Celtic music in Canada

A very traditional strain of Irish music exists in Newfoundland, especially in the primarily Irish-Catholic communities along the southern shore.

The instrumentation in Newfoundland music includes the button accordion, guitar, violin, tin whistle and more recently the bodhrán.

Where celidh dance is regular and popular in many rural communities, Irish or Celtic themed nightlife exists in both major cities of Charlottetown and Summerside.

Organizations supporting traditional Celtic music include the PEI Fiddlers Association and the Benevolent Irish Society.

The most important and influential such band was Vancouver's Spirit of the West, whose musical marriage of traditional Irish and Scottish jigs and reels with hard rock and Britpop influences paved the way for later acts such as Great Big Sea, Enter the Haggis, the Stoaters, Captain Tractor, the Mahones, Ashley MacIsaac, Jimmy George, Mudmen, Uisce Beatha, the Paperboys and the Clumsy Lovers.

Figgy Duff and the Rankin Family served much the same role in pop music, influencing later artists such as Leahy, Mary Jane Lamond, the Barra MacNeils and Natalie MacMaster.

Celtic fiddling traditions in Canada were highlighted by a medley performance during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics entitled "Rhythms of the Fall" .
Genticorum , a traditional and Celtic band performing at a Solstice Festival, 18 June 2011