A multi-award winning Celtic and roots-inspired family band will cruise the IslandB次元官网网址檚 coast as part of a social tour this month.

At the heart of the Edmonton-based group, siblings Shannon Johnson, Jeremiah McDade and Solon McDade first started performing together with their parents in the B次元官网网址�70s. In their youth, they entertained members of the British royal family, as well as audiences for the Commonwealth Games and Expo B次元官网网址�86.

After playing in separate bands for several years, the siblings teamed up again and formed the McDades in the early 2000s when they realized they missed the B次元官网网址榝amily edge.B次元官网网址�

Approximately a decade ago, the siblings were the subject of a feature-length documentary called The McDades B次元官网网址� Brother Brother Sister Making Music that celebrated family, music and what it takes to make it as as non-commercial artists in Canada.

Bassist, vocalist, composer and producer Solon described their concerts as high-energy with a B次元官网网址渞eal mix of genres.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a typical Celtic music show or folk show,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ur roots are definitely in Celtic music and folk music, but we do improvising B次元官网网址� we have extended solos. And we try to feature all of the instruments in the band.B次元官网网址�

Solon said the family band is influenced by different world music, and as such, their sound is B次元官网网址渁 bit more of an adventure.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou can see us one night and the show will go a certain way, and then you see us another night and it might be something completely different. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty fun that way,B次元官网网址� he said.

Although the siblings will often work collaboratively on new material together, they also perform covers of well-known Canadian songs, such as on their latest album, The Empress, which features a rendition of Gordon LightfootB次元官网网址檚 1974 song Sundown.

B次元官网网址淲hen we were travelling in Europe, a lot of people would ask us what Canadian music was like. We always say like, B次元官网网址榃ell, weB次元官网网址檙e playing Canadian music,B次元官网网址� but thatB次元官网网址檚 a really hard question to answer. So we learned some different cover tunes B次元官网网址� [and] weB次元官网网址檇 say B次元官网网址榗heck this out, it might be a song that you know.B次元官网网址� And a song like Sundown is very well known all over the place.B次元官网网址�

As with most of their albums, The Empress also features a French song, Les Trois Capitaines, as a nod toward CanadaB次元官网网址檚 bilingualism.

Solon said heB次元官网网址檚 always loved speaking French since he not only grew up attending French immersion in Edmonton, but lived in Montreal for many years. The group has tried to include at least one French song on their albums to also show the value of what it brings to their music and how it enriches their lives.

The name of the album, Solon said, was inspired by the third card of the Major Arcana tarot deck, and shows an artistic rendition of Shannon on the cover.

B次元官网网址淭he character of the empress is something that we were drawn to, like a powerful woman who nurtures and has a Mother Earth element to her that is taking seeds of things and helping them to grow into a bigger thing,B次元官网网址� the bassist said. B次元官网网址淎nd Shannon has always played a big role in co-producing B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檚 really great at motivating people to elevate their performance.B次元官网网址�

For their Nanaimo-premiere concert on Feb. 22 at the Unitarian Hall, the group plans to play new songs from The Empress as well as favourites from past albums.

The McDades will also stop at the Old Church Theatre in Courtenay on Feb. 23, St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 Presbyterian Church in Victoria on Feb. 24, the Quadra Village Community Centre on Quadra Island on Feb. 25, and the Rogue Folk Club in Vancouver on Feb. 26.

In addition to their existing Juno Award, Independent Music Award and Canadian Folk Music Awards, the family band has also been nominated for three CFMAs in 2023, including Instrumental Group of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Ensemble of the Year, as well as a Juno nomination for Traditional Roots Album of the Year.

Tickets for the Nanaimo show can be purchased online at .

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mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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