By Carson Ellis
The Morningside Community Hall was the site of an entertaining evening of fiddle music on Feb. 18.
Fiddle player Ethan Harty headlined the show, though he was accompanied by his friend Samuel Clarry.
The duo entertained before a sold-out crowd with fiddle music that ranged from waltzes to gospel.
Between songs, Harty spoke of the things that influenced him as a fiddle player and the different styles of music that could be played with the instrument.
The evening was a fundraiser for the Morningside Community Society with proceeds from the event going to improvements on the outdoor rink.
Society President Glenna Thompson said that the concert was a new event for their group.
A previously presented show was a comedian and spaghetti summer.
Thompson said they also host four pot-luck dinners each year, but they also hope to start operating more drop-in social events like card games.
Harty and Clarry met back during Harty’s first fiddle competition. Since then, the two have competed against each other several times over the years including in the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Competition.
Harty won the competition in 2019, but noted Clarry had won previously.
Neither of them have performed at events like Saturday’s solo.
Harty says he likes the sounds of the fiddle, and both musicians agree they like the dance-ability of the music they play; they enjoy seeing crowds getting up and dancing to their music during their shows.
Harty closed the first part of their performance with a song he had written for his wife. Throughout the evening, Clarry switched between keyboard or guitar.
The duo at one point played covers of hits from Randy Travis and Alan Jackson, closing their second half with a medley that included the Orange Blossom Special.
Away from the stage, Harty is an accomplished Blacksmith in the Sedgewick area.
Three door prizes were awarded at the intermission, and several items up for garbs at the back of the hall in a silent auction.
The winning bids of the various silent auction items were announced shortly after the show.
Volunteers operated a cash bar with snacks provided free of charge with the cost of the ticket.
