Acoustic Roots Festival

2021 Acoustic Roots Festival Artist Bio

Aaron MacDonald

Out of the woods of Mabou, a little town that beats in the musical heart of western Cape Breton Island, comes the soulful, ever-captivating, Americana singer Aaron MacDonald.

This indie songwriter is quietly making his mark despite the pandemic. Releasing new material for the first time since 2009, it has proven the East Coast has been longing for MacDonald to return. His first single this year, “Gonna Get There” debuted at #1 on the East Coast with his outlaw country follow-up, “My Soul & Me”, making an East Coast Top 5 splash, Aaron MacDonald has undoubtedly stepped back into the East Coast Music scene. He has been named as one of CBC Music Searchlight’s Top 100 Artists of 2021.

His new album, "It's Been Too Long" is available everywhere.

Adam Young

Adam Young is a sought-after pianist from Marion Bridge. His style fits perfectly with the fiddle, adding depth, solidity, and a joyful forward motion to the music, with an individual touch that distinguishes it from everyone else’s. There is a certain joy that is evident in his playing; he has the world’s worst poker face.
Adam created and directed the Louisbourg Playhouse’s popular music and comedy revue, Cape Breton Lyrics & Laughter, which has been performed more than 300 times and was nominated for an East Coast Music Award. He regularly plays at concerts, ceilidhs, square dances and sessions throughout Cape Breton, and has showcased his talents in Scotland and Ireland, across Canada and in the United States, including a five-week engagement with Jennifer Roland’s band at Dolly Parton’s amusement park in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
This spring and fall, Adam performed with Anita MacDonald and Ben Miller, as well as with his band The Goin’s On, on cruise ships sailing between Halifax and Sydney. In addition to Lyrics & Laughter’s album, Adam can also be heard on recordings by Colin Grant, Jason MacDonald, Eric Angus Whyte, Dara Smith-MacDonald and Marilyn MacKinnon.

Dara Smith- MacDonald

Dara Smith-MacDonald, born and raised in Antigonish, has been playing the fiddle for more than 20 years and now resides in Port Hawkesbury. With family roots in Inverness, she very quickly developed a style that is strong, lively, and traditional. Dara has played for concerts, ceilidhs, and dances throughout Cape Breton, mainland Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, and the U.S. She has performed at the Antigonish Highland Games, the Acoustic Roots Festival, Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, KitchenFest!, and Celtic Colours. In the summer of 2019, she performed in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland with Shetland-based fiddle group Hjaltibonhoga. She has taught fiddle at Colaisde na Gàidhlig / the Gaelic College and at her home and around the world via Skype. Dara is a musical director and a member of the Board of Directors with the Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association with whom she has traveled to Boston and to Maxville, Ontario. She can often be found on stage with Adam Young, and they have released two CDs together, The Lake Sessions (2017) and Island (2019) which also featured Brent Chaisson, receiving nominations for 2018 and 2019 Music Nova Scotia awards and an ECMA for 2019 Gaelic Artist of the Year.

The Barra MacNeils

Kyle (vocals, guitar, violin, mandolin), Lucy (vocals, bodhran, Celtic harp, fiddle, stepdancing), Sheumas (keyboards, piano, bodhran, fiddle, bouzouki, vocals), Stewart (vocals, accordion, tin whistle, flute, bouzouki, guitar, stepdancing), Boyd (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, percussion, stepdancing) and Jamie Gatti (bass).

2014 marks over 27 years for the Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island-based family group, the Barra MacNeils, in an outstanding recording and touring career.

2012 was accented with two new recording projects: a Live In Concert symphony project recorded in Halifax’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium over two nights with Symphony Nova Scotia and a special Celtic Colours recording project featuring a wide variety of musical guests from the folk, Americana and Celtic music worlds.  In December, 2013, the group released a third Christmas recording: O Christmas Three supported by another run in their annual seasonal Christmas tours.

