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Celtic music in Canada

Celtic music is primarily associated with the folk traditions of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and Wales, as well as the popular styles derived from folk culture. In addition, a number of other areas of the world are known for the use of Celtic musical styles and techniques, including Newfoundland, and much of the folk music of Canada's Maritimes, especially on Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island.

Fiddle players: , Émile Benoît and Patrick Moran

Kelly Russell

Button accordion players: and Harry Hibbs

Minnie White

Bodhran players:

Fergus O'Byrne

Popular Newfoundland traditional music group: and Great Big Sea.

Irish Descendants

Irish music band in Newfoundland:

Ryan's Fancy

Popular music[edit]

A number of popular Canadian Celtic rock bands are also influenced by Celtic folk traditions. 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. Loreena McKennitt fuses Celtic, world, and new-age music.

Canadian fiddle

Canadian folk music

Music of Canada

Irish-Canadian

Canadian Gaelic

Scottish-Canadian

Scots-Quebecer

External Links: Celtic Music Base