Sat. Feb. 11, 2012 – The O’Schraves  – Bruce Station Hall at 8:00 p.m. – Ages 6 – 13 $5.00; Adults $10.00  + refreshments -  sponsored by Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxillary, Br. 211 – Fundraiser for Legion Building Fund & Community Program.  You can view or download a concert poster here: legion concert poster

Sat. Feb. 18, 2012 – The O’Schraves – at CRAPO, 187, rue Sainte-Louise, Saint-Jean-de-Matha, PQ, 8:30 PM. www.crapo.qc.ca .  Tickets are $15, or $13 for CRAPO members. We  are visiting Dentdelion at their home in St. Beatrix, PQ, and Dana has so kindly organized a local gig for us again this year at a wonderful performance space and art centre that is housed in an old parish manse. We had a blast last year, if you know anyone in the Joliette area, please let them know!

Thursday, February 23, 7PM – The O’Schraves and Dan Gorno – yes, it’s true, an AlgomaTrad dance in TORONTO at  Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral Church Hall, 823 Manning Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2W7.  The ROC Church Hall is a wood-floored hall in the Annex, three blocks north of Bloor, four blocks west of Bathurst.    A 10-minute walk from the Bathurst subway station.  Admission: suggested donation $10.

Friday and Saturday,  February 24th and 25th, The O’Schraves with Shane Cook and Brian Pickell -  Gravenhurst Opera House, as part of the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival. www.gravenhurstwintercarnival.com. Shows are at 8PM both nights, and we will also be performing for a children’s show at 5Pm on the Friday. Admission to all events is by purchasing a $5 Festival Button….amazing! Check out the poster here: WinterCarnival 2012 PRESS READY

The O'Schraves

Dan Gorno

Shane Cook (www.shanecook.com) is a 3-time Canadian Grand Master, 3-time Canadian Open, and U.S. Open Fiddle Champion and stars with the international touring violin ensemble  “Bowfire”.  He has performed in the Algoma region with The Brian Pickell Band and as a staff member at the AlgomaTrad Family Camp.

Troy MacGillivray (www.troymacgillivray.com),  who grew up  Nova Scotia  surrounded by a family of musicians, began to play fiddle and piano and to stepdance at 6 years of age.  He has put out 5 recordings, including the 2008 East Coast Music award-winning CD “Live at the Music Room”.  He also showcased at the Celtic Connection Festival in Scotland, the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the Barbados Celtic Festival and the Edinburgh Fiddle Festival.

“Individually, these two fiddlers are virtuosic musicians and dynamic performers; together … they are inspirational.” (Dr. Sherry Johnson – York University, Toronto)

Shane Cook

Troy MacGillivray

We wanted to let you know about 2 AlgomaTrad Dance opportunities to get your year started right.  On Friday, January 6, 2012, beginning at 7:30pm, The O’Schraves and Dan Gorno (with some of our AlgomaTrad students) will be at the Legion Hall in Richards Landing for the FIRST DANCE OF THE YEAR, and on Saturday, January 7, 2012, 7:30pm, we’ll do it all again at the Moose Lodge Hall in Sault Ste Marie, 543 Trunk Rd. Admission is $10, $5students, under 10/free. Live music and a lively caller coming to a place not far from where you live, what more can you ask for!

AlgomaTrad is continuing its “AlgomaTrad Presents” series at the end of January with two amazing young Canadian traditional musicians.  Shane Cook and Troy MacGillivray won the East Coast Music Award for Instrumental Recording of the Year in 2009 for their duet recording “When Here Meets There”.   Shane and Troy will be appearing at 2 area venues: on Friday, January 27th in Sault Ste Marie, 8PM, at the Shingwauk Hall, Algoma U, and down the line at the Central Algoma Secondary School, Desbarats, on Saturday, January 28th, 8pm. Tickets are $20/person, $15/students and seniors, $10/12 and under.  Tickets available at www.algomatrad.ca or by calling 782 4311.

Shane Cook (www.shanecook.com) is a 3-time Canadian Grand Master, 3-time Canadian Open, and U.S. Open Fiddle Champion and stars with the international touring violin ensemble  “Bowfire”.  He has performed in the Algoma region with The Brian Pickell Band and as a staff member at the AlgomaTrad Family Camp.

Troy MacGillivray (www.troymacgillivray.com) grew up in the hot bed of traditional music that is Nova Scotia, surrounded by a family of musicians and beginning to learn to play fiddle and piano and to stepdance at 6 years of age.  He has put out 5 recordings, including the 2008 East Coast Music award-winning CD “Live at the Music Room”.  He also showcased at at the Celtic Connection Festival in Scotland, the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the Barbados Celtic Festival and the Edinburgh Fiddle Festival.

