Donnie MacDonald and James Keigher of Men of Worth performed at the Seeley-Swan High School auditorium Sunday, Feb. 10. This is the second time they have been a part of the 2 Valleys Stage concert series. About a third of the audience of nearly 100 returned to see them again.
MacDonald and Keigher both playing a goat-skinned drum called a Bodhran, Irish-Gaelic for "deafening." "We won't deafen you," said Keigher while playing the song "A Man's A Man for A' That" by Robert Burns. Burns lived to the age of 37 but left a legacy of music including "Auld Lang Syne."
SEELEY LAKE – As luck would have it, the audience was in for a treat Sunday afternoon, Feb. 10 as Donnie MacDonald and James Keigher of Men of Worth took the stage as part of this year's 2 Valleys Stage concert series. Their Scottish and Irish wit and musical talent kept feet tapping, hands clapping and laughter abundant throughout the afternoon.
MacDonald and Keigher chose their name "Men of Worth" after a song written by singer/song writer Archie Fisher. Fisher has been at the forefront of Scottish folk music for many decades. The British government commissioned Fisher to write the song "Men of Worth" as a "hurrah for the oil industry that was developing." The song is a warning that the oil industry is temporary and that traditional work of farming and fishing is important.
Keigher said he and MacDonald had heard the song "Men of Worth" separately. After trying to decide what to call themselves they "thought [they] would go for this song."
"After 34 years, we thought we could change our name to Men of Girth," said Keigher at which the audience erupted with laughter. "It is really not that funny..."
This commentary set the stage for an afternoon of humorous storytelling intermixed with music. Some songs were originals while others were traditional and contemporary folk music sung both in English and Gaelic. The audience was encouraged to join in the singing and to visit with the artists.
Following the concert, Citizens Alliance Bank and 2VS hosted a dinner reception for MacDonald and Keigher at the bank during which the storytelling and laughter continued.
The final 2VS concert for the season will be Gamelan Manik Harum April 14 at the Swan Valley School at 3 p.m.
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