This Year Performers
Tara Breen has numerous All Ireland titles on the fiddle, touring with the Chieftans.
Padraig Rynne is one of the finest concertina players in Irish music today.
Jim Murray is a world-leading Irish guitarist and has toured with Sinead O'Connor.
Tip'Er Back
The group plays a mix of maritime favourites, traditional Gaelic, country, and also some original music. Betts, Currie and Murray were members of Kickin’ Country, the popular dance band that played at many dance halls on PEI
Allan Betts is not only a singer and musician but a songwriter. He has penned the song “And I Owe Life to You”, sung by many musicians, including PEI’s own Dino Dunsford.
Clive Currie yodels and he is very good at it. We hope to convince him to give us a tune with yodeling in it during the evening.
MacLeod is no stranger to the ceilidh scene, having organized and hosted the well-known Brackley Beach Ceilidhs from 2004-2013, popular with Islanders and visitors alike. She has released five award-winning CDs, including the live CD/DVD compilation, "Live at the Brackley Beach Ceilidh." In recent years, MacLeod has performed onboard the Norwegian Cruise Line with the Cynthia MacLeod Trio. She is also the artistic director for the PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls and event manager for Music PEI.
Ross Family
A staple of the PEI roots music scene and a vacation highlight for travellers every Summer since 2006, the Ross Family Ceilidh captivates people of all ages. This brother-sister group is noted for their big vocals, fiddle sets and wicked piano, as well as their smooth and spirited step-dancing, storytelling, and love for what they do. Mostly English, some Acadian French and some Scots Gaelic.
Carefully crafted arrangements and a little love help make the unearthed traditional material their own, while preserving its core keeps the music as pure as when their Celtic and Acadian forebears played it years ago. Combined with modern content and original songs, incredible dancing and much more, this feast for the ears — and eyes — offers an exhilarating concert experience that can only be found here! .
Danielle’s heart pounding fiddle sets are sure to satisfy any audience member’s wildest floor stomping desires, while her versatility keeps it sounding fresh. Every good fiddle performance requires a strong foundation of rhythm: Stephanie’s natural, intense guitar technique delivers the goods in spades and her agility on the bodhrán and foot percussion add depth way down low. Throw in Johnny’s driving piano with his dizzying left hand and the group’s rhythm picture is complete.
Stephanie’s powerful, emotive vocals are accented by group harmonies and all songs are thoughtfully interpreted, like virtually everything in the show! While the majority of the music is in English, to authentically capture the roots, there are occasional songs in Acadian French and Scots Gaelic.
Two-thirds of the group are natural born dancers. The siblings are eager to tap at the drop of a bow — or virtually any sound! Whether it is a group stepdance extravaganza or an outburst of tapping feet at the crest of a fiddle set, the dancing is marked by passion and done with aplomb. It will capture your attention, if not your heart. As lovers of all in the world of dance, the group may digress by briefly doing the Charleston or even a mind-blowing dance stunt that is best kept a surprise. When the Ross Family takes the stage, dancing is not simply a spice, it is a main ingredient!
Irish Scots
Norman Stewart has been playing music his whole life . He loves to perform, playing his guitar and sing numerous styles of music.
is on stage presence is very engaging for audience members.
Norman has played with many of PEI’S who’s who in the music industry. He has been a member of
“MacKenzie Drive” , PEI’s well known group “Treble With Girls” , and is now a member of a brand new
Initiative called “The Irish Scots!! “
As most Island musicians do, Norm also lends his time and talent to the many benefits that help PEI
families and folks in need. Stewart absolutely loves PEI and it’s people and it’s evident in some of the
songs he has written.
Norman has recorded a cd called “ Norm’s Souvenirs “ and is starting to work on his
second one.
