2023 Schedule
Saturday
- 10:00 – Joe Higgins
- 11:00 – Coastline
- 12:00 – Opening Ceremonies
- 12:30 – Sarah Tradewell
- 1:30 – Cookeilidh
- 2:30 – Clanna Morna
- 3:30 – Black Angus
- 4:30 – The Slieves
- 5:30 – Tom Morrissey
- 6:30 – Eric Elison
Sunday
- 10:00 – Coastline
- 11:00 – Ivonne Hernandez
- 12:00 – Opening Ceremonies
- 12:30 – Cookeilidh
- 1:30 – Women of the Celtic Fiddle
- 2:30 – The Slieves
- 3:30 – The Hounds of Cuchulain
- 4:30 – The Hounds of Cuchulain
- 5:30 – Tom Morrisey
2023 Line Up
Coastline
Coastline is a string ensemble comprised of BC’s top young musicians ranging from ages 14-23, coached and mentored by internationally acclaimed fiddler, Ivonne Hernandez.
With intricate arrangements of traditional, original and contemporary fiddle tunes from around the world, Coastline is pushing boundaries and always having a great time whenever they play. From the farthest island on the West Coast of Canada comes a new tradition that is Coastline!
Ivonne Hernandez
Ivonne Hernandez Some people are born to play music. By the age of three, Ivonne Hernandez started playing violin by ear, everything from her mother’s favourite Maritime reels to her father’s Chilean folk music roots. A child prodigy, she soon was playing guitar, piano, cello, flute, and percussion before joining Daniel Lapp’s BC Fiddle Orchestra. While still in her pre-teens, Ivonne played on the Orchestra’s Fiddleharmonic CD and before 60,000 at a Commonwealth Games performance with the Crash Test Dummies.
At 13, Ivonne was the youngest member of the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra and formed Fiddlemania, a dual-violin band with her younger sister, Kalissa. She was the Merritt Old Time Fiddlers’ Provincial Champion for two years running before becoming a judge at the event as a 15 year old. Ivonne is the reigning 5 time Grand North American Fiddle Champion, and has performed with Mark O’Connor, Alan Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Jann Arden, U2’s the Edge, Natalie MacMaster, Earth Wind and Fire, Steve Winwood, Burt Bacharach, Juan Louis Guerra, Rosa Pasos, Ben Hepner and legendary film composer Howard Shore.
Ivonne Hernandez has mastered Canada’s traditional fiddle music. She embodies the country’s 21st century multiculturalism, and her music reflects the new century’s marriage of cultural influences. The young fiddler transforms her folk music roots into an exciting and dynamic new form. Looking for something new in folk music? This is it!
Clanna Morna
Hailing from the occupied territories of the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ nations (Victoria, BC in Canada), Clanna Morna brings their take on the Celtic Traditional genre to the west coast. Their sound is rooted in the traditional Irish, Scottish and English music that many love, and features carefully crafted arrangements, rhythmic spirited energy and captivating storytelling. Comprised of an ensemble of multi-instrumentalists, their collective musicianship and attention to detail create a truly unique audience experience.
Members of Clanna Morna have been arranging and performing traditional Celtic and original music for over a decade in other projects, sharing their melodic arrangements and stories both locally and internationally. Since their formation in the fall of 2020 Clanna Morna has toured Coastal British Columbia constantly, as well as touring interior British Columbia & Alberta, delivering over 100 performances in just over a year together as an ensemble. Notable performances include the 2022 Vancouver Celtic Festival, the 2022 BC Highland Games, the 2021 & 2022 Victoria Highland Games, 2022 Craigflower Music Festival, Oceanside Folk/Roots club in Qualicum Beach (2021 and 2022 seasons), the Gorge Harbour Marina on Cortes Island 2021 and 2022, Read Island/Lamberts Beach Music Weekend 2022 and the Earth Club Factory on Denman Island.
The band is comprised of Cody Baresich (guitar, mandolins, Irish bouzouki, tin whistle, percussion, vocals), Finn Letourneau (fiddle, banjo, vocals), and Mark Leigh (accordion, tin whistles, vocals). With the combination of traditional instruments featuring strong melodic leads, rhythmic guitar accompaniment and foot percussion, the band covers a wide swath of musical ground. From high-energy instrumentals to slow ballads, drinking songs to sea shanties, Clanna Morna brings a unique west coast influence to Celtic & English folk. The band pays tribute to and takes inspiration from legendary predecessors including The Dubliners, The Pogues, the Bothy Band, Planxty, The Clancy Brothers, and The Wolfe Tones.
Cookeilidh
Cookeilidh has been delighting audiences for over 15 years with their high energy traditional, and modernized Celtic tunes.
Comprised of 12-string guitar, electric bass, Irish flute, fiddle, bodhran, and vocals, they weave their own special blend of Trad with Attitude, Celtic Craic, and Pot O’ Gold Folk!
Mixing the tunes of Ireland and Scotland, with a heaping spoonful of Maritime flavour, and a dash of Folk, is their recipe for a modern day kitchen party!
The Hounds of Cuchulain
The Hounds of Cuchulain are a four-piece folk band from Victoria BC who perform a wide selection of Irish, Scottish, English, and original songs in the Celtic tradition dating from the 1600’s all the way up to the 1980’s. Stylistically inspired by such folk giants as the Dubliners, Pogues, and the Corries, the group’s performances feature rowdy pub songs, historical ballads, energetic dance tunes, engaging storytelling, and haunting airs on the Irish harp.
