Artists Archive

Kolten MacDonell

September 6, 2012
KoltenMacDonellCape Breton

Kolten MacDonell is a fiddler, stepdancer, and piano player from Glencoe, Cape Breton. He began playing music at a young age, influenced by many local teachers, including Stephanie Wills, Brenda Stubbert and Jerry Holland. Kolten has played for ceilidhs and dances throughout Cape Breton, and is also in demand as a teacher. He has taught piano accompaniment and stepdancing workshops for several years at St. Ann’s Gaelic College of Arts and Crafts in Cape Breton, Ceilidh Trail School of Celtic Music, and Boston Harbour Scottish Fiddle School.

Cape Breton artists, Fiddle, Piano, Stepdance
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Colin Grant

June 9, 2012
ColinGrantCape Breton

Hard-driving but clean, lively and passionate, traditional yet original—Colin Grant’s fiddle playing has inconspicuously stepped to the forefront of the East Coast traditional music scene and people are sitting up and taking notice. Although most at home with traditional Cape Breton fiddle music, his versatility as both a lead and side musician has given him experiences in a variety of traditional styles, in addition to folk, rock and country genres. Colin has put this experience to use with the Colin Grant Band playing a dynamic and thoughtful mingling of beats and melodies from an extensive host of musical influences.

Cape Breton artists, Fiddle, Special Projects
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Chrissy Crowley

June 9, 2012
ChrissyCrowleyCape Breton

Chrissy Crowley is a traditional fiddler and recording artist from Cape Breton who, since the 2007 release of her debut album, has been captivating audiences on an international level in performance throughout Canada, the United States, Ireland, Scotland, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. She lives in beautiful Margaree, a place known for its cherished musical culture which incorporates not only the tunes of the Scottish Gaels but also those of the area’s Irish and French-Acadians. Chrissy has been inspired by the traditions of artists who have gone before, embracing the music of her Celtic roots and making it her own. A winner of the Top 20 Under 20 in Canada Award in 2008, Chrissy released her second album, The Departure, in 2010.

Cape Breton artists, Fiddle
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Diaga Irish Dancers

May 15, 2012
DiagaIrishDancersNova Scotia

Zeph Caissie started dancing at the age of four in Vancouver, competing and performing locally and internationally until he was 21. After placing 2nd in the Great Britain and All Ireland Championships and 4th in the World Championships, he signed on with Riverdance The Show, and went toured with the company for 8 years. Upon leaving the show, Zeph choreographed and performed solo pieces with Ballet de Printmeps and Lunasa. He moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia and started his own dance school, Diaga Irish Dance, in 2010. The school has 35 full time dancers from ages 4 to 25.

Dance, Nova Scotian artists
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J.P. Cormier & The Elliott Brothers

May 15, 2012
J.P.CormierTheElliottBrothersCape Breton

Award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist J.P. Cormier has released more than a dozen records including two career retrospectives, and a book of the tunes featured on his guitar album. Since 2009, J.P. has been performing with the Elliott Brothers—Bill (guitars) and Mike (bass)—and his musical connection with these Atlantic Canadian bluegrass veterans has been nothing short of spectacular. Mike and Bill are both former Maritime old time Fiddling Champions, with over 40 years experience on the leading edge of the Atlantic Canadian bluegrass scene playing with their father, the legendary Carl Elliott.

Banjo, Cape Breton artists, Fiddle, Guitar, Singer Songwriters, Vocals
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J.P. Cormier

May 15, 2012
J.P.CormierCape Breton

J.P. Cormier is a gifted multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who reads the times with songs. He has released more than a dozen records including two career retrospectives, and a book of the tunes featured on his guitar album. J.P.’s impressive body of work has earned him a vast and loyal fan base and multiple award nominations and wins, including 12 East Coast Music Awards, Canadian Folk Music Award, 5 Music Nova Scotia Awards, Juno nominations, commendations from the Governor General of Canada and Premier of Nova Scotia.

Banjo, Cape Breton artists, Fiddle, Guitar, Singer Songwriters, Vocals
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Iona Gaelic Singers

May 15, 2012
IonaGaelicSingersCape Breton

The Iona Gaelic Singers are just a few of our remaining native Gaelic Speakers on Cape Breton Island. They have an unrivaled passion for the preservation and presentation of Gaelic songs, specifically Gaelic milling songs, composed both here in Cape Breton and from the Old Country, Scotland.

Cape Breton artists, Gaelic, Vocals
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Ian MacDougall

May 15, 2012
IanMacDougallCape Breton

Ian MacDougall is a singer and songwriter from North Sydney with a knack for telling bizarre and heartfelt stories in his songs. As frontman of Cape Breton’s award-winning, seven-member Tom Fun Orchestra, Ian has toured in Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and across Canada. At home in Cape Breton, Ian occasionally takes a more laid-back approach to performing music, sometimes choosing to play his songs solo, or as a straight-ahead, bass-drums-guitar rock trio. Whatever the setting he chooses, it’s Ian’s songs that take centre stage.

Cape Breton artists, Singer Songwriters, Special Projects, Vocals
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