CHÉTICAMP: A beloved local band with decades of history are coming together for a special cause this fall, one near to the group’s own heart.
On Sept. 13, former members of The Phantoms will take the stage at La Place des arts Père Anselme Chiasson at École NDA in Chéticamp for a Goodwill Phantoms Concert. Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward replacing the roof of Calvin United Church in Margaree Harbour.
Founding member Sylvia LeLièvre said the idea for the benefit concert came after years of performing smaller fundraisers for the church.
“About 12 years ago, we were asked to do a Christmas pageant at Calvin United Church,” LeLièvre recalled. “Since then, we have continued to perform every year to raise funds for this beautiful, quaint little church.”
When parish committee member Gordon Lawrence reached out this year about the urgent need for a new roof, LeLièvre and several former bandmates decided to organize something bigger.
“We have played for all kinds of benefits over the years, so why not do another?” she said. “We came up with the idea of a goodwill concert.”
The Phantoms have a long history of community support. Years ago, the band raised $5,400 to help the church purchase a new organ and sound system.
This September’s lineup will feature Sylvia LeLièvre, Clarence LeLièvre, Bruno Bourgeois, Marcel LeFort, Lola LeLièvre, Martin Aucoin, Gervais Cormier, Adrien Aucoin, Brian Doyle, Tommy Poirier, Glen MacEachern, Roger Boudreau and possibly Glen Bourgeois.
The concert will be split into two segments – the first highlighting the band’s original lineup and classic oldies, the second showcasing later-era members and their most popular tunes.
Formed in Chéticamp in 1966, The Phantoms began as a group of teenage siblings and cousins introducing rock music to the Acadian community. Over nearly 60 years, 25 musicians have been part of the band, performing at dances, weddings, taverns, festivals, and benefits across the county.
They have celebrated milestone reunions with their 30th in 1996 and their 50th in 2016, each drawing crowds from far and wide. Their enduring popularity has made them a fixture in the region’s cultural history, bridging generations with their music and joie de vivre.
Tickets for the Goodwill Phantoms Concert are selling quickly. They are available through Le Conseil des arts de Chéticamp by phone at 902-224-1876 or online at www.conseildesartsdecheticamp.ca.
Editor’s Note: Some information for this article was derived from an interview with Radio CKJM host Daniel Aucoin and Sylvia LeLièvre, Clarence LeLièvre and Bruno Bourgeois – with permission.