Lovely Nelly
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Lovely Nelly is a new Celtic trio from PEI that features the unusual blend of Scottish small pipes and fiddle, backed by inventive, rhythmic guitar playing. The wild, haunting sound of the pipes is complimented by the smooth tones of the fiddle and whistles, with creative harmonies and arrangements built on a foundation of pipe drones and the fiddle's open strings. Lovely Nelly is Mark Douglas (small pipes, whistles), Colin Jeffrey (fiddle, vocals) and Claudie Mackula (vocals, guitar). The trio's music is based in the Scottish tradition, but incorporates influences from other Celtic regions and original compositions to create a unique, diverse sound. A choice selection of traditional songs showcase Claudie's beautiful lead vocals and compliments the lively tune sets
Lovely Nelly is a new Celtic trio from PEI that features the unusual blend of Scottish small pipes and fiddle, backed by inventive, rhythmic guitar playing. The wild, haunting sound of the pipes is complimented by the smooth tones of the fiddle and whistles, with creative harmonies and arrangements built on a foundation of pipe drones and the fiddle's open strings. Lovely Nelly is Mark Douglas (small pipes, whistles), Colin Jeffrey (fiddle, vocals) and Claudie Mackula (vocals, guitar). The trio's music is based in the Scottish tradition, but incorporates influences from other Celtic regions and original compositions to create a unique, diverse sound. A choice selection of traditional songs showcase Claudie's beautiful lead vocals and compliments the lively tune sets
Dr Zoo
Dr. Zoo is singer/songwriter Randal Arsenault who has a Doctorate in Zoology with research in Africa and teaches with the UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation. The latest CD is called 20, to celebrate 20 years of making music. Since 2003, Dr. Zoo has been nominated for 6 East Coast Music Awards, a 2023 Music PEI award, multiple Music NL awards, and toured Canada, Japan, UK, and South Africa.
The music of Dr. Zoo is a mix of Canadian folk with Celtic and African influences. Some have described it as Paul Simon Graceland meets Great Big Sea.
Morgan Naylor Wagner (she/her) is a violin/vocal graduate of the UPEI Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education (français langue seconde) programs. Currently loving her career as a French Immersion resource teacher, Morgan is also passionate about cultivating an appreciation for the arts in Island youth and finds the time to work as the choreographer, music director, or stage manager for local theatre productions and arts education programs.
Queen's County Fiddlers
The Queens County Fiddlers (QCF) is one of the five Fiddlers Societies of P.E.I. whose mission is to preserve and promote fiddle music on Prince Edward Island. Consisting of musicians of all ages, the group comes together to play and share in their love of fiddle music with a repertoire encompassing both modern tunes and traditional favorites across Scottish, Irish and Cape Breton styles. The group also plays some tunes written by Prince Edward Island tune-makers and has recorded two CDs, both of which will be available for sale at the ceilidh.
The Queens County Fiddlers has always been the largest and most structured branch of the PEI Fiddlers’ Society. Rehearsals are formal and well organized, most of the repertoire consists of published versions of Scottish, Irish, and Cape Breton tunes, and there is much emphasis on playing standard tune versions. Instead of establishing a separate fiddle school, the QCF has tried to integrate instruction into its weekly
rehearsals.
Cian and Mary
Cian O'Morain is a multi-instrumentalist, native Irish speaker and story teller from County Kerry, Ireland. He has recently completed a master's degree in the performance of traditional Irish music. He has toured Ireland, Canada and the US. Cian is now living in PEI and happy to be joining this thriving musical community where he can share his love of story, tune and song.
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Mary MacGillivray is a singer/songwriter who was born in PEI and grew up here as well as Cape Breton. Surrounded by home-made music and her deep PE/CB Island roots, Mary began singing and songwriting at a young age. She sings in English as well as Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and is learning to speak the languages of her heritage.
Archetype Trad
Established in the spring of 2018, Archetype Trad is comprised of violinists and fiddlers Kate Bevan-Baker and Émilie Brûlé. Inspired by their mutual interest and involvement performing traditional music from across Canada, Archetype Trad explores tunes originating from Ireland, Scotland, Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Québec. Both members’ training in classical and baroque music has resulted in a broad musical palette with diverse influences, transferring into original compositions by each member. Their name is a play-on-words based on the French word for bow (archet) and the various forms into which the music is transformed through their innovative arrangements and modern interpretations.
Fullerton's Marsh
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Island folk music group Fullerton’s Marsh features Randy Dibblee, Willie Arsenault, and Frank McQuaid who were part of “The Sons of Erin” who played for the Benevolent Irish Society in the 1960’s
Frank McQuaid has been making music for over 60 years beginning with a community choir in the PEI Music Festival at age 14.
