Atlantic String Machine
Atlantic String Machine is a dynamic ensemble of string players who perform as many styles of music as they can fit into their portfolios. Based on Prince Edward Island, they have established themselves at the forefront of new and exciting arts groups throughout the region. Their unique approach comes from a desire to keep live music relevant, transformative, and above all entertaining. In their efforts to keep themselves and their audiences engaged, they seek out interesting collaborations with other artists, unexpected venues for concerts, and write their own arrangements and compositions, keeping their repertoire fresh and alive.
The group has received multiple awards from Music PEI (Achievement in Classical Music – 2016, 2017, 2019 & 2020). Their debut album, Lost Time, received two East Coast Music Award nominations (Classical Recording of the Year and Classical Composition of the Year – 2017), and their second album, The Bayfield Sessions, was nominated for Classical Recording of the Year at the 2020 ECMAs. The band has also been featured at festivals across the country, including the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, the Vancouver Island Music Festival, Summerfolk, and the PEI Festival of Small Halls.
Over the past few years, String Machine has performed with a long list of exceptional artists, including Sarah Slean, Duane Andrews, Paper Lions, The Once, James Keelaghan, Tara MacLean, Meaghan Blanchard, Rachel Beck, and Adrienne Gallant. They have also appeared on recordings by Lennie Gallant, Irish Mythen, and Dave Gunning. Their second album, The Bayfield Sessions, built on that spirit of collaboration by featuring guest performances of original songs by Ian Sherwood, Catherine MacLellan, Nathan Wiley, Matthew Byrne, and Alicia Toner. In 2022, Atlantic String Machine looks forward to releasing an album of completely original material, featuring their original compositions based on the life and work of esteemed Maritime architect William Critchlow Harris.
Atlantic String Machine is:
Sean Kemp (violin)
Karen Graves (violin)
Jeffrey Bazett-Jones (viola)
Natalie Williams Calhoun(cello)
Adam Hill (bass)
