BEÒLACH
Six dynamic solo performers came together for a late-night session during Celtic Colors. That 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. Their knowledge of, and passion for, this traditional music shows in their energy onstage, and the natural, easy wit and banter they exchange reflects lifelong friendships, a shared sense of fun, and years of experience as professional musicians.
Mac Morin, Mairi Rankin and Wendy Maclsaac, the 3 remaining original members, along with Kenneth Mackenzie, who has been with the band since 2018 and plays bagpipes, and fiddle, will be bringing some of the best examples of the music they love to learn, teach and perform. Their solo and collective contributions to traditional music are a creative force from Cape Breton Island.
They took charge as Artists in Residence at the Celtic Colors International Festival in 2019 where their most recent album, “All Hands” was released. Beòlach has delighted audiences throughout the world with their original compositions and unique arrangements of traditional tunes and in October of 2021, they were one of three groups representing Canada at the World Expo in Dubai. Their three albums have earned nominations for East Coast Music Awards, Canadian Folk Music Awards, Nova Scotia Music Awards, of which they took home 5 and a nomination for a JUNO!
2025 was celebrated as Beòlach’s 25th anniversary with a big presentation of the 25 years at Celtic Colours with a lineup of all musicians who have been band members as well as special guests Mary Jane Lamond and Heather Rankin.
