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Natalie & Brittany Haas
Boston/Nashville, USA
Sisters Natalie (cello) and Brittany Haas (fiddle) began their musical lives together, filling their childhood home with Bach suites and Old-Time tunes alike. It was on their own, however—following divergent paths through disparate musical traditions, countries, and cultures—that they both arrived as virtuosi and composers at the highest levels of contemporary string music. Fans of acoustic music can hardly mention one without referencing the other’s work.Credited with putting cello on the map of contemporary Celtic music, Natalie brings a wealth of world influences to her instrument, fashioning a tone and rhythmic sense that transcends any single tradition. Along with her longtime collaborator Alasdair Fraser, with whom she has released seven albums, Natalie has charted a new course through the string music of Scotland, Ireland, Spain, and beyond—all without losing the influence of classical technique or her American roots, the combination of which have been on display since her earliest years, particularly in her remarkable ease in toggling between the worlds of traditional fiddle camps and Juilliard, where she studied classical performance.Among the most influential fiddlers of her generation, Brittany has combined a world-renowned virtuosity with a musical sensibility all her own—a combination that has gained the attention, and elicited the admiration, of some of the greatest musicians in the world. Having studied under Bruce Molsky and Darol Anger, Brittany went on to join Anger’s Republic of Strings, Crooked Still, Tony Trischka and Steve Martin, Dave Rawlings Machine, and most recently her own quartet, Hawktail (formed alongside Paul Kowert, Jordan Tice, and Dominick Leslie). A mainstay of Chris Thile’s “Live From Here,” Brittany’s fiddle has made waves throughout American music, crossing genres and generations in a new approach to her instrument.These two brightest lights of contemporary strings join forces as a duo all their own. It is a collaboration a lifetime in the making, and a music encompassing travels through time and through the world. From Nashville to Norway, the Celtic Isles to California, Natalie and Brittany have absorbed, adapted, and made their own world of music. The result? HAAS.
Daniel Lapp & Quinn Bachand
British Columbia, Canada
Daniel Lapp is a world-renowned singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, teacher, archivist, band leader, sideman, producer, promoter and – no kidding – the list goes on. And like the true-blue Canadian he is, Daniel does it all with trademark energy and warmth. As a fiddler, jazz trumpeter and singer/songwriter, Daniel Lapp has played on over 100 albums and performed across Canada, United States, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Finland and Germany with some of the world’s most renowned Folk and Jazz musicians. Daniel is the winner of the B.C. Fiddle Championship and has appeared as a soloist with the CBC Chamber Orchestra as well as the Prince George, Victoria, and Vancouver Symphonies. A legendary force in Canada’s fiddle scene, in addition to his outstanding performing, Daniel has been musical mentor to hundreds of students—many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the music industry.The evolution of a young musician is something beautiful to behold. Every blue moon, when this rate of growth seems exponential, the experience is nothing if not exciting. Victoria’s own Quinn Bachand has evolved at such a rate – a natural musician, invested of both body and soul in his quest for musical perfection in many facets. From age 11, he was demonstrating his abilities on the acoustic guitar around the world, playing traditional music with Daniel Lapp, Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster. By age 17, Quinn was playing over a dozen instruments, recording and producing albums with his sister Qristina, and collecting multiple nominations and awards up to, and including their latest release, Little Hinges.Ever the bold musical voyageur, Quinn has invested his love of swing jazz in particular with the 2013 release of his band and same-named debut CD, Brishen (Romany for “bringer of the storm”). Aptly titled, the gale force success of this debut tells the tale – resulting in noteworthy recognition for Quinn, including an unprecedented five Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, the Saga Djangofest Award, two Western Canada Music Award nominations, an “Emerging Artist” spot with the RBC Canada’s Walk of Fame, six nominations at the Vancouver Island Music Awards, not to mention a full ride, 4 year Slaight Family scholarship to Boston’s Berklee College of Music and top prize at the Independent Music Awards for Jazz Song with Vocals.
