Acoustic Roots Festival

2021 Acoustic Roots Festival Artist Bio

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.

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.

Dwayne Cote

Dwayne Côté was raised in Grande Greve, Cape Breton in a family deeply rooted in all aspects of Cape Breton, Irish and Scottish music traditions--his mother being a renowned dancer, instructor, and performer and his father is the late Gordon Côté, a celebrated Celtic fiddler/teacher. Dwayne has played all over the world and has performed with John Allan Cameron, Graham Townsend, Sean McGuire, Buddy MacMaster, Jerry Holland and Dave MacIsaac among others. He is also a composer and has more than 200 tunes registered with SOCAN. Dwayne Côté is one of the most unique players in Atlantic Canada. His musical tones are inimitable and seldom forgotten. Dwayne Cote Fiddle Medley - YouTube

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/

John Curtis Sampson

John Curtis Sampson debuted his first original work in 2000. The recording “You Got Me” was a strong outing for him and accolades soon followed. Two East Coast Music Awards, - Country Artist of the Year, Best New Artist and The Galaxie Rising Star Award. “When I’m Drinkin’” and “Don’t Cry, Good-bye” make the top 100 on Canadian radio. “When I’m Drinkin’ was recorded by Australian Country Artist Adam Harvey on the Warner-Chappel l label and secured impressive airplay in that country. John Curtis has performed on The Mike Bullard Show and opened for Terri Clarke

In 2008 John fulfilled a life long dream and earned a college degree. He graduated from Nova Scotia Community College where is studied Human Services, Sociology, Psychology, Biology, Canadian Healthcare Systems.

He enrolled at Cape Breton University in 2010 where in majored in Psychology.Other studies include Public Speaking, Human Resources, Biology, Anthropology, Sociology, and Health Sciences. Today, John is a Community Outreach Counselor for the Community Homeless

Shelter in Sydney, N.S.

John wears two hats these days - councilor by day and a music artist by night. “It’s not about being a star for me anymore, says Sampson. But hey - I wouldn’t turn it down if it was offered- it is more about writing great songs for me. I love to write. I hope to write with other writers and perform my songs and hopefully, hear other artist perform my songs someday. A publishing deal would be idea! I am in no hurry this time. I’m taking in one day at a time.

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>

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/ 

Norma MacDonald

MacDonald’s unique alt-country songcraft is certainly receiving great reviews as well, and not just on this side of the Atlantic.  Her previous four albums have gained a following in the UK, where more recent reviews of Old Future have been positive with one critic even writing  its nod towards a by-gone era is “sure to please alt-country fans.”

www.normamacdonald.com 

https://www.heartsofkin.com/

Rob Murphy

Rob Murphy is a Singer / Songwriter from Cape Breton Island and is known for his raspy vocals and heart on the sleeve lyrics. Rob's raspy weathered vocal style can easily show influences from the likes of Johnny Reid, Jason Isbel, Blue Rodeo and The Band.

Originating from the small town of New Waterford, Rob began playing guitar at the age of 10 and writing in his early teens at around 14. Songwriting and storytelling is strong in Rob’s family roots with a strong history of Songwriting and Storytelling.

Songwriting has always come naturally for Rob, he has the ability to create songs that listeners can easily relate to whether fiction or reality you’ll be wondering if a song came from real life experiences or the thoughts of a natural Storyteller. On the heels of his 2019 releases "O'lala", "You" and "Ghosts" Rob has released his new Single “Tell Me To Stay” a beautiful heartfelt duet with Canadian Rocker Carmen Townsend and "It'll Be Alright" with Sarah Harralson. Rob is currently working on his first Album which will be available late 2021.