Their other recent releases have covered the span of their entire career, as well as live concerts reflecting the musical course of their career, from humble family beginnings to world wide acclaim. The concert touring in support of these projects has taken the group to theatre and festival stages coast to coast across Canada, had them jetting across America from festival stage to theatre stages and beyond, as well as sending them to Ireland and Scotland for prestigious events across the Atlantic.

As a group, the MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live concert acts in the Celtic world. Hailing from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, dance, language and history. Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal.

The Barra MacNeils live concert experience brings so much more to the stage than most live acts ever can. Multiple lead vocalists, beautiful sibling harmonies, top drawer instrumental prowess on a wide variety of acoustic, stringed, percussion and wind instruments blended with dancing, storytelling, Gaelic songs and a journey through an ancient culture; it is family entertainment at its highest level.

Steeped in Cape Breton tradition with strong Celtic roots and musical artistry, this diverse and talented family group continues to wow audiences around the world with their captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship.

Multi-award winners, the Barra MacNeils have released no less than 17 recordings  including: O Christmas Three (2013), The Celtic Colours Sessions (2012), Live in Concert with Symphony Nova Scotia (2012), In Concert (2009), In Session (2009), 20th Anniversary Collection (2007), Christmas Album II (2006), All At Once (2005), Racket In the Attic (2002), Christmas Album (1999), Until Now (1997), The Question(1995), The Traditional Album (1994), Closer to Paradise (1993 – Certified Gold in Canada), Timeframe (1990), Rock in the Stream (1989), The Barra MacNeils (1986). In 2001, they released a DVD titled Cape Breton Christmas incorporating music from their live Christmas Concert Special (as seen on television), plus a visit to Cape Breton, interviews with the Barra MacNeils home at Christmas and music videos.

Canada’s Celtic ambassadors, the Barra MacNeils continue to perform to sold out audiences throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and Europe. From headlining major festivals, concerts, special guest appearances (Rita MacNeils CTV Christmas Special, performing with The Chieftains) television specials, film and television placement (Men with Brooms Soundtrack; Racket In The Attic) and their annual Christmas tour, they have set the course with a solid foundation for success. The Barra MacNeils one-hour Christmas Television Special (2000) continues to be broadcast on Country Music Television (CMT) and on the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) network in the United States. December 2007 saw the broadcast of a new Christmas Special which will no doubt also become part of the holiday season for years to come.

The Barra MacNeils will continue to do what they love to do best, and that is playing their music for the fans. This incredibly talented family group will tour Canada, the US and Europe to spread their distinctive brand of Celtic flavour around the world. All confirmed 2014/2015 live concert dates are listed on the Tour page of their website with more dates being added all the time.

Brenda Stubbert

Brenda Stubbert is an extraordinary fiddler, pianist, and composer whose name has become synonymous with Cape Breton fiddle music. Deeply rooted in the distinctive music of Industrial Cape Breton’s Northside, she grew up surrounded by wonderful musicians, including her father, a highly-respected fiddler and composer who was strongly influenced by the Irish tradition, and folks like Winston Scotty Fitzgerald, Johnny Wilmot and Joe Confiant. Known as one of Cape Breton’s leading composers, two books of Brenda’s compositions are in print, and her tunes are in repertoires everywhere Celtic fiddle music can be heard. Brenda is in constant demand throughout Cape Breton. Her dances are lively and well-attended. Since 1986, Brenda has released seven albums, including Endless Memories (2008) which won the East Coast Music Award for Traditional Recording of the Year.

 

Buddy MacDonald

I have been chasing audiences around since thirty five years .have performed all over Canada and the United States, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Switzerland and Holland as a solo act and as part of celtic folk band combinations.Performed at pubs, folk festivals, house concerts, theatre tours, corporate conventions, tourism related shows for the province of Nova Scotia, song-writers circles and workshops. Have performed at Tourist Resorts around maritime Canada, and love to entertain as well as talk to the visitors and give them a little local feel and flavour of where they are.I've also done a lot of touring as a backup guitar player for various celtic fiddle players, such as Natalie Macmaster, Asley MacIssac, Wendy MacIssac, Glenn Graham, Rachel Davis and Howie Mac Donald.

