KATIE:
“The new face of Scottish fiddling in the USA " (The Living Tradition), Katie McNally has made waves in both the American folk music scene and abroad since the release of her debut album, Flourish, in 2013. Though she's making a name for herself in the Celtic music world, McNally started her professional career at age 12 playing contra dances at her local town hall in Massachusetts.
Since then, McNally has performed and taught fiddle courses in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Scotland, England, and France and has lent her fiddling to numerous recording projects, working with such notable producers as Liz Carroll and Seamus Eagan. Most recently, she and her band travelled Cape Breton to record a brand-new album slated for release in Spring 2016. Under the guidance of producer Wendy MacIsaac (Beolach, Mary Jane Lamond), McNally has curated a collection of tunes that will draw inspiration from raw, mid-century recordings of Cape Breton fiddlers both in Nova Scotia and Massachusetts and be sculpted by the creative energy of the Boston acoustic music scene.
NEIL:
Pianist and mandolinist Neil Pearlman is rapidly distinguishing himself as a uniquely innovative artist in the contemporary traditional music scene. Called “a tremendous pianist” on BBC Radio Scotland and “a force to be reckoned with” by WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan, Neil is recognized in many Celtic music circles for his unique approach to the piano. Rooted in traditional Cape Breton piano styles, Neil brings in ideas from many other genres and the result is an exciting new sound that remains true to its traditional roots. It was this fresh approach that led legendary Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland to say “watching Neil’s hands on the piano was like watching two spiders on crack!”
Neil currently performs with a wide range of musical projects from traditional Scottish fiddle music to contemporary jazz. His contradance band, Party of Three, is a high energy group that brings together three innovative and experienced dance musicians. Combining high energy Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle music with Latin and Funk influenced piano and drum grooves, Party of Three has been enthusiastically received by dancers across the US.
KATIE:
“The new face of Scottish fiddling in the USA " (The Living Tradition), Katie McNally has made waves in both the American folk music scene and abroad since the release of her debut album, Flourish, in 2013. Though she's making a name for herself in the Celtic music world, McNally started her professional career at age 12 playing contra dances at her local town hall in Massachusetts.
Since then, McNally has performed and taught fiddle courses in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Scotland, England, and France and has lent her fiddling to numerous recording projects, working with such notable producers as Liz Carroll and Seamus Eagan. Most recently, she and her band travelled Cape Breton to record a brand-new album slated for release in Spring 2016. Under the guidance of producer Wendy MacIsaac (Beolach, Mary Jane Lamond), McNally has curated a collection of tunes that will draw inspiration from raw, mid-century recordings of Cape Breton fiddlers both in Nova Scotia and Massachusetts and be sculpted by the creative energy of the Boston acoustic music scene.
NEIL:
Pianist and mandolinist Neil Pearlman is rapidly distinguishing himself as a uniquely innovative artist in the contemporary traditional music scene. Called “a tremendous pianist” on BBC Radio Scotland and “a force to be reckoned with” by WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan, Neil is recognized in many Celtic music circles for his unique approach to the piano. Rooted in traditional Cape Breton piano styles, Neil brings in ideas from many other genres and the result is an exciting new sound that remains true to its traditional roots. It was this fresh approach that led legendary Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland to say “watching Neil’s hands on the piano was like watching two spiders on crack!”
Neil currently performs with a wide range of musical projects from traditional Scottish fiddle music to contemporary jazz. His contradance band, Party of Three, is a high energy group that brings together three innovative and experienced dance musicians. Combining high energy Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle music with Latin and Funk influenced piano and drum grooves, Party of Three has been enthusiastically received by dancers across the US.