Mitch MacDonald

Last updated

Mitch MacDonald
Mitch MacDonald.jpg
Mitch MacDonald performing in the Top Three Tour after the sixth season of Canadian Idol.
Background information
Born (1985-10-22) October 22, 1985 (age 38)
Port Hood, Nova Scotia, Canada
GenresPop, folk music, indie music
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2008–present

Mitch MacDonald (born October 22, 1985) is a Canadian singer who was runner-up in season 6 of the reality series Canadian Idol .

Contents

Early life

MacDonald is from Port Hood, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island. [1] He grew up in a family of seven siblings. [2] He worked primarily as a carpenter before Idol. [3] He cites his musical influences as including fellow Cape Bretoner Gordie Sampson. Bright Eyes is one of his favourite bands. [4]

Canadian Idol

On Canadian Idol in 2008, MacDonald worked with such artists as Anne Murray, Simple Plan, Gavin Rossdale, and Tom Jones. [2] During his run on Idol, he never appeared in the "bottom two" or "bottom three". [5]

Music writer Martha Worboy described MacDonald's music as "tender, mostly acoustic renderings." [6] He received accolades in particular for his rendition of Joel Plaskett's "Love This Town", which drew comparisons to Paul Simon from the judges. [7] Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald, a musician himself before entering politics, said, "The key to his success throughout the contest was that he remained true to his musical roots." [8]

Performances

WeekThemeMentorSongArtist
Semi-final Group 1Top 24"Follow Through" Gavin DeGraw
Semi-final Group 2Top 20"I'm Yours" Jason Mraz
Semi-final Group 2Top 16"Blue" The Jayhawks
Top 10Songs of David Bowie "Moonage Daydream"David Bowie
Top 9Hits by Dead Artists"Angel Eyes" The Jeff Healey Band
Top 8Week of Unplugged Music Gavin Rossdale "Oh, Atlanta" Alison Krauss
Top 7UK Top 10 Tom Jones "Jealous Guy" John Lennon
Top 6Canada Rocks
Canadian Rock n' Roll
Simple Plan "Love This Town" Joel Plaskett
Top 5Judges' Theme
Lennon–McCartney
"In My Life" The Beatles
Top 4Music of Anne Murray
Idol's Choice
Anne Murray"Cotton Jenny"
"Between the Bars"
Anne Murray
Elliott Smith
Top 3Songs of Bryan Adams Bryan Adams"Heat of the Night"
"When You Love Someone"
Bryan Adams
Top 2Idol's Choice
Idol Single
Judges' Choice
John Legend
Hedley
"Paris"
"Where We Begin"
"If"
Gordie Sampson
Mitch MacDonald
Bread

Post-Idol

MacDonald toured Canada as part of the Top 3 Tour, with Theo Tams, and Drew Wright. [9] [10]

As of 2010, he continued to tour occasionally, both in his home province and in other parts of Canada, and he started work on an album. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney, Nova Scotia</span> Place in Nova Scotia, Canada

Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolved on 1 August 1995, when it was amalgamated into the regional municipality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Scotia New Democratic Party</span> Political party in Canada

The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic, progressive provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the provincial entity of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). It was founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in 1932, and became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing party of Nova Scotia following the 2009 Nova Scotia election, winning 31 seats in the Legislature, under the leadership of Premier Darrell Dexter. It is the first New Democratic Party in Atlantic Canada to form a government, and the second to form a government in a province east of Manitoba. The party lost government at the 2013 election, losing 24 seats, including Dexter's seat. Gary Burrill, the party’s leader from 2016 to 2022, is credited with bringing the party back to its left-wing roots. The party currently holds six seats in the Legislature and has been led by Claudia Chender since June 2022.

Hugh Alan "Buddy" MacMaster was a Canadian fiddler. He performed and recorded both locally and internationally, and was regarded as an expert on the tradition and lore of Cape Breton fiddle music.

In the province of Nova Scotia in Canada, Celtic music has played a significant role, both in its traditional forms and fused with other musical styles. Nova Scotia's folk music features traditional tunes brought over from the Scottish Highlands in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as well as localized forms such as Cape Breton fiddle music. In recent years, a wide variety of other musical genres have emerged in Nova Scotia, which has produced several country music stars such as Hank Snow, Wilf Carter, Anne Murray, and Rita MacNeil.

