The Men of the Deeps perform in La Salette
- May 7
- 2 min read
Chris Abbott
Editor
The La Salette Historic Church, one of Norfolk County’s premier indoor concert venues, proudly presented The Men of the Deeps, North America’s only coal miners chorus, on Saturday, May 2.
Lori Roloson, the local event coordinator, had reached out to the Cape Breton Island male choral ensemble last summer, and it proved to be just the right time as the choir was preparing to tour Ontario for its 60th Anniversary Diamond Sunset Tour. The group had expressed an interest in returning to the Historic Church in Norfolk County, but promoter Bob Missen did not know who to call… Roloson’s name was forwarded to him and within less than 48 hours everything was in place.
The La Salette Historic Church is a truly hidden gem, said Roloson. The church’s soaring ceiling and breathtaking stained-glass windows are truly awe-inspiring, and the acoustics cannot be beat.
The Men of the Deeps is a choir of working and retired coal miners from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Organized in 1966, part of Cape Breton’s contribution to Canada’s Centennial Year (1967), the group’s inception was an effort by the people of Cape Breton to preserve in song some of the rich folklore of the island’s coal mining communities.
“What we’re here to do tonight is basically take you through the last 60 years – that’s our sunset. But we’re also going to take you into the future, and show you our sunrise and what’s coming up for The Men of the Deeps,” said The Men of the Deeps’ director. “You’ve never seen a sunset that does not have a sunrise the next day.
“So we’re going to share all these songs and stories with you.”
The musical repertoire of the Men of the Deeps is gathered from mining communities around the world, although many songs are ‘home grown,’ composed in Cape Breton.
The songs lifted spirits, often with the La Salette audience clapping along, and the shared stories were sometimes humorous, sometimes noting hardships in coal mining, all with deep family and community roots.
The group of 38, which includes singers and musicians, scheduled 13 Diamond Sunset Tour stops in Ontario, from the April 21 premiere in Peterborough to May 3 in St. Catharines. The 60th anniversary show will continue in Maritime provinces through to November.
“We are one of just two small venues that were selected to host these guys,” said Roloson in her Saturday night introduction.
La Salette sold out with nearly 400 in the audience – exactly what Roloson had promised the choir and the La Salette Area Rural Roots, a volunteer group which owns and operates the church and neighbouring community hall.
***
Keep an eye out for upcoming events at both the La Salette Historic Church and Community Hall – they are always crowd pleasers! It is worth the drive to his small village, just a five-minute drive north of Delhi, and 20 minutes from Simcoe and Tillsonburg.
Comments