I enjoy doing my own material, but also feel at home doing old pub music, sing along tunes and getting the audience as involved as possible .old Irish, Scottish, Canadian, American folk music is what I do and it works. I was born and grew up on Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia, in a rural setting where culture is strong and music is important, and it is that format that I follow entertain is what I do .Being involved as host and entertainer at the Celtic Colours International Festival since it began, has given me the opportunity to meet and perform and learn from, some of the worlds greatest musicians in the celtic world such as Tommy Makem, Dougie Mac Lean, Phil Cunningham, David Francey, Dave Gunning, JP Cormier, Lennie Gallant, and the list goes on...I believe strongly that there is way more to getting on stage and playing the guitar and singing you must make that connection with the people who have paid the nickle and entertain them to the best of your ability  and that is what I enjoy the most and continue to do so in every show ...no matter what the setting

 

Donnie Campbell and Jinks (James) O'Neill

Donnie Campbell and Jinks (James) O'Neill started performing together in 2014. Both are from Sydney and grew up in musical households. They have  travelled extensively with their music, Donnie with folk music and Jinks rock and roll bands giving them a vast repertoire of music from the revival, classic country, rock and roll of the 50's and 60's as well traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and Cape Breton.

Elyse Aeryn

Elyse Aeryn is emerging on the Canadian music scene with a fresh yet nostalgic sound. Influenced by rock classics like Stevie Nicks while capturing the essence of 90s female vocalists like Alanis Morissette and Natalie Merchant, Aeryn is blending the decades to mix up an alternative-country-rock cocktail that will have you asking for a double.

With a big sound and an undeniable stage presence, her and guitarist Garrett Taylor serve up an engaging live experience as they fuse powerful vocals and electrifying riffs.

After leaving the corporate world to pursue a passion for songwriting, music production, and performing, Aeryn is wasting no time. Sharing the stage with the likes of Andre Pettipas and The Giants, Roxy and The Underground Soul Sound, The Town Heroes, and more, expect to hear more of Elyse Aeryn as she makes a name for herself across the Maritimes and beyond.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you get an opportunity to get out and see this [act] you gotta go, alright! Their dynamic on the stage… their presence… you KNOW they’re playing!" - Wayne Schnare, CIOE 975FM

Watch for Elyse Aeryn’s first full length album in early 2023 with the next single "Wildcard" now available everywhere

https://www.elyseaeryn.com/

Erin O'Brien  and Ronnie Hogan

Erin O’Brien and Ronnie Hogan have been performing together professionally for over 20 years. They provide an acoustic musical experience which includes many classic songs from the 1960’s onward. Erin O’Brien and Ronnie Hogan are not just performers. They enjoy composing and have been working on some great new material that they are excited to share with you. Ronnie Hogan has toured with many notable acts over the last 30 years. Erin O’Brien provides 25 years professional experience and is a trained vocal major and graduate of the NSCC Marconi Music Arts program. In 2021, Erin released a single called “We’ll Be Together Again”, which hit the Canadian and U.S. airwaves and was received with great reviews. Together as a duo, their performance consists of ear pleasing, smooth flowing harmonies mixed with skillful musicianship. On the Cape Breton music scene, they are fan favorites and are an act not to miss.

Heart of Kin

Hearts of Kin are an acoustic duo consisting of sisters Danielle MacDonald and Shellie Tobin. Based out of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, these sisters have been singing and playing together for over 20 years. Originally from New Waterford, NS, they officially began performing under the "Hearts of Kin" brand in 2018.

These sisters aim to lend a fresh spin on some timeless folk and country. Heavily influenced and motivated by the wealth of musical talent in Cape Breton, Hearts of Kin bring a sisterly harmony to their own original arrangements. 

Howie MacDonald

With eleven solo recordings already to his name, Howie MacDonald is a prolific composer and multi-instrumentalist from Westmount, Cape Breton, who released his first vinyl record in 1985. Shades of Tartan marks his 12th audio release!