Kenzie MacNeil was a Canadian songwriter, performer, producer and director in television, film, radio and stage, and a former Conservative Party of Canada candidate. MacNeil completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University. He also studied at the University of Botswana in Lesotho and Swaziland while accompanying his parents on field work with CIDA in Africa for three years.

Glace Bay is a community in the eastern part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. It forms part of the general area referred to as Industrial Cape Breton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Nova Scotia general election</span>

The 2006 Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney MacDonald</span> Canadian politician

Rodney Joseph MacDonald is a Canadian politician, educator and musician who served as the 26th premier of Nova Scotia from 2006 to 2009 and as MLA for the riding of Inverness in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1999 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney River McDonald's murders</span> 1992 murder at a fast food restaurant in Sydney River, Nova Scotia, Canada

The Sydney River McDonald's murders was a shooting spree and armed robbery that occurred on May 7, 1992 at a McDonald's restaurant in Sydney River, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Donald MacDonald was a Canadian social democratic politician and trade unionist who led the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and was elected as a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1941. In 1968 he was elected President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfie MacLeod</span> Canadian politician

Alfred Wallace MacLeod is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. He is a member of the Progressive Conservatives.

Manning MacDonald CD, ECNS is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Cape Breton South in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from May 25, 1993 to May 29, 2013. He is a member of the Liberals.

Harold David Wilson is a former Canadian politician and radio personality. He represented the electoral district of Glace Bay in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1999 to 2010. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. He resigned his Glace Bay seat on March 11, 2010, amid controversy, refusing to meet with the provincial auditor general about his MLA expense claims.

The sixth and final season of Canadian Idol is the sixth and final installation of the Idol series in Canada and premiered on June 3, 2008, on the CTV Television Network. It is again hosted by Ben Mulroney, with the addition of Jully Black as a special correspondent and general mentor to the contestants. Farley Flex, Jake Gold, Sass Jordan and Zack Werner all returned as judges. This season saw a number of major and minor show format changes in an effort to keep the franchise fresh and innovative. The final episode of the season, in which the Canadian Idol was crowned, aired on September 10, 2008. The winner of the sixth season was Theo Tams. The sixth season became the final season of Canadian Idol following its cancellation in 2009.

Robert Muir was a Canadian Member of Parliament, first in the House of Commons and later in the Senate. Muir sat in both chambers as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He was born in Scotland and raised on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Before he became a politician, he was also a miner, a union official, a salesman and a businessman during his career. He died at his home in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theo Tams</span> Musical artist

Theo Tams is a Canadian singer and the winner of the sixth season of the CTV reality show Canadian Idol. His debut album, Give It All Away, was released on 19 May 2009 by Sony Music Canada.

Drew Edward Wright is a Canadian singer and musician, best known as a top three finalist on the sixth season of Canadian Idol.