“Individually, these two fiddlers are virtuosic musicians and dynamic performers; together, stimulating and feeding off of each other … they are inspirational.” (Dr. Sherry Johnson – York University, Toronto)

ALGOMATRAD is excited to announce two Algoma area concerts by a trio of Celtic instrumental wizards at the end of November. Cape Breton fiddler Dan MacDonald, who taught at the AlgomaTrad Camp in ’08 and ’09, is returning to the region to perform with his new group, North Atlantic Drift.  North Atlantic Drift, made up of piper Ross Griffiths and tenor banjo/guitar maestro Brian Taheny as well as MacDonald, has just released a self-titled CD. Together they are an entire Celtic orchestra in a trio. In one sitting you’ll hear Cape Breton fiddle, Sligo fiddle, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, Irish Uilleann pipes, Scottish Highland and Border pipes, whistles and bodhran.  Along with this impressive display of multi-instrumental talent is the striking blend of the separate traditions at work from players with deep roots in those traditions.

North Atlantic Drift will be performing at the Grand Theatre in Sault Ste. Marie, Friday, November 25, 8PM and at the Town Hall in Richards Landing on Saturday, November 26, 7:30PM.

Don’t miss an opportunity to see these multi-talented ambassadors of Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton traditions contrast and compliment each other. Tickets for all shows are $22/adults, $18/seniors and students, and $10/12 and under. Richards Landing show tickets available at Ambeault’s, Kentvale, Kent’s Corners, and 17E Trading Post. Grand Theatre tickets available at the Grand Theatre, by reservation at 575 5687, at the Tamarack Health Food Store in the Churchill Mall, and at the Sault Area Arts Council Office.

Tickets for both shows are also available online right here. Call 782 4311 for more information.

North Atlantic Drift – Who They Are!

DAN MACDONALD is from a family of musicians from the small village of Ironville, Cape Breton and began playing fiddle at a very early age. His fiddle education came mostly from his father, Lloyd MacDonald, who is a well-known and respected Cape Breton fiddler, and from the surrounding musical culture of Cape Breton Island. Cape Breton Fiddler’s Association practices in Baddeck, the Gaelic Maud in St. Ann’s, playing for dances in Glencoe and playing for Highland dance and Cape Breton stepdance groups formed the basis for his music. The big Cape Breton concerts: Big Pond, Cheticamp, Highland Village day, Broad Cove and many others were the backdrop of his childhood.  In the late 1980′s, MacDonald, and his family formed Scumalash, a traditional Cape Breton band, with whom he toured throughout the United Kingdom between 1988 and 1992, culminating in the release of a self-titled album. Scumalash has recently returned from a reunion tour of England.

In 2001 MacDonald moved to Bowling Green, Ohio where he began playing with a traditional Irish group, Toraigh. Toraigh toured the Celtic festivals of the Midwest, including the Cincinnati Celtic Festival, Dayton Celtic Festival, and the Newport Irish Festival. During this time period MacDonald was also able to compete twice in the Midwest Fleadh (regional Irish Music competition) in the senior fiddle and ceilidh band competitions with a band involving some of Detroit’s foremost Irish musicians, placing second in both categories.

MacDonald moved to Toronto in 2003, where he became a co-host at the Irish music session at Dora Keogh Irish pub and later became a member of the traditional Irish group, Spraoi. Spraoi has played to sold out audiences at the Tranzac, Hugh’s Room and the Brampton Folk Festival. In 2006, MacDonald became music director of The Magic of Ireland, an Irish dance and music show, with which he toured the UK, Canada, the USA and Europe, including a tour in Germany with Algoma resident, Pat O’Gorman. In recent years, MacDonald has been a mainstay at the Irish music session at Dora Keogh and Ceili Cottage Irish pub in Toronto as well as producing an Irish/Scottish dance and music show called Brogue, which plays at folk clubs and festivals and theatres all over Ontario and the United States.  In addition, MacDonald still tours with his brothers Paul and Shawn and his father Lloyd, playing at several festivals and school performances in Ireland over the last two years and most recently playing several shows for the Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton.

