Cape Breton Celtic | Montreal, Quebec
Beòlach is one of Cape Breton’s most exciting and innovative traditional bands. Performing a lively mix of Cape Breton, Scottish and Irish tunes, the group features Mairi Rankin (fiddle, step-dance), Wendy MacIsaac (fiddle, piano, step-dance), Mac Morin (piano, accordion, step-dance), and Matt MacIsaac (pipes, whistles, guitar).
With family roots that go down deep into the world of Cape Breton music and culture, Maire Rankin, Wendy MacIsaac, Mac Morin, and Matt MacIsaac, have been immersed in the traditional musical all their lives.
More than 20 years ago six dynamic solo performers came together to jam at a late-night session during the Celtic Colours International Music Festival… this session was the spark that lit Beòlach.
During the next decade, Beòlach continued to grow artistically through their innovative and exciting arrangements of traditional Cape Breton, Scottish and Irish tunes for fiddle, bagpipes, piano, and guitar.
The energy they present on stage demonstrates their knowledge of and passion for the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, and Cape Breton. The natural, easy wit and banter they exchange on stage reflect lifelong friendships, a shared sense of fun, and years of experience as professional musicians. The band has delighted audiences throughout the world with their original compositions and unique arrangements of traditional tunes and their ability to light the stage on fire with their energy and witty stories. Their versatility as instructors has provided an opportunity for learners to gain knowledge of traditional music and dance as well as insight into the relationship between these traditions that makes this style of music unique.
Beòlach has recorded three albums: Beòlach (2001) and Variations (2004), each of which gained critical acclaim and earned nominations for the East Coast Music Awards. In 2005 the group was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Best Instrumental Artist. More recently, Beolach’s latest release, All Hands (2020) was been nominated for a Juno, 4 East Coast Music Awards, and 2 Canadian Folk Music Awards. It has also appeared on Alex Monaghan’s Top 10 Albums (Folkworld) for 2020.
Throughout their history as Beòlach, group members have maintained solo careers as musicians and collaborated with some of the most renowned artists on the traditional music scene. In their solo careers, they have been nominated for various East Coast Music Awards, Nova Scotia Music Awards, and several Canadian Folk Music Awards. They have appeared on Grammy and Juno winning albums and worked with artists of all genres.