Boisdale is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality on Cape Breton Island. It was named for Lochboisdale, the main village of the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Neil Campbell was granted land in the area in 1836. In 1821, Thomas Lockman, an Irishman who came to Cape Breton in 1799 and lived at Lloyds Cove, petitioned for land, and got a grant next to Neil Campbell's lot in 1842. Angus McIntyre got a grant in 1846, and in 1869, land at what was then called Boisdale was granted to Dugald O'Henley. Farming and lumbering were the basic industries. In 1840, a small log church was constructed by Father John Grant on where the present-day church resides. It was replaced by a new building in 1862, which burned down in September 1928. In 1846, Boisdale Parish was officially erected. A post office was established at Boisdale Chapel in 1854. On October 1, 1873 a new post office was established with Michael McIntyre as office keeper. In 1874, the total population of Boisdale, was that of 500. During this time, the area had 1 store, 3 sawmills, 1 grist mill, and a post office, of which mail was delivered bi-weekly. By 1908, it contained 1 hotel, 2 general stores, 1 saw mill, and 2 gristmills. The population at that time, was 300. In 1915, a newer 40,000 gallon open-wood tank was built replacing an older 40,000 gallon wood tank, for the water services within the area. Father Alexander F. MacGillivray, whom was the fifth pastor of Boisdale, had installed the bell within St. Andrew's Church in Boisdale, in 1882, and had built the Glebe house there in 1890. A new and larger bell, cast by the Meneely Bell Company of New York, was installed in St. Andrew's Church, by Father MacGillivray, on Nov. 14, 1897. In 1921, Father Gillis built St. Andrew's Parish Hall, James Johnston of Red Islands, Nova Scotia was the contractor. The formal opening of the hall was held on September 13, 1921. The original St. Andrew's Parish Church was destroyed by fire on Sunday, September 11, 1927. Construction of a new stone church commenced in June 1929, with help from workers from Quebec. The design style of the church was inspired by the Norman architecture as well as the St Mary the Virgin, Iffley church in England. Link, Weber, and Bowers, architects hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, designed the architecture of the church. The approximate cost of the church was $55,000, but the exterior walls had to be repointed during the summer of 1930, which added an extra $7,500 to the total cost. The new church was blessed on Sunday, August 31, 1930, by Bishop James Morrison, assisted by the late Bishop Alexander MacDonald. In 1931, the total population of Boisdale was 449. There was also a train station located on Station Road, in Boisdale during this time. The former Glebe House for St. Andrew's Church was burnt down in 2011, due to a fire. Dugald Smith was the teacher in 1839, and a school-house had been constructed by that time. A new school-house was completed in 1917. Education within the area dates back to the early 1800s, with the Boisdale Consolidated School closing in 2003. The enrolment for the school, in the 1957–1958 academic year, were 82 students, and 3 teachers. By the 1987 Academic year, there were only 21 students, all within grades primary-second, and fourth. In 1943, within what is now known as Ironville, then known as Boisdale Barrachois until 1907, a youth summer camp was built. The two-week summer camp operated from 1943, until its closure in the 1980s. Efforts were made in 1997 to re-open the camp in the spring of 1998. The camp officially closed in 2010, due to the deterioration of some of the buildings. The property in which the youth camp was on, was sold in 2013. In August 1977, the community of Boisdale, as well as Father Webb, unveiled and held a ceremony for the opening of an indoor stone, ice-skating rink. Father Webb also built a Co-op store, in the 70s. A new hall above the store replaced the old Holyrood Hall, which burned down on December 18, 1975. By 1956, the population of Boisdale was 133. Over the years the population decreased, down to 138 by 1991, and estimated to be 105 by the 2001 Census.To the Hill of Boisdale,a book on the genealogical history of Boisdale was published in 1986, and later in a revised edition in 2001, by Father Allan MacMillan, then Priest of the Diocese of Antigonish. Highland Gold Maple, a family-owned and operated sugar maple producer, has been operating within the area for over fifteen years. In late April 2018, their operation burned to the ground due to a fire. By March 2019, Highland Gold Maple had rebuilt the Sugar Shack and are back in operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slowcoaster</span> Canadian rock band

Slowcoaster is a Canadian indie rock band from Sydney, Nova Scotia. The band's sound is rock-based, with strong influences of reggae, ska, folk and jazz.

Frankie MacDonald is a Canadian amateur meteorologist from the Whitney Pier area of Sydney, Nova Scotia. MacDonald, who has autism, is known for his boisterous online weather forecasts. Frankie records meteorologist reports which he then posts to his YouTube channel, under the handle of dogsandwolves.

References

  1. Keilty, Lindsey (August 29, 2008). "'It's just a crazy cool experience'". The Weekly News . Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Pottie, Erin (August 23, 2008). "Archived copy". Cape Breton Post . Archived from Welcome home Mitch the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2017.{{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Brioux, Bill (September 11, 2008). "West bests East as another Idol is crowned", Toronto Star , p. E1.
  4. Levine, Sheri (September 12, 2008). "Second-place finish won't stop this singer", The Province , p. B8.
  5. Millar, Sarah (September 11, 2008). "Canadian Idol: Mitch MacDonald on being the runner up". National Post . Retrieved January 30, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. Worboy, Martha (September 11, 2008). "Lethbridge piano man tops in season six: Soaring vocals carry Theo Tams to victory over Mitch MacDonald", Canwest News Service. Reprinted in Edmonton Journal , p. D1.
  7. (September 5, 2008). "Mitch MacDonald Age: 22 Hometown: Port Hood, Nova Scotia Pre-Idol Occupation: Carpenter Archived 24 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine ", Niagara Falls Review . Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  8. Keilty, Lindsey (September 19, 2008). "First in the hearts of Nova Scotians". The Halifax West Weekly News . Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  9. "Mitch MacDonald is still Cape Breton's idol". CBC News. September 11, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  10. (October 24, 2008). "Top 3 Tour books Winnipeg", Winnipeg Free Press , p. W1.
  11. Hicks, Duane (September 1, 2010). "'Idol' finalist enjoys visit here". Fort Frances Times . Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.