BRIAN TAHENY immigrated to Canada in December 1988 from Co. Sligo, Ireland, one of the most famous musical counties for traditional music in Ireland.  Brian is a master musician, playing Guitar, Fiddle, Banjo, Irish Bouzouki, Cittern, Mandolin, Mandocello, Dobro and Bass guitar, and is also known for his innovative arrangements of traditional tunes.   Brian began performing with flautist Loretto Reid in 1978. With the Reid-Taheny band, Brian played at all the major Festivals in Ireland and toured through out Europe & North America with performers such as; Christy Moore, Clannad, Glass Tiger etc.  The group also performed on Radio and Television in Ireland, England, France, Germany, the U.S.A. and Canada and at many major Canadian and American festivals some of which include: the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, St. John’s & Labrador Folk Festival, Goderich Celtic Summer College and Folk Festival, Kentucky Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, Saline Celtic Festival, Cincinnati Celtic Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, and the Summerfolk Festival, Owen Sound. Concert performances include the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts,  Massey Hall, Glen Gould Studio, Art Gallery of Ontario, Du Maurier Theatre ,Toronto; Regent Theatre, Picton; Stanley A Milner Theatre, Edmonton; Irish Cultural Centre, Calgary; Capitol Theatre, Nelson, National Library Auditorium, Ottawa, Symphony Orchestra London On. and many more. The Reid-Taheny Band produced 4 recordings, including the Juno-nominated “Children of Lir”.

Brian has also been called upon to do session work, producing and arranging for various different events, movies and albums. He has recorded on over 70 albums, most recently with Loreena McKennitt as well as a duet Mando album with Andrew Collins called ‘Mandolore’. Other artists he has recorded with are  Bruce Guthro; Dan Crary ; James Keelaghan; Oliver Schroer,  Solitude’s/Somerset Entertainment, Anneliese Cameron, to mention a few. Brian is also a member of a Banjo Group “The Banjo Special” featuring the different traditional styles of playing on both 5 String and Tenor Banjo.

ROSS GRIFFITHS is a veteran highland bagpiper, raised in the folds of the competitive highland bagpipe scene in Ontario.  Ross spent 20 years immersed in the world pipe band circuit with numerous compositions to his name played by pipe bands across the globe.  After years of dedication to the Scottish pipes, in 2004 Ross set sail across the Irish Sea to the land of whistles and the beloved Uilleann pipes.  He now enjoys the best of both worlds living in Toronto where he defends the bagpipes influence on both streams of traditional music.

Ross began his study of the Great Highland Bagpipe within the ranks of a Canadian highland regimental pipe band, the Essex & Kent Scottish, at the age of eleven.  He was fortunate to have the guidance of a Pipe Major who was a world class piper and teacher and soon Ross found himself in the highly regarded Grade 1 band, the Toronto & District Caledonia, at age 16.  Within a few years Ross was a major musical contributor to the band for his ability as a musician, composer and arranger of pipe music.  Ross’ compositions have been recorded by numerous pipe bands here and around the world including Strathclyde Police and 4-time Grade 1 World Champion Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.  Retired from the world of pipe bands, Ross now resides in Toronto where he enjoys playing in a diverse collection of smaller ensembles with Scotish border pipes, Irish whistles and his most recent favourite, the Irish uilleann pipes.

AlgomaTrad is excited to announce two area concerts by some excellent Canadian Celtic musicians at the end of November. Cape Breton fiddler Dan MacDonald,  who taught at the AlgomaTrad Camp in ’08 and ’09, is returning to the region to perform with his new group, North Atlantic Drift.  North Atlantic Drift has just released a self-titled CD. Julie and Pat have played and performed with all these world-class musicians and can attest to their incredible virtuosity. The dates for these concerts will be November 25 and 26, venues TBA.

North Atlantic Drift are Dan MacDonald, Ross Griffiths and Brian Taheny.  Together they are an entire Celtic orchestra in a trio. In one sitting you’ll hear Cape Breton fiddle, Sligo fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, Uilleann pipes, Highland pipes, whistles and bodhran.  Along with this impressive display of multi-instrumental talent is the striking blend of the separate traditions at work from players with deep roots in those traditions.  Don’t miss an opportunity to see these multi-talented ambassadors of Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton traditions contrast and compliment each other.

Dan MacDonald is from the small village of Ironville, Cape Breton.  Born into a family of musicians, he began playing fiddle at a very early age. After spending years attending University, recording and performing in Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and the United States as both fiddler and drummer, MacDonald moved to Toronto in 2003, where he became a co-host at the lrish music session at Dora Keogh lrish pub and later became a member of the traditional lrish group, Spraoi.  Spraoi has played to sold out audiences at the Tranzac, Hugh’s Room and the Brampton Folk Festival. In 2006, MacDonald joined The Magic of Ireland, an lrish dance and music show, with which he toured the UK, Canada, the USA and Europe, eventually to become music director.  Dan and has family, all well-known Cape Breton musicians, have been invited numerous times to play festivals and concerts in Ireland and Scotland.  An active freelance performer and teacher, MacDonald is in high demand throughout Southern Ontario, where he performs and teaches at various venues and events.