The group is led by seasoned performer and composer Wolf Edwards on lead vocal and guitar; and joined by the multi-talented Madeleine Townley on vocals, Irish harp, and tin whistle; the dextrous Dexter Simpson on the Irish tenor banjo; and by the virtuoso fiddler and master of harmony Briana Kennedy.
Traditional music enthusiasts will appreciate the song-tales of lost love and betrayal, the misdeeds of ramblers and rakes, emigration, hard drinking and hard living, sea shanties and worker’s songs. In addition to these ballads and chorus songs, the Hounds of Cuchulain also add the explosive musical energy of traditional instrumental jigs and reels, and original compositions in the celtic style by lead singer Wolf Edwards – focusing on local history, such as the tragic death of labour activist Albert “Ginger” Goodwin.
The Hounds have been performing together since September 2021, and have already gained a dedicated following in Victoria, as well as touring all over Vancouver Island – all the way to the Gate Theatre in Port McNeill and everywhere in between! In their first year, they have also performed for the Irish Consulate, recorded a video with the Irish Rovers, and released an album (Rebels, Rogues, and Roustabouts) – with another in the works!
The band has played over 100 shows since its inception: from pubs to private parties, on boats and at benefits, folk clubs to a St Patrick’s concert at the Mary Winspear – complete with pipers and dancers! This spring and summer, the band will be continuing their mission of bringing music to all corners of the island, and sharing the history, culture, and joy that are the heart of traditional folk music.
The Hounds of Cuchulain
Celtic & Maritime Folk Music
1280 Dunsterville Ave
Victoria, BC V8Z 2W8
Canada
Tel: 250 580 7826
Email: [email protected]
Black Angus
Black Angus is an enduring musical outfit, about good friends, good humour, and good music.
The harmonic duo at the core of Black Angus is Gareth Hurwood and Alex MacCuaig, who started their evolving partnership within the Celtic tradition in 2007.
Accompanying themselves on acoustic guitar and upright bass, the boys of Black Angus delve into the familiar and the original from the Celtic repertoire and beyond.
For the perennial reunion that is Victoria’s Highland Games, Blackangus completes a trio with VHG and Black Angus favourite Sarah Tradewell on fiddle.
Gareth Hurwood – Black Angus Music
Tom Morrissey
Tom Morrissey Band , current members are Tom Morrissey guitar and vocals, Ian Todd bass and vocals, Patrick Allen drums and vocals.
High energy East coast music. based on Vancouver island Playing pubs, clubs and festivals all over Canada. Tom Morrissey Band brings high energy east coast music and pub favorites to every show. A Newfoundland kitchen party is sure to break out when these guys play.
www.reverbnation.com/tommorrisseyband
Sarah Tradewell
Award winning fiddler Sarah Tradewell is a Victoria-based musician whose middle name should be versatility. Not only a fine fiddler, you may have seen her performing with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, with singer Ken Lavigne, in shows with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre, or at the Irish Times Pub with Black Angus.
Sarah is well known to fiddlers and folkies as a fixture in the fiddle community: equally comfortable playing old time, country and Celtic music. Sarah is a two-time BC Fiddle Champion and has competed at the invitational Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championships.
Sarah has performed at the first Victory Ceremony at BC Place for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, in professional theatre productions (Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, My Fair Lady, Pride and Prejudice, Animal Crackers), and at the Sydney Opera House with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011. Visit www.sarahtradewell.com.
Joe Higgins
Joe Higgins is a solo Scottish singer/songwriter,who immigrated to Canada in the mid 90’s and has performed locally ever since. Prior to coming to Canada, Joe performed in Glasgow, London, Germany and Austria. Joe has performed at past Highland Games and his Celtic songs have been played on CFUV and CBC radio stations.
Ceilidh Briscoe
(The Women of the Celtic Fiddle)
From Victoria BC, Ceilidh Briscoe is a freelance violinist who is well-versed in a variety of musical styles.
As a classically trained violinist, Ceilidh began her post secondary education at the Victoria Conservatory of Music through their joint diploma program with Camosun College. She then transferred to the University of Ottawa to study with the late Yehonotan Berick to complete her Bachelors of Music in violin performance.
Having studied Traditional Irish Music as avidly as she did classical music, Ceilidh is a five time North American Fiddle Champion, and an All-Ireland Fiddle Champion. She left her studies at the university to pursue a four year touring career with the internationally renowned Irish dance show Riverdance, playing the music of Grammy winning composer, Bill Whelan. She has had the pleasure of touring all across North America, Ireland, the UK, Europe, and throughout China.
The Slieves
The Slieves are a high energy Irish trad band hailing from Victoria, British Columbia.
For well over a decade this group has brought the music of the Emerald Isle to all corners of the coast of B.C. as well as some original music, and other folk music inspired by Irish traditional music.
The talented members include the magical Tasia Mackay (Irish flute, vocals), the accomplished Jeremy Wash (guitar, vocals) and the foot stomping rhythms of Andrew Morris MacKay (bodhran, spoons, vocals).
Eric Elison
Eric Elison is a retired Navy Commander and Aviator who is a Colorado based Singer Songwriter, and Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Artist. Eric Tours North America wowing audiences with his performance of Canada’s favorite Troubadour. Eric is known for telling stories of Adventure, Mysticism, and Romance through song. Due to his strong love of his Rocky Mountains and the Music of Gordon Lightfoot, Eric’s Fans call him “Lightfoot of the Rockies.” Eric’s repertoire includes many songs from Lightfoot’s considerable catalog including: Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and If You Could Read My Mind.