Artists Archive

Battlefield Band

May 11, 2012

Scotland

Founded by a group of friends in 1969 and named after the “Battlefield” area of Glasgow, The Battlefield Band have now been touring and performing throughout the world for over forty years, playing to audiences in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East and Canada, as well as more than 60 cities annually in the United States. Over the years new members have brought with them new ideas, music, instruments, attitudes and influences, leading to continued creativity, freshness and enthusiasm. The new line-up sees young multi-instrumentalist Ewen Henderson, join Mike Katz, Alasdair White, and Sean O’Donnell.

Bagpipes, Fiddle, Gaelic, Scottish artists, Vocals

See Related: Bagpipes, Fiddle, Gaelic, Scottish artists, Vocals

Asham Stompers

May 11, 2012

Manitoba

Formed in 2002, the Asham Stompers are a very high energy Jig and Square Dance group from Manitoba that brings fans to their feet everywhere they perform. Their mission is “…to help recapture and preserve the history of the Métis people through the Traditional dancing of Red River Jig”. They combine “Red River Jig” with traditional square dance aptly called the “Red River Dance”. The Stompers took Celtic Colours audiences by storm in 2011, and there was just no question that we would get them back for this year’s festival.

Canadian artists, Dance, Youth

See Related: Canadian artists, Dance, Youth

April Verch Band

May 11, 2012

Ontario

April Verch is from the Ottawa Valley, an area with a rich, distinctive musical and stepdancing tradition shaped by the diverse roots of the immigrants drawn to the region’s lumber camps. With her band, she plays traditional and original songs that draw from all over the world, but are clearly filtered through her immersion in the style she grew up with in the Ottawa Valley. The April Verch Trio consists of world-class musicians Hayes Griffin on guitar and Cody Walters on upright-electric bass and banjo. Together, these three passionate musicians tour tirelessly across Canada, the United States, the U.K., Europe and Australia.

Banjo, Canadian artists, Dance, Fiddle

See Related: Banjo, Canadian artists, Dance, Fiddle

Anita MacDonald

May 11, 2012

Cape Breton

Anita MacDonald is an accomplished musician, dancer, and Gaelic singer from Little Narrows, Cape Breton. Her passion for Cape Breton music has inspired her to work extensively with the cultural component of Féis an Eilein in Christmas Island. Anita has performed extensively throughout Cape Breton and she is often sought after to conduct workshops in music, dance, and song. In 2011, she received the Frank “Big Sampie” Sampson Award from the Festival Volunteer Drive’ers Association to record her debut album, “Stepping Stone”, which was released during last year’s festival.

Cape Breton artists, Dance, Fiddle, Gaelic

See Related: Cape Breton artists, Dance, Fiddle, Gaelic

Andrea Beaton

May 11, 2012

Cape Breton

Andrea Beaton is the youngest of generations of Beaton and MacMaster musicians. Like her father (Kinnon) and grandfather (Donald Angus), she is a lively violinist and composer, adding fine new music to the island’s repertoire. Andrea has released six albums including 2010 East Coast Music Award winning “Branches” and her latest, “Little Black Book”, released earlier this year. In 2007 she released an album with her father, Kinnon Beaton and in 2006 she recorded “The Tap Session” in Scotland with Troy MacGillivray, Fin Moore, and Luke Plumb. Her previous two releases, “Cuts” (2004) and “License to Drive’er” (2002), were both nominated for East Coast Music Awards.

Cape Breton artists, Dance, Fiddle, Piano

See Related: Cape Breton artists, Dance, Fiddle, Piano

Amélie Larade & Louise Aucoin & Lilianne Cormier

May 11, 2012

Cape Breton

Amélie, Louise, and Lilianne are members of la Petite Brise (meaning a small wind), a group of young dancers in the dance troupe La Swing du Suête. All three girls hail from beautiful Cheticamp, an area rich in music, dance and culture. Although young dancers, they have been dancing for more than a few years. You can also catch Amélie with her other dancing partner, Christopher Poirier, in the early part of the festival.

Cape Breton artists, Dance, Youth

See Related: Cape Breton artists, Dance, Youth

Amélie Larade & Christopher Poirier

May 11, 2012

Cape Breton

Amelie Larade is the daughter of Mark and Donna Larade. She is 10 years old and has been dancing since the age of 5. In that time she has danced for Justin Trudeau and Roch Voisine. Amelie loves to dance and has been working for le Conseil des Arts since she started dancing. Christopher Poirier is a grade 5 student at NDA School in Cheticamp. He is 11 yearrs old and has been dancing since the age of 4. Chris is also a member of a group called Conseil des arts with whom he performs in plays all summer long. This is his second year dancing at Celtic Colours, and he really enjoyed his experience last year. In his career so far, Christopher, has had the opportunity to dance for the Governor General, Ashley MacIsaac, Roch Voisine and many more.

Cape Breton artists, Dance, Youth

See Related: Cape Breton artists, Dance, Youth

Allie Mombourquette

May 11, 2012

Cape Breton

Allison Mombourquette began step dancing at the age of 5 and fiddle lessons at age 8. She joined the Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association in 2001, which has given her the opportunity to perform across Canada and in the United Kingdom. She has been a part of Feis Mhabu since the winter of 2006, which gives young Celtic musicians the opportunity to learn from some of Cape Breton’s finest musicians. Allison has also studied fiddle, piano, and step-dancing at the Gaelic College and played alongside such performers as Natalie MacMaster, Glenn Graham, Andrea Beaton, Ashley MacIsaac, Jerry Holland, J.P. Cormier, and Dave MacIsaac.

Cape Breton artists, Fiddle

See Related: Cape Breton artists, Fiddle