It’s a sunny morning and Emma Donnelly is playing her violin beautifully for visitors at the South Cariboo Farmers’ Market and among them is 100 Mile Mayor Mitch Campsall.
He leans over and says, “It’s amazing, isn’t it.”
No question. The talented nine-year-old, who started playing when she was four, says it was fun performing at the Market for her first time on July 4.
The crowd liked it, too.
“She’s starting to move into more of a variety [of music],” explains Keri Donnelly, Emma’s mom.
Farmers’ Market entertainment organizer Candace Copley asked if Emma would come back again this summer, and it sounds like she will.
Playing under the red tent at Birch Avenue and Third Street after Emma was a three-piece Vancouver band called Bob Westfall and the Moonlight Poets.
Westfall, a folk and country singer-songwriter, was touring the Cariboo recently to promote his new album, titled The Green Lake Album.
“My family has been coming up here since I was a kid,” Westfall explains.
“We have a place on the lake. It’s just my favourite place. I figured I’d write an album about it.”
The title track is called, Green Lake, and there’s a song about the Little Horse Lodge, which is located on the north side of Green Lake.
“I used to go up there all the time and play music with friends. The whole album is really positive, upbeat songs about nature, friends, family, beautiful stuff like that.”
The album is soon to be live for download on iTunes. There’s a link to it on his website at www.moonlightpoetmusic.com.
Playing with Westfall in the Cariboo was Sue Baines on accordion and Steve Cottrill on a Fender Jaguar guitar he modified into a tenor base. (It now functions like a half base, half guitar.)
Copley, a Lac la Hache musician who plays and organizes acts at the market every week, says she is on the lookout for entertainers of all kinds.
Anyone interested in showcasing their talents can e-mail her at candacecopleymusic@gmail.com.
