friday night, about a dozen boat participated in the lovely Boat Parade. Each boat was decorated with a dazzling array of Christmas lights, that looked most festive as the parade came through town! Once the boats came under the bridge, they all engaged in a variety of manoeuvres to strut their stuff and entertain the crowds that were gathered on each side of the river.
Earlier in the day, the Southern Victoria Class of ‘64 celebrated their 50th reunion at a luncheon hosted at The Castle Inn.
This milestone anniversary was a great party, enjoyed by all who had been able to make it to the event!
On Saturday, folks got to enjoy live music and a barbecue, and to cast their vote for The Best Chili in Town. The Great Chili Cook Off had 4 contenders this year. Folks sampled each of the chilis, then cast their votes into a ballot box.
The batch of chilli made by Lori Hartley of Upper Kent gathered the most votes, so Lori won bragging rights as well as a beautiful hand painted spoon for her chilli!
Chantal Moulton of Arthurette was up on the bandstand belting out tne after tune. I had personally never heard Chantal sing before, and was blown away by her voice and stamina!
Chantal is 16 years old, and her mom Carla told me that she’s always sung and currently is in the choir at St Mary of the Angels.
I particularly enjoyed her rendition of that classic Dolly Parton song “Jolene”. I heard a number of gals around me commenting how much they loved the song too, and I just now took a little online trip to listen to Dolly sing the song.
I found a version recorded in 1974, forty years ago, right after Dolly first wrote the song. She was inspired to write the song, she said, because her husband had been hanging around another woman a bit too much for comfort.
She took Jolene’s name and auburn hair from a young fan who had asked for her autograph.
In the video I watched, Dolly stands on stage and belts out the ballad accompanied only by a single acoustic guitar, and it sounds absolutely amazing.
and tear jerking soul ballad “Jolene”
This was filmed back in the days when women singers still wore clothes on stage, and could actually sing an entire song without thrusting out their tongues or waggling their booty in your face.
Dolly simply stood there and sang, and let her voice work its magic! She was dressed in a tight fuchsia coloured satin pantsuit that had big elephant bell bottom legs.
Remember pantsuits? Man, it sure brought back memories!
If you love live music, and want to experience some of the very best of the East Coast Musicians around, there will be over 24 hours of amazing music at the upcoming Larlee Creek Hullabaloo on August 15-17th!