 

Jason MacDonald

Singer/songwriter Jason MacDonald’s passion for music plays out in a driving acoustic fashion, wonderful storytelling and a warm personality that connects immediately with his audience. Since 2002 Jason has released three full length CDs and one EP of original material.  Tracks from his CDs have received significant radio airplay. His music has earned him award nominations from Music Nova Scotia, East Coast Music Awards, Independent Singer-Songwriter Assoc. and Top Honours in the Indie International Songwriters Contest. He has showcased at NS Music Week, East Coast Music Awards and Canadian Country Music Awards. A track from his last recording was chosen for the Atlantic Film Festival Music and Images Compilation. Recently he has licensed a track form one of his CDs to Sailing – Classics of Germany for use in promoting their cruise ship business. He has toured in the US several times doing shows booked through New England Celtic Arts. He has performed at several festivals that include the Milwaukee Irish Festival, Celtic Colours International festival, Kempt Shore Acoustic Festival and Acoustic Roots Festival to name a few. In 2017 Jason toured in Western Canada that included performances at Calgary Folk Club and Northern Lights Folk Club in Edmonton   http://www.jasonmacdonald.com/

Jin Hines

Jon Hines is a national touring blues, jazz and folk singer-songwriter based in Cape Breton Nova Scotia. Digital recoding, release Down To Funk, (DTF) was nominated for blues recording of the year ECMAs 2022. Jon is endorsed by Godin Guitars & Black Mountain Thumb Picks. A perfect combination of Canadian products for this Canadian traveling blues man. Jon has toured nationally, opening for international acts Steven Page, Jesse Roper & Daniel Champagne. Jons debut album, “Wild Things Roam” had a song featured in ISC (International Songwriting Competition) where it advanced into the semi finals two years in a row, out of 19,000 song entries world wide. 

2017 ISC semi finalist
2018 ISC semi finalist
2020 ECMA showcase artist
2020 selected as a Black Mountain Picks Artist 
2021 Godin Guitars artist

2021 Live At Heart Newfoundland artist
2021 Cape Breton Jazz Festival showcase artist
2021 Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival showcase artist
2022 ECMA nomination, Blues recording of the year

 

Kin bring a sisterly harmony to their own original arrangements. 

Kristen Martell

"Kristen’s hazy folk pop songs embrace life’s challenges and quiet moments of beauty. With earthy arrangements, haunting harmonies and insightful messages, her songs are the perfect soundtrack to ease your melancholy.  With an ECMA and two Music NS nominations under her belt, she is making a name for herself in the East Coast music scene.

Working with acclaimed songwriter/co-writer and now Producer Gabrielle Papillon, Martell is set to release her 2nd record in late 2022.  With Papillon’s support, Martell’s upcoming work explores new territory with cinematic ambient folk pop anthems.  An evolution in sound that manages to remain true to her earthy roots; exploring change, exposing raw truths, revealing strength and renewed hope.” www.kristenmartell.com

 

 

MacArthur Dancers
The MacArthur Dancers are known for their award winning creative stage Choreography, as well as their Traditional Celtic Dance performances. In 2017, they won the Canadian Choreography Challenge Title. The dancers are trained in Scottish Highland Dance, Cape Breton Step Dance, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz, Contemporary and Modern styles. This helps to enhance their stage and performance skills, and bring Choreography to life on stage. Whether it be a local charity, international festival, or a professional stage show, these dancers perform at over 100 events a year. Cape Breton Island is known for its living Gaelic/Scottish culture, and this group has been continuing this passion through a shared love of dance, expressed through instruction and performance. They will continue to pass this along through many generations to come.(www.macarthurdance.com</span>

 

