MacMaster happy to play Sudbury, but boy she misses her kids

Fiddler Natalie MacMaster may be a Juno award-winner and a member of the Order of Canada, but when she visits Sudbury March 10, she'll be playing second fiddle. She's OK with that, though.

The 43-year-old Cape Breton, Nova Scotia native said she's thrilled to be tagging along as part of gravelly voiced, blue-eyed soul singer Johnny Reid's latest tour for his latest release, "What Love Is All About." Because her music and Reid's are so different, she said, they complement each other nicely.

“He's an amazing entertainer,” said MacMaster, who will perform her own segment during the show, as well as accompany Reid.

“He's got an awesome live show. I'm honoured and delighted, and love my little segment within his show, and encourage everybody to check this show out.”

MacMaster is quite used to fronting her own concerts. She often performs with her husband of 14 years, and fellow fiddler, Donnell Leahy, of the folk group Leahy. Last year, the couple released "One," their first album together.

She said when the couple first started playing together, it was difficult because they have such different styles, and would cover up each other's nuances.

“We just kind of had to learn how to make our music sound good, and how to make it so it's honest to our individuality,” MacMaster said.

“We've done that. I'm so thrilled with this unique blend that we have. Especially when we write music together, it's a whole life in itself. We've learned how to write so it accentuates both our qualities.”

Together, the couple have six children aged one to 10 years old. They're at home in Lakefield, Ont., with Leahy while MacMaster tours with Reid across Canada for two months, something she said is a wrench.

“Awful, it is awful,” MacMaster said, but is quick to point Leahy is “amazing” with the kids, and that makes her feel better.

“Donnell and I thought long and hard, and we prayed a lot about making this decision,” she said. “After two months of consideration, we decided it was right to do. That gives me comfort and confidence.”

Often, though, the kids tag along with mom and dad on gigs. The older kids are even becoming fiddlers in their own right, something that's not surprising, given their pedigree on both sides.

MacMaster is the niece of the late renowned Cape Breton fiddler Buddy MacMaster and the cousin of two other famous fiddlers, Ashley MacIsaac and Andrea Beaton.

Donnell Leahy is also part of a fiddling family — eight of his 11 siblings make up the Juno award-winning folk group Leahy, and have been touring Canada and internationally since the early 1980s.

MacMaster said she and Leahy sometimes bring their kids up on stage to perform with them.

“Right now, it's just 'You're four years old now, here's your fiddle,'” she said. “They say 'Yay, mommy!' I believe nurturing their gift of music is a gift that goes beyond this world. It will form them as little people. It'll just shape their little personalities.”

If you're interested in seeing Reid and MacMaster perform, the show starts at 7 p.m. March 10 at the Sudbury Arena.

Tickets are available at the Sudbury Arena Box Office, and range in price from $47.75 to $83.75. Visit greatersudbury.ca.