Nathan Gourley & Laura Feddersen
Boston, USA
Nathan Gourley and Laura Feddersen are an Irish fiddle duo hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. Their playing is steeped in lifelong study of the Irish musical tradition, and is at same time colored by their American roots. The pair have developed a unique style of twin fiddling, sometimes playing in taut unison, sometimes exploring chordal harmonies and rhythmic and melodic variations.They recently released Brightly or Darkly, a follow-up to their 2014 recording with Brian Miller, Life is All Checkered. They each perform and teach regularly both at home in Boston and at festivals throughout the US and Ireland.
Kimberley Fraser & Margie Beaton
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
Kimberley Fraser was born on Cape Breton Island and first began to impress audiences at the age of three with her step-dancing talents. Soon after that she took up both the fiddle and the piano. She has traveled the world, from Victoria to Afghanistan, performing at venues such as The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. bringing Cape Breton music with her wherever she goes. Kimberley holds a degree in Violin performance from Berklee College of Music and in Celtic Studies from St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. Education is important to her, reflected in Kimberley’s dedication to teaching Cape Breton music both at home and abroad. A master at the trio of fiddling, step dancing and piano, Kimberley is a much sought after teacher for all three. Her reputation as a teacher has brought her to conduct workshops at many camps and festivals. Kimberley also has experience giving workshops to string orchestras demonstrating how traditional music can be arranged for classical ensembles.Margie Beaton from Mabou, was dancing at age four and started playing the fiddle a year later. Over the years she has performed at concerts, ceilidhs and festivals all around Cape Breton Island, mainland Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Scotland, Ireland, France, USA, England, Brazil, and China. She has been featured internationally on television, radio and video, and has performed in numerous Celtic Colours shows over the years. When not playing or dancing, Margie is the Marketing Director for Colaisde Na Gàidhlig in St. Ann’s, Cape Breton.
Laura Risk, Nicholas Williams, & Rachel Aucoin
Quebec, Canada
Acclaimed Montreal-based fiddler Laura Risk presents Traverse, a musical journey into the heart of traditional fiddle music that resonates with nuance and vitality. “Gorgeous, refreshing” raves The Guardian, while Songlines calls the new album “mature, dignified and rewarding.” With Nicholas Williams (Genticorum) on accordion and flute, and Rachel Aucoin (Raz-de-Marée) on piano, Traverse draws from deep immersion into traditional musical communities, from Montreal to the Gaspé via Scotland, as well as a curiosity towards innovation and exploration. The result is “melodically memorable, beautifully played, heart- lifting music, full of intelligence, delicacy and detail” (RootsWorld). The band features three top musicians who have each come to Quebec from elsewhere —Laura from California, Nicholas from Ottawa, and Rachel from the Maritimes—and have been deeply involved with traditional Québécois music for decades. Together, they play with knife’s-edge precision and a rare intuitive connection that draws listeners into a riveting musical experience.
Brad Reid Trio
Nova Scotia, Canada
Playful Celtic fiddle with a modern interpretation, Brad Reid’s fresh fiddle phrases connect old traditions with modern popular music, drawing on global influences such as latin, classical, jazz, and hip hop. Nominated for a 2022 East Coast Music Award, and two 2021 Nova Scotia Music Awards, he’s been described as a “world class fiddler” by The Bluegrass Standard, and "a true pleasure" by Fiddler Magazine. The trio presents a side of the classic Cape Breton sound in a way that might be, according to Irish tradition bearer Martin Hayes, “continually growing”. Brad’s 2023 release The Bridge was nominated for both a 2024 East Coast Music Award, and a 2024 Nova Scotia Music Award for Roots/Traditional Album of the Year. Brad Reid comes from a large family of Cape Bretoners and Newfoundlanders. His grandfather Henry Lefort was a fiddler, from Cheticamp, Cape Breton, and his grandmother an occasional piano accompanist from Piper’s Cove, Cape Breton. Brad took up the fiddle as a teenager, learning from his grandfather, and by listening to fiddlers like Buddy MacMaster, Natalie MacMaster, and Winston Fitzgerald. He studied music in university at St FX University in jazz saxophone, and has a varied musical background that he incorporates into his playing and teaching. In 2019, Brad toured the world with Cirque du Soleil’s CRYSTAL, before coming home and recording his album NEW Scotland, which was nominated for a 2022 East Coast Music Award, and two 2021 Nova Scotia Music Awards.