Melody and Derrick Cameron

Derrick and Melody Cameron live in Mabou, Cape Breton on the property of the small dairy farm where Derrick was raised.  They have been performing music together throughout Canada's Maritime  Provinces and the New England States to very receptive audiences for a number of years. They have performed alongside other Cape Breton musicians on the main stage at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, played at the Washington Irish Folk Festival, emceed, stage managed and were featured in numerous Celtic Colours International Festival concerts, taught workshops and performed at the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Aberdeen, Scotland and play for many dances, pubs and concerts throughout Cape Breton Island.  Melody and Derrick were featured in the Genuine Pictures documentary, "And They Danced", which premiered on Canada's Bravo! network in January of 2006.  They have released three recordings.  Their latest, “Sincerely”, features guest artists Mac Morin, Joy Dunlop, Lisa Cameron, Jamie Foulds and J.P. Cormier.

Melody is also an accomplished Cape Breton style step dancer.  She has performed synchronized step dance routines with her sister Kelly at venues throughout Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Western Newfoundland. Through the 1980's, Melody and Kelly appeared four times on CBC television for the program "Up Home Tonight" and also were filmed for a BBC documentary. Towards the late 1980's, Melody and Kelly performed as part of the group Highland Classic. Other members of the group included Ashley MacIsaac, Natalie MacMaster, Wendy MacIsaac, Rodney MacDonald, Stephanie Wills and Jackie Dunn.  In the spring of 1998, Melody worked as a choreographer for The Rankins, one of Canada's foremost folk groups.  Years later Melody and Kelly performed a synchronized step dance routine for The Rankin Sisters' televised Christmas special, "Home for Christmas" which aired on Canada's Bravo! network in December of 2005.

n early 2004 Derrick and Melody Cameron joined Comunn Féis Mhàbu.  Féis Mhàbu is an organization based in Mabou, Cape Breton that works to support both children and adults in their pursuits to learn more about Cape Breton's Gaelic culture.  Although based in Mabou, Féis Mhàbu's programs draw participants from the surrounding area, and in some instances, from all over Cape Breton and beyond. 

Derrick and Melody Cameron are currently acting as the coordinators for a Féis Mhàbu project named "The Mabou Musical Mentorship Program". This mentoring program's focus is on using house sessions to bring together talented young performers of Cape Breton music and dance with well established tradition bearers. The relaxed, informal atmosphere of the house sessions is well suited for the passing on of music, dance and stories.

Nicole Deveau

Nicole Deveau is the proud owner of l’École de musique Raveston Music School in her hometown. Whether she’s on stage, in the studio, or at a kitchen party, Nicole enthusiastically shares the traditional music as well as her own compositions with people around her. She believes that her ancestors built a great foundation for Acadian culture, and music is the ideal way of sharing its values.

Pretty Archie

Pinning down the sound of Cape-Breton-based quintet Pretty Archie has always been about as easy as catching a greased pig, but with the release of their new, self-titled album the band is confident that their unique mix of folk, Americana, bluegrass, Alt-Country, and East Coast music will appeal to a wider audience than ever before. Celebrating their tenth anniversary with what is arguably their finest work to date, the album was released on February 11, 2022 via Curve Music/Warner Music.

Pretty Archie, their sixth album, is one of which they are justifiably proud, for it represents a quantum leap forward in the evolution of the group’s sound. ”I feel each of our other records was a step ahead of the previous one, but this one is six steps ahead,” declares bassist/vocalist/songwriter Colin Gillis. “We are proud of everything we’ve put out, but this is at a different level.”

Helping the group realize the formidable creative achievement that is Pretty Archie was internationally-acclaimed record producer and engineer Mark Howard, whose star-studded resume includes work with the likes of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, U2, Tom Waits, The Tragically Hip, Peter Gabriel, and more. Howard’s fortuitous recent relocation to Cape Breton allowed Pretty Archie to take advantage of his skills, and the band couldn’t be happier with the results.

To record Pretty Archie, Howard and the band set up shop in the rustic setting of an A-frame lakeside cottage in Cape Breton. Lead vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Brian Cathcart explains that “Mark is very much about the vibe of the room, and this worked out perfectly. We were in the house for two weeks, basically doing a song a day, and we did evening sessions that had a cooler relaxed feel.”

