Shane O’Handley

Cape Breton

Shane O'Handley is a cornerstone of the Cape Breton music scene. The Sydney Mines native has played in bands encompassing a multitude of styles: the cluster-rock ensemble of The Tom Fun Orchestra, the power rock trio sound of Carmen Townsend, Three Piece Suit's surf rock, the shambolic punk of Mess Folk and Airport's indie rock acoustic weirdness.

Shane has played all over North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, sharing his talent with patrons of rock clubs, tiny pubs and sprawling outdoor stages. Known mostly for his bass playing, Shane's solo performances weave skillful guitar picking with his gift for melody and his soft, reassuring vocal. His full musical skill set is on display when his band, The Jaynes, perform with Shane at the helm switching between bass, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, all while singing and keeping bodies moving and feet stomping.