Jane & Kyle
Manitoba, Canada
Canadian fiddle champions Jane Cory and Kyle Burghout have toured across Canada playing at festivals, competitions, camps, dances, theatres, and house concerts. Each with many accolades to their credit—Jane a Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion, and Kyle a North American Irish Fiddle Champion—they join forces to create innovative arrangements filled with lush twin fiddle harmonies. Both growing up in areas with rich fiddling traditions—Jane in Manitoba and Kyle in the Ottawa Valley—their music is influenced by these traditional styles, while also featuring contemporary tunes written by fiddlers from across Canada and beyond, including many compositions of their own. Jane & Kyle will be joined by Alanna Jenish (guitar) and Tyson Chen (piano).
Jackson Corry
Quebec, Canada
Jackson Corry grew up near the Ghost River in Southwestern Alberta. He was exposed to music from a young age and quickly developed an enthusiasm for the art that resulted in him building his first guitar at the age of 15. Since then, Jackson has studied with a number of top luthiers in various disciplines, including instrument repair, violin bow and guitar-making. His experience in instrument repair and love of vintage instruments has given him insight into design-related needs and possibilities for new instruments and his continuous endeavours as a multi-instrumental musician have resulted in an intimate knowledge of tone, playability and performance requirements of a high-end instrument.Currently studying with Segei de Jonge and advancing his craft in Quebec, Jackson builds both classical and steel string guitars and is on the hunt for trees to explore harvesting and cutting his own wood directly from the forest.
Paige Roy
Quebec, Canada
Paige Roy is an accomplished fiddler, stepdancer and singer/songwriter from Chelsea Quebec. She has been fiddling since the age of seven when she joined Chelsea’s Fiddleheads Musical Theater and now sometimes jumps in to help teach the Junior Fiddleheads group. She started songwriting back in the height of the pandemic and later learned both the guitar and piano to accompany herself. She has performed at many events locally and competes regularly in fiddle competitions throughout the Ottawa Valley. On top of her busy schedule, she is a Nursing student at the University of Ottawa.
James Stephens, Kate Weekes, & Brian Sanderson
Quebec, Canada
James Stephens is known for his work both as a performer and producer/recording engineer and has combined this with teaching violin/fiddling to provide the basis of a career that has spanned 35 years. Specializing in various forms of acoustic music, he has produced/co-produced and engineered recordings with a long list of singer/songwriters including Ian Tamblyn, Lynn Miles, Melwood Cutlery and Chris MacLane. James is also well known for his work in the recording and performance of traditional and world music. Kate Weekes is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist based in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec. Kate has released four albums of original material as well as collaborative projects. Her musical background includes: swing, classic rock, old country, bluegrass, folk and old time Appalachia. Brian Sanderson is a composer, teacher and multi-instrumentalist currently residing in Rupert, Quebec. Brian has been involved with music on stage and in theatre, with dance and in film, at home and abroad for more than 26 years and has been instrumental in the creation of one of Canada’s most prolific community recording labels (Backlash Recordings - Peterborough, Ontario). As an instrumentalist, Brian has worked and recorded with a wide and diverse range of artists. He is a member of the reknown Peterborough band, The Silverhearts, the legendary Old-time trio Sheesham, Lotus and ’Son and the Montreal based Juno award winning ensemble Esmerine.
Lineup is subject to changes. Last updated October 3, 2024.
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