Without Willow are an acoustic folk duo from Co Donegal, Ireland. Karen Kelly and Simon McCafferty joined forces a few years ago. Blending haunting, heart felt vocals with virtuosic guitar playing, they have become  firm favourites on the Donegal music scene. To date they have released a 4 track EP which they launched down in the famous Leo's Tavern, home of Celtic music legends, Clannad and Enya with support on the night coming from Moya Brennan herself. They then released a follow up single "November Fog" in 2018. They are currently working on their debut album.   Their song 'The Heather Field' from their debut EP, got them to the final of both the International Songwriting Competition in 2019 (out of 18000 entries), and the live final of the IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Contest.    Without Willow est un duo de folk acoustique originaire du Comté de Donegal, en Irlande. Karen...

The Naismith Celtic session in Almonte is one of the Ottawa Valley’s oldest,  and most vibrant weekly gatherings  of Irish, Quebecois,  Cape Breton and Valley music players.  The Naismith Pub Returns session band will perform an energetic mix of modern and traditional tunes with a special emphasis on Canadian compositions. 

The Monday Night Fiddlers are musical friends who meet every second Monday to share their enjoyment of traditional Valley tunes. They perform regularly at seniors' homes and neighbourhood venues such as Almonte Old Town Hall and Fairview Manor.  In picture of The Monday Night Fiddlers, left to right:  Lynda O'Grady, Paddy Legris, Irene McCloskey, Lloyd Brunton, Bill McQuitty, Donna Cummings, Dan O'Connell, Doug Miller, Paul Gemmel 

Graham Lindsey brings a deep respect to the traditions that inform his inventive Celtic tunes. His energetic playing of mandolin, tenor banjo, guitar and more attract audiences and session players alike.  His dynamic stage presence as a solo artist is only amplified when playing with other fine musicians. His tunes are catchy and will be stuck in your ears for days.  His debut album “TradHead” (2019) was nominated in the Instrumental Solo Artist category at the Canadian Folk Music Awards (2020), and the first single, “Fractions” from his second album received the 2021 Songs From the Heart Instrumental Award from Folk Music Ontario.    Graham Lindsey apporte un profond respect aux traditions qui inspirent ses airs celtiques inventifs. Son style énergétique à la mandoline, au banjo ténor, à la guitare et à d'autres instruments attire le public et les musiciens de studio.    Sa présence dynamique sur scène en tant qu'artiste...

Celtic music and song from Ireland, Scotland and beyond.   Individually the members of the Rideau Ramblers have been fixtures of the Celtic music scene in Ottawa for the past two decades. They have been active as session musicians, performers, organizers, and instrument makers. They have now pooled their considerable talents to bring a mixture of Celtic styles and influences that is uniquely Ottawa in its roots.    Dennis Alexander: Violin, Viola  Frank Cassidy: Whistles, Tenor Banjo, Tenor Guitar and Mandolin  Jeffrey McClintock: Keyboard, Guitar, and Accordion   Ellen MacIsaac: Vocals in English and Gaelic 

The Steel City Rovers perform dynamic and expressive music that is a unique composite of traditional Celtic music and North American styles including bluegrass, folk and roots. Their original works touch on issues of love, loss, celebration and heritage and they also breathe life into newly-discovered instrumental melodies from as far back as centuries ago. Their sophisticated arrangements are inviting for the most casual listener but are rewarding for those who are well versed in the nuances of musical complexity. The Rovers stand out for their powerful, emotive vocals and engaging entertainment. They perform on meticulously crafted replicas of historical instruments that rarely appear on today’s musical landscape. This highly active touring band headlines large festival stages, gives intimate concert performances, educates in a variety of workshop and master-class settings and performs internationally with symphonies. They create, collaborate and work hard to further the love and awareness of music.   ...

Crooked Creek is a young up and coming Montreal based bluegrass and Canadian roots music band. They were formed in the fall of 2019 and have since released an all-original self-titled four track EP in 2021. The band is a frequent feature of the Montreal roots music scene performing around the city at bars and venues like The Wheel Club, Grumpy's bar, Barfly, L'escalier, La Petit Marche, McKibbins, as well as more informal jams and recording sessions. Crooked Creek combines original material with traditional American and Canadian folk songs and instrumentals. The group takes inspiration from local stories and landmarks incorporating them into new songs. The band's instrumental tune "Drover's Way" was named and inspired after the sheep farm where banjoist Tim Loten was born and raised. "Little Bit of Water" written by guitarist Jono Townsend, describes his experience growing up on the Big Rideau Lake. The band also plays...

Fiddleground is a dynamic fiddling musical act specializing in Metis tunes & jigging. They're based in Ottawa/Gatineau region & have been performing together at all sorts of high-profile events for about a dozen years often featuring traditional Metis jiggers! They are joined by 'The Lyon Sisters Family Step-dance troupe' and 'Metis Jigger Brad Lafortune' Get ready for blistering blasts of Fiddling FURY combined with a frenetic frenzy of fast feet that make up the Fiddling/Jigging sensation: FIDDLEGROUND!    Fiddleground est un groupe dynamique de violoneux qui se spécialise dans les airs métis et la gigue. Ils sont basés dans la région d'Ottawa/Gatineau et se produisent ensemble depuis une douzaine d'années à l'occasion de toutes sortes d'événements importants, souvent avec des gigueurs métis traditionnels ! Ils sont accompagnés de la troupe de gigue familiale The Lyon Sisters et du gigueur métis Brad Lafortune.  Préparez-vous à des explosions de FURIE de violon...

