The Jube, aka the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, was dancing, swaying, singing and clapping to the music of The East Pointers and Alan Doyle & the Beautiful Beautiful Band. It would be fair to say there was more than one Newfie in the crowd. Actually, more than one person with allegiances to the East Coast of Canada, including a few who have loose connections to the East, including me. I lived in Labrador for a few years and shared a house in Edmonton with a bunch of Newfies. Newfie or not, the crowd loved the East Coast aesthetics.

The East Pointers, who hail from PEI, opened the show with a lively set that immediately had the crowd engaged. The East Pointers initially consisted of guitarist Jake Charron, banjoist Koady Chaisson (d. 2022), and fiddler Tim Chaisson and won the Juno Award for Traditional Roots Album of the Year for their album Secret Victory at the Juno Awards of 2017. These two multi-instrumental entertainers played their way into my heart, and I am sure that could be said of many in the sold-out show.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a set list, so I only got the names of a few songs from their five-album catalogue. “Misty Morning” is a rousing toe-tapper that is easy to fall in love with. “Two Weeks” is a story that many East Coasters/Albertans could relate to, moving west for jobs in the oilfield with two weeks on and two weeks off. Their set felt short to me because we were just getting warmed up, which means they were doing a good job as a warm-up band. However, before they left, I fell in love with their songs and one that resonated strongly with me. “Anniversary” is a song about recovery. Recovery from addiction to substances or addictive behaviour. People who are in recovery celebrate their clean days every year, our anniversaries. Mine is May 11, 36 years clean and sober. That song got me. Well done, lads. I really ought to have bought their CD just for that one song. Maybe a gift to myself for my 37th anniversary.

Alan Doyle is a natural entertainer. From the moment he came on stage to the moment he stepped off it, he entertained us. He regaled us with songs & lyrics that spoke to our hearts and with stories woven into those songs. He engaged in banter with the crowd and wove it into his set, making me feel like we were in the backyard, with some burgers on the BBQ, a couple of cold drinks in a cooler, and friends, both old and new, gathered together, singing songs and telling stories. Stories where the waves got higher, and the fish got longer every telling.

Alan Doyle is multi-talented. I first knew him as a member of the band Great Big Sea. He has also acted on television and in movies and has authored a book. On stage, Alan is at ease, even when the energy of his set is turned up to 11. The songs flow naturally, and he keeps the audience in the palm of his hand. He played a good overview of this career in song, including some from Great Big Sea, Alan’s solo albums, and a couple of really good covers. “Nancy” is a great song that easily had us standing and clapping along. “Already Dancing” is a great story song that I have to remember, not just to sing, but to live by example. “The Crawl” had me up singing and swaying, which doesn’t happen easily for me with a cane and a rusty windpipe. “The Crawl” is a cover of a song by Spirit of the West, a great band hailing from the West Coast of Canada. I have been privileged to hear Spirit of the West live several times, and I have been a fan of their music since 1985. Their music, and Alan Doyle‘s, share an affinity for Celtic overtones, rollicking songs, and plenty of beer.

Alan Doyle is backed by top-notch musicians in Alan Doyle & the Beautiful Beautiful Band. Not to pick favourites, they are all damn good, but we all cheer loudest for the home team. The fiddle in Doyle’s band is an Albertan, Kendel Carson. Another highlight for me, pun intended, was the stage lighting. It was a wonderful use of modern lights that can switch from a subdued wash of colour to a piercing spot that could burn out an eyeball. The sound techs did an admirable job as well; the Jube has great acoustics, which was used to great effect. The sound was clear and at a good volume, so I didn’t need ear protection.

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed the show from the opening notes of the East Pointers to the last note of Alan Doyle & the Beautiful Beautiful Band’s encore.