Fiddle music on Saturday afternoons at The Doryman are very popular. Here you see people in the audience enjoying a square set
-by Rosie Aucoin-Grace
I recently wrote a historical piece about The Doryman Pub & Grill in Chéticamp reaching its 60th milestone. This week, I thought I would share some tidbits from various musicians, fans, and many who have supported this establishment for six decades. A place that stands out from the rest when it comes to gatherings and keeping traditions alive and thriving. The Doryman has brought together people from all over the globe with Cape Breton’s finest musicians. They offer a variety of events, a place where there is truly something for everyone at this community hub.
Owner Marc Neary did a series of short videos titled 60 For 60. Sixty interviews to celebrate 60 years, which capture the essence of what makes the Doryman so special.
In a nutshell, Wallace Aucoin of Chéticamp says it all, “We waited so long to be able to get in. We used to listen to the bands from outside; we were underage. My first time at the Doryman was when I turned 19 years old in 1978. You would pay 45 cents for a draft. This was the do drop place where we met up and made plans for the evening. The Doryman is the Cheers of Chéticamp. It’s where everybody knows your name. The Doryman is our second home.”
“I think it’s the people that make the Doryman. It is something special that makes the people different when they walk in,” says musician Claude Bourgeois and former owner of the Doryman. He added, “The act booked I am most proud of in my tenure as owner has to be Georgette Jones, George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s daughter. It was an awesome experience to meet her and have her perform in Chéticamp. There have been so many great musicians at the Doryman and one in particular who we dearly miss is P’tit Marc.” Bourgeois concluded, “The Doryman’s legacy is the music!”
Fiddler Howie MacDonald: “The Doryman stage is unique and should be celebrated for many many years to come.” He spoke about hitchhiking down to the Doryman as a young lad. “Donny LeBlanc saw me at the door along with André LeBlanc and Gélase Larade, they dragged me in by the collar of my shirt on to the stage. Lots of good memories, lots of laughs.”
“Yes, the stage is very special because the sound is really good, you have everybody close by and it’s really authentic. Even the picture in the background; there is so much culture here. People are friendly and the reception from the crowds are great.” says MacDonald.
Ashley MacIsaac has a long history of electrifying performances at the Doryman – often packing the iconic Cape Breton venue with traditional fiddle tunes. I remember in one of my interviews with this amazing performer – and although he has played all over the world – he stated, “I have to say that my favorite place to perform is at the Doryman – I just love it there! There’s just something about playing on that stage and the people.”
Performer Louis Arsenault, when asked why the Doryman is special after 60 years. “It’s tradition. You just get the music in the walls, names of people who have passed away in the windows, old guitar hanging, just a great watering hole, great place for everyone to get together and be family.”
Fidder Rodney MacDonald describes the Doryman stage as, “One of a kind, and there’s nothing like it. No better place to be on a Saturday afternoon.”
Many are familiar with a very popular song by 1755 “La Gang Arrive” which is based on good times at the Doryman. Co-writer Angus LeFort spoke of its background, “Gervais Cormier moved in with us in an apartment in Moncton, and he was playing a melody on his guitar. He had a title for a song but did not have the words. Original title was “When the boys come back to town”. I suggested we give it a French title as Donald Boudreau was staying with us and was a member of the group 1755. We were all good friends, and we thought maybe the band would take this song and play it.” He added, “Story is about when we would all come back from university, the whole gang would gather at the tavern. It even mentions several people who worked here at the time.”
“Proud that I have had the chance to be on the Doryman stage. Whenever I perform here it’s like the first time – it’s home! Its really is part of home,” said fiddler Mike Hall. “Whenever I think of the Doryman, Arthur Muise and Marc Boudreau come to mind. They sure are missed.” He added, “You can really feel the crowd at the Doryman. You play the right tunes; fans get rowdy, lots of step dancing and it is always a great time. “La King George” of course is one of the tunes that gets people riled up. I remember arriving to see Ashley MacIsaac and Maybelle Chisholm perform and the Doryman was packed solid. It stands out as one of the best experiences I’ve had here, definitely a magical moment.”
When asked what if the Doryman suddenly disappeared, what would Chéticamp lose? Hall replied, “Everything! It would be bad. If you were to ask anybody that has passed this way in the last 60 years, where they ate, where they took in music – it’s a staple. The Doryman is a landmark in this village which I think is a huge part of its definition and its tradition, its people. Everything about this place is wonderful with a long lineage of serving the community. If the Doryman disappeared, it would be detrimental to the success of our culture. The Doryman promotes a large variety of music. A robust lineup of talent has graced these doors and the stage for decades. The Doryman will always be a place I cherish forever.”
Former band member of The Phantoms, Bruno Bourgeois spent many nights playing at the Doryman. He was also a server at this establishment for 12 years. “I remember after I left Germany, left the army, and moved back home, it was around 1979, I walked into the tavern one evening and Marcella Doucet was playing the piano and I went up and did some harmonies with her. That was what started Talent Night on Tuesdays at the time. Those were fun gigs.”
