Two well known musicians will be bringing their traditional Newfoundland and Labrador sounds to students throughout the Green Bay and White Bay area.

Jim Payne and Fergus O’Byrne will be touring schools to present their instruments, songs and share their experiences as artists. They will also hold workshops with the students, concentrating on a variety of topics that involve the province’s culture.

“This is an initiative put together by the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC),” said Mr. O’Byrne. “They provide funding to arts groups to visit schools. We will visit 10 schools in 10 days.”

Their tour began on Monday, November 16, at Baie Verte Academy. They will travel throughout the Baie Verte Peninsula, visiting schools in La Scie, Nipper’s Harbour, Westport and Middle Arm. Then they will move east and visit schools in Robert’s Arm and Pilley’s Island. The final stop takes place Friday, November 27, at Brian Peckford Elementary in Triton.

“In many of them, we will begin with an hour long presentation after recess,” said Mr. O’Byrne. “Then in the afternoon we will have workshops, which generally run about 50 minutes. The teachers determine what we instruct based on whatever the class is learning at that time. For example, one Grade 5 class we are visiting are learning about traditional songs, so we will speak about the social background behind them.”

There will be public concerts in some of these communities as well. Each community show will raise funds for a cause in that area.

“We like to co-ordinate concerts with a local group that is doing fundraising,” said Mr. O’Byrne.

For example, in La Scie their pubic performance will be a partial fundraiser for the Kinsmen Club.

The duo has about 70 years of music experience between them. Jim Payne, originally from Pilley’s Island, is both a singer and songwriter. He plays the accordion, the mandola and guitar. He owns his own recording label, SingSong Incorporated. He is also the producer of many famous Newfoundland songs, including  “Wave Over Wave.” Mr. Payne is also a traditional step dancer and actor, having appeared in most of the Rising Tide Theatre’s annual “Revues”.

Fergus O’Byrne, originally from Ireland, was a member of the 1970s folk-group, Ryan’s Fancy, which had a regular television series. He was also a member of the band Tickle Harbour in the late 1990s. Besides being a singer, Mr. O’Byrne is a player of the banjo, the bodhran, and the concertina, and has toured throughout the world. He has also contributed to several anthologies on Newfoundland and Labrador music.

Both singers are now part of the Newfoundland and Labrador band, “A Crowd of Bold Sharemen.”  Mr. O’Byrne says they are happy to be passing their knowledge of music and traditional culture onto the next generation.

“It’s very rewarding to play our music for younger people,” said Mr. O’Byrne. “Some who hear it may continue with it themselves, and in time be involved in music and art also.”