Ashley MacIsaac to open for White Stripes

Family ties have apparently helped Ashley MacIsaac land a plum gig in his home province.

The Cape Breton, N.S., fiddler confirmed Thursday that he will open for the Grammy-winning rock duo the White Stripes at their sold-out 10th anniversary performance July 14 at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, N.S.

White Stripes frontman Jack White is a distant cousin of MacIsaac's, as well as fellow Cape Breton fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Buddy MacMaster.

"As they say in Cape Breton, (we're) third and fourth cousins," MacIsaac said of his connection to White, who was born in Detroit."Third cousin, once removed, I think they call it. It's on my dad's side."

In a recent interview, White, who was born John Anthony Gillis, said his family had roots onCape Bretonbefore they moved to Detroit.

MacIsaac has never met White, who teams withex-wife and drummer Meg White to form the White Stripes, but said he is thrilled to open for the three-time Grammy winners.

"I'm totally excited about it, to get to perform in Cape Breton with my band at a show that's designed for rock. I get to go out and rock," he said. "To get to perform is great, but just to get to see the Stripes play is going to be awesome."

The White Stripes' sixth album, Icky Thump, will be released in North America on Tuesday.

In support of the album,the band isscheduled to play 18 Canadian dates, including stops in every province and territory. The Glace Bay show was perhaps the hottest ticket, selling out in just 13 minutes.