Brian Taheny immigrated to Toronto from County Sligo, Ireland over 20 years ago and is a multi-instrumentalist playing mandolin, fiddle, guitar, bouzouki, cittern, tenor banjo and more.  He plays at warp speed with incredible lift and constantly changing ornamentation.  He has recorded on over 70 albums, most recently with Loreena McKennitt as well as a duet Mando album with Andrew Collins called ‘Mandolore’.

Ross Griffiths is a veteran highland bagpiper, raised in the folds of the competitive highland bagpipe scene in Ontario.  Ross spent 20 years immersed in the world pipe band circuit with numerous compositions to his name played by pipe bands across the globe.  After years of dedication to the Scottish pipes, in 2004 Ross set sail across the Irish Sea to the land of whistles and the beloved Uilleann pipes.  He has performed with Dan MacDonald for several years as part of the Celtic music and dance show, Brogue. He now enjoys the best of both worlds living in Toronto where he extends the bagpipe’s influence on both streams of traditional music.

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AlgomaTrad 2011 camp dates : August 13-20

August 5, 2011 / St. Joseph Island, ON  – AlgomaTrad (algomatrad.ca) is ready to stage its 8^th annual Traditional Music and Dance Family Camp at the Algoma Music Camp on the F&G Line, St. Joseph Island from Saturday, August 13 to Saturday, August 20.  There will be yet another great staff comprised of musicians, dancers, and artists from different parts of Ontario, Québec, and the United States.  Among the 19 staff members are Shane Cook, Canadian Grand Master and U.S. Open fiddle champ and star of “Bowfire”; renowned French Canadian family group “Dentdelion”; East Coast piano player Kimberley Holmes; multi-instrumentalist James Stephens; composer and guitarist Brian Pickell; fabric artist Mireille Gagnon-Moes; dance callers Martha Cooper and Dan Gorno; stepdancer Myriam Schryer Lefebvre; and tin whistle and concertina player Karen Light.  AlgomaTrad offers a one-week, immersive experience including workshops and concerts in traditional music, dance and art every August. Although the day schedule is closed to the general public, evening concerts and dances on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, August 14, 15, and 16^th are open for anyone from the surrounding communities to come and enjoy some great Canadian music.  All events are admission by donation.  Artist CDs will also be available at each event.  So tune in for some of the best traditional music you’ll hear in Canada, right in your very own back yard!  If you can’t make it to the Island, some of the AlgomaTrad staff will be performing at the Laird Fair on Saturday, August 20^th.

AlgomaTrad is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional music, dance and arts that are part of our Canadian culture and heritage (www.algomatrad.ca). As well as the AlgomaTrad camp, the organization offers a program of concerts, dances and workshops throughout the year.   AlgomaTrad is still accepting registrations to the Camp, and several non-camper workshop positions are open for the Wool Felting classes.  For more information, call Pat or Julie at 782 4311.  AlgomaTrad is supported by grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Heritage Canada, Fresh Start Program.

Sunday Aug. 14^th, 7:30pm  - A Family Dance with “The O’Schraves” and Caller Dan Gorno

Monday Aug. 15^th 7:00pm  - Staff Concert – Kitchen Party Style  (followed by a dance)

Tuesday Aug. 16^th 7:00pm - “Dentdelion” and “Shane Cook and The Brian Pickell Band” in concert (followed by a dance)

Wednesday Aug. 17^th 7:00pm - Fundraising Auction – A live and silent auction which raises money for the “Nicholas Missere Bursary Fund” to make attending AlgomaTrad an equal opportunity for anyone.  The fund is named after Nicholas, an aspiring young local fiddle player with a zest for life and twinkle in his eye, who passed away just prior to the inauguration of AlgomaTrad. AlgomaTrad welcomes donations in the way of items, monetary contributions, or attendance to this fun event.  Over the years, the fund has aided dozens of individuals and entire families to attend the camp, disbursing over $3500 each year.

Friday Aug. 19^th 1:30pm – Final Student Concert - An opportunity to come out and see what has been learned in a short period of 5 days, and to experience the wonderful community that is AlgomaTrad.