The Broken Bridges is one of the rare groups that formed in 2020. Fern & Willow Marwood (ages 18 and 14) were a fiddle/banjo duo turned trio by adding Graham Lindsey (considerably older) on guitar. They bring an energy to the stage that you’ll love!    The Broken Bridges est l'un des rares groupes qui se sont formés en 2020. Fern et Willow Marwood (18 et 14 ans) formaient un duo violon/banjo devenu trio en ajoutant Graham Lindsey (nettement plus âgé) à la guitare. Ils apportent une énergie sur scène que vous allez adorer ! 

Samantha Mackinder has joined in with her fiddle, along with Doug McKenna, on mandolin, and Pat Donnelly on guitar. All 3 have played in Ottawa and around the Ottawa Valley for years, and are delighted to perform at Celtfest 2022. 

Since their formation in 2017, multi-instrumentalists Bill Quigley and Marco Belanger have been gracing Canadian stages from Ontario to Newfoundland delivering high energy performances and selling out Tap Rooms, Concert Halls, and Music Festivals, along the way. This versatile duo can set the tone for an up close, intimate show or scale things up to a full band lineup entertaining audiences in any type of venue. Influenced by many different genres of music, the singer songwriter ensemble is currently working on their debut studio project titled “Home” set to be released in the summer of 2022. This much anticipated release is sure to take listeners on a musical journey with storytelling compositions that are rooted in acoustic folk rock and infused with electric undertones. In addition to their tasteful originals, the set list just wouldn’t be complete without including some Celtic, East Coast inspired crowd pleasers that get people on...

Mi'kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney brings together the fiery fiddling of Cape Breton Island with the old songs of the Mi’kmaq with brilliance and heart. First Flight, Toney’s award nominated debut album, celebrates language and heritage in Toney’s transformation of traditional songs like the Ko’jua and the Mi’kmaq Honour Song alongside highly original songcraft. Ishkōdé Records introduces First Flight to the world on March 25, 2022.  Le violoneux et chanteur Mi'kmaq Morgan Toney associe avec brio et cœur le violon ardent de du Cap-Breton aux chansons traditionnelles des Mi'kmaq. First Flight, le premier album de Toney, qui a été mis en nomination pour un prix, célèbre la langue et le patrimoine dans la transformation par Toney de chansons traditionnelles comme le Ko'jua et le Mi'kmaq Honour Song, ainsi que des chansons très originales. Ishkōdé Records présente First Flight au monde entier le 25 mars 2022.    MorganToneyMusic.com

These dedicated dancers have shared stages with the likes of Ashley MacIsaac, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, and the Sons of Scotland, Ottawa Police and RCMP Pipe Bands.  Celtic Cross shows are a lively blend of Highland, Irish and Ottawa Valley styles, featuring both traditional and contemporary, solo and group dancing.  With years of experience as performers, teachers and competitors, they have performed for Irish ambassadors, British High Commissioners, and members of the Royal Family.  They have collaborated with countless Celtic bands such as Jiggs Boson, the Lyon Street Celtic Band, Occasional Pudding and the Rockwood Ceilidh Project, on CTV, City TV and other networks and shared their passion for dance, and their original choreography, with audiences across Europe and North America.     Ces danseuses dévoués ont partagé la scène avec des artistes comme Ashley MacIsaac, l'Orchestre symphonique de Kitchener-Waterloo et les Sons of Scotland, la police d'Ottawa et les corps de...

Grosse Isle is a trio of “musiciens sans frontières who refuse to let the Atlantic sunder their love of their own and one another’s Irish and Québecois musical traditions”. Comprising of Irish uilleann piper Fiachra O’Regan, Québec fiddler/singer Sophie Lavoie, and guitarist André Marchand, the trio take traditional Irish and Québécois traditional music, blended with Lavoie’s “lithe and masterful” compositions. Their choice of songs will “captivate the most casual listener” “It’s refreshing to hear a traditional band reference the present with such subtlety and finesse” Quotes from Siobhán Long, of The Irish Times   Grosse-Isle.com

Alexis MacIsaac and Calum MacKenzie are a wife and husband duo who have established a unique musical partnership that combines Cape Breton piano playing with a modern approach to Celtic fiddle. While Calum’s musical approach has been heavily influenced by his Hebridean roots and his native Cape Breton culture, Alexis’ playing is a multi-faceted harmonization of Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton styles.  Though their respective approaches to music are distinct, together they create a clean and seamless sound that is nonetheless grounded in tradition. As a fiddle player, Alexis has performed throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates with acts such as Riverdance, The High Kings, and The Paperboys, while Calum has been fortunate to play with, and accompany, many local Cape Breton artists and international musicians both at home and abroad in the Caribbean and in Scotland on piano and fiddle.       Their debut...