Fiddlers' Sons adopts a new daughter

Fiddlers' Sons has adopted a new daughter KeelinWedge has stepped into the very big shoes left when bass playerGarthMatthews died earlier this year.

• Garth Matthews of Fiddlers' Sons dies

The popular folk-country band lost one of its three founding members back in May, when Matthews succumbed to chronic lung conditions before he could receive a lung transplant. That left lead vocalist Eddy Quinn and guitar player John B. Webster, who started the band with Matthews 18 years ago, as well as fiddler Courtney Hogan-Chandler, a more recent addition.

"The last time we all got together was Christmastime," recalled Quinn. "Garth had two goals at that time one was to live as long as he could, and he wanted his music to live on... He wanted to see us continue on."

Finding a replacement for someone who's one-of-a-kind was no easy task, said Quinn, but P.E.I. is brimming with talented musicians. Enter Keelin Wedge.

'Gender equality'

"I don't know if John Webster and I took inspiration from our new Prime Minister Justin [Trudeau], but in 2016,Fiddlers' Sons, we're gonna have gender equality," said Quinn.

"I'm not sure how the math adds up on that, but somehow I still feel like John and I are outnumbered!"

He notes that Hogan-Chandleris expecting a baby and if it's a boy, he'll indeed be a fiddler's son.

The foursome recorded a new album this past winter, Red Rock Run dedicated to Matthews which will be released Thursday at a concert at Kaylee Hall in Poole's Corner, kicking off another season of Fiddlers' Sons Thursday night performances there, the Close to the Ground concert series.

Wedge performed with the group on the new CD. She plays fiddle, guitar and does vocals as well as bass.

"She sings like an angel, too Keelin is really an outstanding musician. Lots of folks down home are really impressed with her," said Quinn.

Special summer guest

Matthews won't be forgotten though: the band will continue to play songs he's written, including one on their new CD. His 1970's Fender precision bass will also be a special guest in Wedge's hands.

"I don't know why but that just makes me feel good, knowing that bass is going to be on stage with us, even though Garth isn't," said Quinn.

After telling the audience that poignant story, the band will have to play an upbeat song the original title track, Red Rock Run, just might do. It's the tale of a failed Charlottetownbrewery, and when assets were seized including many bottle of beer they were stored in a barn in rural Kings County. Locals discovered the stash and helped themselves.

"Dennis King from Georgetown put it to me this way: 'Georgetown stayed drunk all one winter on Red Rock beer, and it didn't cost a dime!'"