In high school and university at SDU there was church choir, Glee Club, band, and The Sons of Erin. Then there was PEI Symphony as a founding member, 46 years with St. George Church choir, two community choirs, and many ceilidhs, benefits, etc. Finally, after 52 years, three of the original four Sons of Erin reunited under the name of Fullerton;s Marsh.
Willie Arsenault’s musical journey started with high school choirs and bands where he played clarinet. After teaching himself to play the guitar, he joined the St. Dunstan’s University Band, and by 1965 he had joined Randy Dibblee and Frank McQuaid in the folk group “The Sons of Erin” and memorized the Clancy Brothers song book. From 1989 to 1999, he was a member of a Labrador musical group that embraced a desire to sing original Labrador songs from various poems and sources. He has since retired to live and plant trees, overlooking Fullerton’s Marsh, in Mount Herbert, where the boys gather weekly to practice their craft. Randy Dibblee has been involved with music for over 70 years. Born in Saint John New Brunswick he started taking piano lessons at the age of six. Over the next 8 years he played in music festivals and sang in choirs. At fourteen he started playing guitar and began singing folk music while in high school at a time when folk music was the craze. While at St. Dunstan’s University he sang in three folk groups, including the original Sons of Erin, three of whom are still singing today as Fullerton’s Marsh. During his 42-year career as a wildlife biologist he was never too far from his guitar when attending meetings, fishing and hunting camps as well as house parties and other events.
Kate Bevan-Baker
Newfoundland-born Kate Bevan-Baker is an award-winning fiddler, classical violinist and singer. She has been playing violin since the age of four and thrives on a variety of musical
styles from Celtic to jazz and classical. She holds violin performance degrees from Memorial and McGill Universities, a Graduate Certificate in University Teaching, and a PhD specializing in Irish Music on PEI from Concordia University where she was a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Scholar. Balancing a career as a professional musician and part-time professor at Concordia and McGill Universities, Kate boasts an impressive list of national and international performances, recordings, presentations and lectures. Most recently, Kate was the recipient of a Prix Opus for the recording and live performance Baratin d’Marins / Sailor’s Spiel with La Nef (2022), and was nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year at the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards
(Bùmarang).
Her performance career has taken her to Russia (Memorial University Chamber Orchestra),
Ireland (Willie Clancy Summer School), Las Vegas (NHL Awards), China (World Expo 2010
representing Canada), Belgium, the Netherlands, Scotland, and across Canada twice with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Kate has performed at the JUNO Awards with
Michael Bublé, the International Civil Aviation Organization (Agency of the United Nations),
for Queen Elizabeth II at Canada Day Performances on Parliament Hill, as well as
performing with many symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles across
Canada. Kate competed in the National Music Festival in representing Newfoundland and
was the winner of Memorial University’s Concerto Competition in 2009.
Breakwater
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Breawater are a 2-piece Canadian East coast and Celtic Folk band from Vernon River , Prince Edward Island. The band formed in 2006 from a collection of high energy guitar players who met in middle school and who all just couldn't get enough Great Big Sea, Tenacious D, and party tunes. Their unique brand of entertainment fuses tight harmonies and east coast vibes with catchy back beats and punchy bass that will make you want to dance.
Now hailed as "a great night out" by numerous audiences, Breakwater is sure have your toes tapping and voice singing along to a favorite shanty or Irish ballad. It's St Patrick's day every day with Handsome Dan and the Shantyman of Breakwater Acoustic.
Janelle and Molly
Janelle Banks and Molly MacEwen are two talented and versatile competitive dancers who both train with Havenwood Studios, Charlottetown.
They have both won numerous awards for their step and tap dancing in Atlantic competitions as well as National and International events.
They recently competed in a National competition and Dance world cup hosted in Quebec City representing PEI, ad Canada and were thrilled to have been awarded several awards/titles Including World Champs for the Celtic step dancing and Folkloric categories. They were also both named “Dancer of the Year “ at the National event which was awarded to only 12 dancers at the entire event. These young ladies love to perform and have performed for numerous events across the Island as well as Special Olympics Canada Games, Canada Day Events, Eastern Canadian New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers conference, Royal visits ,The Small Halls events as well as many Eilidh’s and various performances on the Confederation Centre stage.