Bourgeois added, “I think it is very important for the local talent to have a venue like the Doryman. I compare this to Radio CKJM where many now have recorded music which is played on air, giving them the opportunity to share their talent, same as on this stage. Later, I played with The Phantoms on this very stage for 45 years to large crowds and the place would be a rockin’. A signature song for me was I’m a Believer by the Monkees but one song that stands out as one of the most requested was “Dead Flowers” by the Rolling Stones.” In conclusion, “The Doryman for me is Incroyable! It has been here forever, and I hope it stays here forever. It’s the meet and greet place for anybody. Boy, if the walls in the Doryman could talk, they would have quite the story to tell.”
Rhéal Doucet from Chéticamp, now retired, had a 43-year career at the Doryman and sure has lots of stories under his belt. He was a server along with Gélas Aucoin and they worked for former manager, Arthur (à Black John) LeBlanc. Rhéal spoke of one of the busiest shifts, “I would say it was the times that Ashley MacIsaac was playing in his early gigs at the Doryman. There were so many people, it was hard to get around. Also, when The Phantoms played, it drew in large crowds, and it was loud. They sure knew how to get the audience going.” He continued, “Sure has changed over the years. I remember on days, especially in the 1980s, when the fishermen could not go out due to bad weather, on débauche days, customers would start arriving at ten in the morning and the place would fill up during the day. Fiddle music on Saturday afternoons with Donny LeBlanc, André LeBlanc & Gélase Larade was also very successful. Basically, they played to a packed Doryman for 20 years for people from all over Cape Breton.” He concluded with, “The Doryman will always be my second home. I spent so much time here.”
The talent that graced the Doryman stage in 60 years is immeasurable. The stage may be small, but its reputation is huge! The Doryman has played host to performers in Cape Breton including the likes of the original trio for the Saturday Matinée for 20 years: Donnie LeBlanc, André LeBlanc and Gélase Larade, Ashley MacIsaac, MacMaster Leahy Family, Rodney MacDonald, Glenn Graham, Howie MacDonald, Robert Deveaux, Marcel Doucet, Ronald Bourgeois, Clarence Deveau, John Chiasson, André Aucoin, Matt Minglewood, Sam Moon, Robert Bouchard, Jimmy Rankin, John Morris Rankin, Ron Hynes, Georgette Jones, Hert LeBlanc, Rheal LeBlanc, The Bluegrass Diamonds, Jean-Marc Doiron, Shaydid, Douglas Cameron, Donna-Marie DeWolfe. Cyril MacPhee, Robbie Fraser, Louis Arsenault, Talent Night Trio: (Claude Bourgeois, Tommy Poirier & Chester Delaney), Marcella Doucet, Gélas Deveaux, Drafted, Savanna, Nicole Deveau & Michelle Deveau, Brian Mallery, Yvon Collette, Laurie LeBlanc, Maurice Belliveau, Denis à Maurice Cormier, Jocelyn Thériault, Joey Beaton, Kinnon Beaton, Betty Lou Beaton, Colin Grant, Risin’ Tide, Le Groupe LeLièvre, Premonition, Crash Test Dummies, Mike Hall, Hilda Chiasson, Kathleen LeBlanc-Poirier, Joel Chiasson, Jason Roach, Signal Hill, Lennie Gallant, Suroît, Scott & Gerald Delhunty, Third Harmony, The Barra MacNeils, Richard Wood, Hal Bruce, J.P. Cormier, Gerard Romard, Arthur Muise, Jerry Holland, Brakin’ Tradition, Brent Aucoin, Leanne Aucoin, Bertrand Deraspe, Christopher Babineau, Shelly Campbell, Brenda Stubbert, Andrea Beaton, Serge Caissie, Marc Boudreau, River’s Bend, Hirondelle, Crissy Crowley, Martin Aucoin, many other friends from the Magdalen Islands and the list goes on. It is simply impossible to list everyone, but this gives a general idea of the diversity of music offered. All musicians that perform at the Doryman are much appreciated.
Of course, the longest-running band to perform in our community is The Phantoms! This legendary band drew in large consistent crowds, and it was always a great party atmosphere at the Doryman when they performed. A section of the bar is a tribute to these performers with photos and other memorabilia.
“Some places feel like home the minute you walk in, and the Doryman has been that place for 60 years,” says current owner of the Doryman Pub & Grill, Marc Neary. He continued, “My vision when I bought the Doryman was to elevate the reputation, the establishment, the brand, and build on that. I think we’ve done that. We have done a lot of renovations; a lot of work has been put into giving the Doryman a fresh look. The story of the Doryman is one of success. As long as this formula keeps going, you keep pushing the music, keep bringing in new artists, and bringing back the music that people love. The brand is there, the recognition is there, the legacy for the past 60 years is nothing to joke about. As long as the next person after me that will take over, keeps that piece of the puzzle going, I think the Doryman will take care of itself. It will always be here, will always be a part of our lives here in Chéticamp and in Cape Breton.”