Buddy


The Buzz			Buddy MacDonald, from North Shore, Cape Breton Island, and John Ferguson from Caribou Marsh, Cape Breton Island, are two folk musicians with a wealth of experience in traditional Celtic and also original and contemporary folk music. Both began performing in the mid 1970's and started performing together at the 1990 Hector musical festival in Pictou, Nova Scotia. Since then they have become regulars on the festival, concert and club circuit throughout central Canada and the Maritimes. Buddy is a singer, guitarist and an accomplished songwriter whose finely crafted songs reflect the life and times at his home in Cape Breton Island on Atlantic Canada's East Coast. His songs have been performed and recorded by some of Atlantic Canada's top groups. To mention a few, John Allan Cameron, Cape Breton Summer Time Revue, Dave Gunning, McGinty, Tom Leadbeater, and more. On his own, Buddy has brought his music to many parts of Canada, the United States, Scotland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and also sharing the stage with some of Atlantic Canada's top players such as Natalie MacMaster, Howie MacDonald, Dave MacIssac and more. John, a singer and multi-instrumentalist, performing on guitar, fiddle and bouzouki, began his career in the early seventies where he was one of the founding members of folk groups Kiltarlity and Miller's Jug. Then in late 1977 John joined the popular Nova Scotia folk group McGinty and has remained a member to the present time. In 1988 John started free lancing in Celtic music and his partnership with Buddy is the result. John has recently turned his hand quite successfully to songwriting. John has had his cleverly-crafted songs recorded by McGinty and also by MacDonald and Ferguson themselves. On their own, both Buddy and John have recorded original and traditional music and to date have one recording available as a duo. With a lengthy repertoire of Maritime pub music, ranging from energy filled and emotional Irish and Scottish ballads, to all time favorites by Stan Rogers and John Prine, to rousing instrumental arrangements on guitar, fiddle and bouzouki, Buddy and John have become and remain one of the busiest, sought after duos on the East Coast music scene. So come sing along, clap along, kick up your heels, whether at your favourite pub, concert hall, convention or festival with Buddy MacDonald and John Ferguson. You'll be glad you came! Recordings Performances Contact Us LE FastCounter Since Aug. 21/1998
"It's one thing to go somewhere expecting a great performance and not be disappointed. It's entirely another to go to an event expecting not to be impressed even and then be blown away, having your ears excited by the quality of vocalizing and instrumentation that prompts your hands to riotous applause. Such were Ferguson and MacDonald..." Gerry Taylor Telegraph Journal, St.John, N.B.
"Canadians in the Washington D.C. area joined embassy staff and officials for an afternoon of festive celtic folk entertainment at the Canada 125 Celebrations. Fun and frolic describes the afternoon and evening entertainment by MacDonald and Ferguson..." Cape Breton Post
The Celtic sounds come through loud and clear with Buddy and John. A night filled with laughter and beautiful music, Buddy and John make you feel welcome, as if you were sitting in their kitchen. Their music makes a person reflect on a way of life we all hunger for again. Truly two very talented musicians who are welcome at our club anytime..." Bo MacIntyre, Pres. Cape Breton Club, Kitchener, Ontario
"It was great to hear such a wonderful touch of down-home here in London, Ontario. The crew here at the Forest City Maritimers Club really enjoyed Buddy and John's show - great singing along, toe-tapping, dancing music..." Simone (Campbell) Graham Maritimer's Club London, Ontario, 1998