Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame caught up with Inductee (2004) Ivan Hicks recently at the 76th Annual Maritime Fiddle Festival.
Ivan stated. “Today we’re a bit more laid back in our activities but by no means has the music stopped! Vivian and I take part in regular fiddle doos and fiddle jams in the area. The two of us have performed in concerts this year, the most recent being in Summerside PEI as part of a special show by fiddler extraordinaire, Richard Wood.
Our Sussex Avenue Fiddlers are still an active group 47 years after their formation with weekly practices and a number of performances through the year. Recently they did a bus tour to PEI to join us onstage at the Richard Wood concert.
At our home we still welcome motorcoach tours with all the music but minus the catered meal part. We also continue presenting our house concert series with three scheduled so far this year, including NS Country Music Hall of Famer, Hal Bruce. To date we have had over 15,000 guests to our home.
The last few years, we have collaborated with tour operators Burgess Tours to join them on autumn motorcoach tours along the Cabot Trail where we provide entertainment for guests along the way.
Vivian and I have been highly involved in the running of the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame since the 90s, a lot of that time with myself as President and Vivian as Secretary/Treasurer. In 2023 we felt it was time to step away from those roles as additional Hall of Famers and others from the music community came on the scene with the skills that would allow us to leave the Hall of Fame in very capable hands. We have stayed on as advisors but the new board and associates have a secure hand on the continued future and success of the organization which has made us extremely pleased.”
Visit Ivan and Vivian's website here