Two Canadian traditional music groups to perform in Algoma

Two Canadian traditional music groups will perform in Algoma District in July.

Grosse Isle, a group featuring the musical meeting of Québécois and Irish traditions, will give a show on July 4 and on July 5 at AlgomaTrad Centre Pavilion.

Grosse Isle cponsists of: Sophie Lavoie, singer, pianist, and composer who was twice nominated as Canadian Folk Music Awards Traditional Singer of the Year; Fiachra O’Regan, Irish piper and banjoist; and Andre Marchand, guitarist and vocalist.

Shane Cook and The Woodchippers, who rely on deep foundation in Ontario's traditional music, will perform on July 14 at the AlgomaTrad Centre Pavilion as well. 

Shane Cook is a multi-instrumentalist who is a master of the Canadian old-time fiddle tradition, and The Woodchippers is a four-member group of multiinstrumentalists, singers and step dancers

For more information, read the press release below:

Two outstanding Canadian traditional music groups are coming to the Algoma region in July. Grosse Isle, a group that features the musical meeting of Québécois and Irish traditions, will perform on July 4 at 8 p.m., Pier Seventeen, and on July 5 at 7:30 p.m. at AlgomaTrad Centre Pavilion. Shane Cook and the Woodchippers will appears on July 14 at the AlgomaTrad Centre Pavilion. Tickets are available here.

Grosse Isle, named after an island in St. Lawrence where many Irish immigrants landed in the 19th century, features three exceptional musicians: Québécoise fiddler, singer, pianist, and composer Sophie Lavoie, twice nominated as Canadian Folk Music Awards Traditional Singer of the Year; Irish piper and banjoist, Fiachra O’Regan, an All Ireland Champion on both uilleann pipes and banjo; and guitarist and vocalist Andre Marchand, a mainstay of traditional music in Quebec for 40 years and co-founder of La Bottine Souriante, one of the most successful Québécois trad bands ever. In 2022, Grosse Isle was nominated for the CFMA Traditional Album of the Year for their most recent recording, Le Bonhomme Sept Heures/The Bonesetter.

Shane Cook & The Woodchippers rely on their deep foundation in Ontario's traditional music, song and dance for the core of their sound, yet also draw on styles as broad as Celtic, folk, roots, bluegrass and swing. A Canadian and U.S. National fiddle champion, Shane Cook is a multi-instrumentalist who has distinguished himself as a master of the Canadian old-time fiddle tradition. Joining Shane as a four-member group of multiinstrumentalists, singers and step dancers, The Woodchippers are Emily Flack (Leahy) on piano, vocals and dance, Joe Phillips (The Art of Time Ensemble) on double bass and guitar, and Kyle Waymouth (five-time national step dance champion) on guitar and stepdance. The band and album are 2022 Canadian Folk Music Award nominees for Instrumental Group of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year.

For more info about all AlgomaTrad’s programs and events, please contact Julie or Pat at 705 782 4311 or 705 257 6106.

The annual AlgomaTrad Staff Concert Extravaganza will occur at the Richards Landing Centennial Grounds on August 11 at 7:30 p.m. – 15 world-class musicians perform in a beautiful setting on a magical summer evening. More info soon! AlgomaTrad acknowledges funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.