Alan Doyle joins the Trenton Scottish Irish Festival

Alan Doyle will be headlining his first Trenton Scottish Irish Festival, and says he is looking forward to performing in the area again. Photo courtesy of the Trenton Scottish Irish Festival

By Nick Ogden

BELLEVILLE – It won’t just be an “ordinary day” when Alan Doyle headlines the 26th annual Trenton Scottish Irish Festival in Quinte West.

The city has partnered with the Empire Theatre to bring the lead singer of Great Big Sea to the festival, which runs Sept. 9 and 10 this year.

In an interview with QNet News last week, Doyle said he is “very excited” to be coming back to the Quinte area.

“I love that part of Ontario and I love that part of the world. Any excuse to come back and see that area is amazing.”

He last performed here with Great Big Sea at the Empire Theatre in Belleville in 2011.

Doyle, who had just played his 31st St. Patrick’s Day concert, said he is from a very traditionally Celtic music town, Petty Harbour, N.L. But even though he grew up hearing Irish and Newfoundland music, he said, he didn’t always want to play just that style of music: “When I was 14 I wanted to be in Bon Jovi and Led Zeppelin and Def Leppard, so I started playing rock and roll. I think that’s what eventually led me to the mix of the two.”

He was contacted to appear at the Trenton festival by the owner of the Empire Theatre, Mark Rashotte, he said, adding that he was willing to “bend over backwards to come for them” because of all they have done for him in the past.

Doyle said he has always loved travelling the world, from his time with Great Big Sea to his solo career. No matter where he performs, he said, he wants to give the best show possible. “For me it’s always about one thing, man, and that’s just to give people a great night out so I can have a great night back. That’s more than enough for me.”

Doyle went solo in 2012, and has released two albums, his most recent being  2014’s So Let’s Go.

According to Laurie Caouette, the events co-ordinator for Quinte West, last year’s festival generated an estimated $500,000 in visitor spending to the city, and brought in roughly 8,000 people over the course of the weekend.

This year’s festival will be Caouette’s second as events co-ordinator. “We set the bar high (last year). Now we have to jump over it,” she said.

She expects the Friday concert with Doyle will exceed last year’s attendance of 2,000 people, she said.

Doyle will be a great fit for the theme of the weekend, she added: “Alan tends to deliver a high-energy performance … People are coming to celebrate and have a great time. I think Alan will deliver on that.”

The festival is “a great opportunity to experience a different culture,” Caouette said. “It’s always a fun time.”

Last year, the headlining performers were the Barra MacNeils and Scottish actor Graham McTavish.

The festival brings in thousands of visitors to the city from across Ontario and Quebec. In a press release about it, Mayor Jim Harrison says that it is “one of Quinte West’s signature events that continues to get better and better each year.”

Doyle’s concert will take place Friday, Sept. 9, at the amphitheatre in Centennial Park at 9:30 p.m., following a military tattoo event. It will be open to all ages, but will be a licensed event. Tickets are $35.

In addition to live music, the festival will feature traditional Highland games activities, Celtic food, Highland dancing, a vendor area, a parade, and a new kids’ zone called the Kiwanis Children’s Glen.

Tickets for the event are on sale through the Empire Theatre website.