New Mi'kmaq rock band makes history

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The top entertainment story to come out of Cape Breton lately is the quick rise of the Mi'kmaq rock band Forever. The rock band has been together for only a year-and-a-half, but within this group of musicians there are decades of combined experience, strong song writing capability, great musicianship, and vast road experience.

Band leader Keith Dawson put this band together to achieve one goal. From day 1, the group decided that they weren't going to become another cover band just playing local bars and singing other people's music. Forever set its own standards and performed original material.

Dawson's approach to the band has been a business venture.

"Once you have a proven product, it's a lot easier to market. Our team keeps growing bigger as the demand for the band increases."

The rock band includes Eskasoni First Nation musicians, Derek Johnson (vocals), Stan Johnson (keys), and Keith Dawson (drums). Glace Bay's own Bernie Eagles is the lead guitarist, along with bass player Peter Christmas from Membertou First Nation. The only member not from Cape Breton is Graeme MacCausland (keys) who is from Saint John, N.B.

They released their first CD, Welcome to Forever, on Sept. 19, 2002, which was produced at Soundpark Studios, Big Pond, N.S., with East Coast Music Award winner and recording engineer, Jamie Foulds.

Forever's first single, "Here With Me," was released the same month and Forever became the first Cape Breton rock band to have a top five hit in more than a decade on K-94, Sydney.

"Here With Me" is also receiving airplay on radio in all four Atlantic Provinces, as well as international airplay on radio stations in Denmark, Italy, Germany, Holland, and France.

Forever shot their first music video for their second single, "Without Your Love" in Halifax on Jan. 19. Forever applied for a video application from VideoFACT. Out of 252 video applications nation-wide, 38 were approved, including the application by Forever. They are in good company. Other successful artists included Swollen Members, Nelly Furtado, and Bif Naked.

Forever is the first Mi'kmaq band to have a professional music video.

The concept and production for the video was made under the direction of award-winning music video producer Charlie Cahill of New Scotland Pictures in Halifax. Cahill brought in his favorite collaborator, Jim Spitler, from Nashville, Tennessee, to handle direction and cinematography. Final editing is underway in Nashville.

Forever's agent, Jay Bedford of EastQuest Entertainment & Communications in Sydney, who plays a major part in promoting the band said, "The video will take us to the other level we need to go-a nationwide audience."

To learn more about Forever, visit their Web site at www.forever-music.com.