Story and Photos by Jordan Maki (age 11)
On June 11, 2016, I went to the Community Auditorium for a performance by a family group from Lakefield, Ontario called 
the Next Generation Leahy. It was a truly outstanding performance. They did French Canadian step dancing and a variety of songs, including one of their originals “Shake.” They captivated everyone playing a wide variety of instruments including the fiddle, French accordion, guitar double bass and keyboard, and had the audience clapping along with them.
The members of the group included parents Doug and Jennifer, Adele (age 14), Gregory (age 12), Angus (age 11), Cecilia (age 9), Joseph (age 7), and Evelyn (age 5). All of them are extremely talented and excellent performers! Their footwork and timing was amazing and the girls’ singing voices were fantastic. I loved that they felt like a family band—they played from their hearts and seemed so comfortable with each other.
The performance had an incredible influence on the young kids in the audience. During the intermission I saw many of them dancing in the lobby, trying to imitate what they had just seen on stage.
Walleye Jr writers Jordan Maki and Juliette Stamp hanging out backstage with the Leahy family
I was truly amazed to see such talent and musical ability in such young people. They are a very special and uniquely talented family. Their performance was outstanding and fantastic and I hope that you get a chance to see them perform next time they are in Thunder Bay.
