2024 FESTIVAL LINEUP
Karen Casey w/ Niall Vallely & Niamh Dunne
Ireland
Irish singer-songwriter Karan Casey embodies a musical legacy spanning decades, credited on over 80 albums, including 11 solo works. Her role as a founding member of Solas catapulted her into collaborations with esteemed artists like Béla Fleck, James Taylor, and The Chieftains. Recognized by The Glasgow Herald as “The most soulful singer to emerge in Irish traditional music in the past decade,” and lauded by the Irish Times for her storytelling, Casey's impact transcends borders. Beyond music, she's deeply involved in theater and advocacy, utilizing her platform for meaningful change. Currently touring with Niall Vallely and Niamh Dunne (of Beoga fame), Karan's performances continue to captivate audiences worldwide, cementing her status as a powerhouse in both traditional and contemporary music scenes.
Archie Fisher and Garnet Rogers
Scotland/Canada
Archie Fisher & Garnet Rogers are well known within the music community. A master guitarist, singer and songwriter, Archie Fisher is Scotland's foremost Folk music troubadour and Garnet Rogers, with his "smooth, dark baritone" voice, his incredible range and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere.
Allison Lupton Band
Canada
Acclaimed singer-songwriter, flutist and multiple CFMA Traditional Singer of the Year nominee, Allison Lupton enchants listeners with story songs and tunes that take you away to another time. From playing for community dances to soloing with orchestras, Allison has found her voice after more than a quarter century performing in Canada and abroad. Her newest album, “Words of Love” showcases her original material, songs which fit so perfectly into the treasury of Canadian folk music that they could easily be mistaken for traditional songs. Allison is joined by her band of all-stars featuring Andrew Collins, Shane Cook, Tony McManus and Joseph Phillips.
Apolline
Australia
Australian folk trio Apolline (pronounced Apo-leen) are this year’s Robinson Emerging Artist finalists. Their intricate arrangements and high-quality performances have stunned audiences since their debut. Known for their creative and nonconformist style, the band utilises a wide range of musical influences such as jazz, Scandinavian folk and a healthy dose of Eurovision to inspire an innovative sound like no other. Whether it be fiery, quick-paced reels or intimate and slow ayres, the group’s technical artistry and creativity consistently wows audiences. Within their repertoire of tune arrangements, Apolline’s music also features original melodies and songs that showcase the member’s deep connection to the music they create and perform.
Bourque-Gloutnez
Canada
Nancy Gloutnez, a McGill University graduate, channels her lifelong passion for music into multidisciplinary projects encompassing music, dance, and video. With over 25 years of experience teaching piano and a background as a piano tuner and technician, her work reflects a deep reverence for Quebec gigue, exploring its vocabulary with musicality and poetic beauty. Benoit Bourque, a festival favorite at Goderich, is a charismatic artist with over 30 years of experience, captivating audiences with his versatile talents as a musician, dancer, singer, and caller. A specialist in Quebec traditional dances, he shares his expertise through workshops and performances, preserving and celebrating the rich heritage of Quebec's musical traditions.
Cara Wildman
USA
Cara Wildman is a highly sought after bodhrán player at the cutting edge of the instrument's modern development. She credits a large part of her musicality to growing up playing western swing with her father and going two-stepping with her parents in her hometown of Dorchester, Texas. She has toured with Joanie Madden, Oisín Mac Diarmada's Irish Christmas in America, Máiréad Nesbitt’s Celtic Spells, was a founding member of Irish band The Consequences, and more. Cara was the 2021 All-Ireland Fleadh Fest champion and holds two degrees in music education from Texas Christian University, and a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland.
Fiárock
Ireland
Fiárock (pronounced Fee-AH-rock) is a four-piece Irish traditional band that tells a story steeped in sound. Hailing from both sides of the Atlantic, the quartet masterfully treads the line of staying true to the tradition while embracing the diversity of influences from each member’s personal background, enriching their sound with jazz harmonies, American old-time melodies, and Mexican folk song. Concertina, banjo, piano, bodhrán, and vocals join together in powerful arrangements, from rip-roaring polkas to mesmerizing slow airs, in ways that will enchant and enrapture both trad-heads and newcomers alike.
Heron Valley
Scotland
Heron Valley, an energetic Scottish traditional band, is returning for their second year, blending Scottish and Irish influences. Their diverse lineup infuses performances with tales and Scots language lessons. With hits like "Pressed for Time" and "Home," and a Scots Trad Music Awards nomination, they've captivated audiences globally, releasing their debut album "Roam," singles like "Take You There," "Springburn," and the EP "Erie Storm," showcasing their eclectic sound.