“It was all basically recorded live off the floor, with minimal overdubs,” adds Colin. “That’s something we had always wanted, and Mark was able to do that. There’s a certain ambiance and energy in recording that way.”

Describing the new album, Brian states “it is more focused, even though you still can’t quite put a finger on it. For us, it definitely has way more of a country vibe. This record leans more towards alternative country or Americana, rather than the super commercial country out there.”

The catchy “Reasons” is one of the tunes that changed considerably in the studio, as Brian explains. “Originally that was rather a ‘cry in your beer’ song, but Mark wanted it faster. He had the 808 drum machine rhythm and we just sped the tune up to that, so now it is short, sweet and punchy.” There’s a similar upbeat tone to “Familiar Feelings,” another song that showcases the band’s instrumental prowess.

Brian digs deep vocally on the haunting ballad “Feel It In My Bones,” while, at Howard’s suggestion, “Someone New” became a duet, featuring Austin-based Maritime honkytonker Whitney Rose, with the contrasting vocals adding real resonance. Brian is especially proud of “Maritime,” a song written right in the studio that features these poignant lyrics - ”If your heart breaks down, we’ll use mine. It is weathered and weary, but it is Maritime.”

Cathcart explains that “as a band, we wear our East Coast hearts on our sleeves. We are very proud of where we are from, but our focus now is exposing people internationally to our part of the world.” Gillis adds that “if you are genuine and true to yourselves, then people will attach themselves to that, no matter where you are from.”

Pretty Archie have long been regional favourites, with a stack of Music Nova Scotia and East Coast Music Award nominations to their credit. They are now looking globally, and with Pretty Archie they have an album ready for international prime time play. Do yourself a big favour and check it out

Rg Schaller

Rg Schaller is a singer/songwriter from a recovering ex-steel town in Eastern Canada. Writing from the blue-collar point of view with an acoustic guitar in the vein of Country / Folk / Songwriter. 

https://rgschaller.hearnow.com/ 

 

Will's Addiction

Multi instrumentalists Tom Mills and Phillip Williams make up the band WILLS ADDICTION out of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and are widely known locally for their intricate guitar work, soaring harmonies, and fan interaction on stage. The boys hit the stage with an upbeat assault of Roots/Celtic/Grunge-grass tunes featuring original material from their new CD “Crossin That Bridge” just recently released in 2012.

Tom Mills and Philip Williams first met at a house party in Westmount in 2008 across the water from the Big Fiddle in Sydney.  After playing together until the wee hours of the morning, they realized they had a passion for the same type of song.  So “Wills Addition” was born.  It is a match which was meant to be.  The harmony and multi use of instruments is a delight to both the young and the old.

Hard work and determination over a three year period brought forth this, their first CD.  Some of the songs will be familiar, but with a mix of their own material including one about the Big Fiddle, which towers over the beautiful harbor of Sydney.  They proved that if there is a “Will” there is a way.  Both armed with a “GET ER DONE” attitude made this dream come true.  So sit back and enjoy “Wills Addition” and you too will be truly addicted.

Wills Addiction plays local Nova Scotia pubs and festivals including The Northside Exhibition, The Cape Breton Bikefest, The Louisbourg Crabfest and other places such as The Savoy Theater, The Louisbourg Playhouse, The Split Crow, and Governors Pub as well as other venues across the province of NS.

One of the tunes from their upcoming CD, “I Like Girls”, written for the upcoming movie “The Legend of the Psychotic Forrest Ranger“, is an ’80s style tongue-in-cheek, rock anthem! A little out of character for the band who mostly play a mix of Maritime and Blues-style classics, but a fun project to be a part of.

Another tune, which the band hopes will catch on locally, is a collaboration between Williams(Phillip) and Mills, called “The Giant Fiddle”. It tells of local culture and how The Giant stands fixed, rising high from her perch on the Sydney Waterfront, bringing together young and old alike to celebrate and sing out proudly the praises of our Cape Breton culture!