CARTHAGE – New England Celtic Arts will host Prince Edward Island instrumentalist Elmer Deagle, an innovative artist on the Canadian Celtic music scene, Wednesday, June 20, at The Skye Performing Arts Theater. Performing with him at 7 p.m. will be with Emmannuelle LeBlanc and Timothy Chaisson.
There will be a preshow jam session starting at 6:30 p.m.
Playing the traditional music of the ceilidh and merging it with the contemporary, Deagle has developed a musical niche as Canada’s popular celtic mandolin and tenor banjo player.
A member of Prince Edward Island’s Chaisson family, Deagle is one of 70 first-cousins of the famous fiddle dynasty’s seventh generation. Many of the clan are noted multi-instrumentalists, and Deagle is no exception, showing impressive proficiency not only on his mandolin but on the violin, tenor banjo, piano, and guitar – and he has started studying bodhran and whistle.
At age 15, Deagle joined his Chaisson cousins forming the group Celtic Tide, later renamed Kindle. The release of the band’s self-titled, ECMA-nominated album brought critical acclaim and invitations to perform on Much Music and the nationally televised 2002 East Coast Music Awards.
In 2005, Deagle released his debut self-titled recording. At the 2006 East Coast Music Awards, he was nominated for Roots Traditional Solo Album of the Year.
Deagle’s successful incorporation of the music of the ancient Gaelic traditions with more modern musical elements has enabled him to enjoy a growing cross-generational fan base.
Guitarist and fiddler Chaisson has been playing traditional music with Deagle since they were children. He has three records to his name. LeBlanc plays whistle, bodhran, piano, and feet, and has been a touring musician with the Canadian super group Vishten for the last 10 years.
Skye Theater is at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Road and U.S. Route 2. Tickets are $10 at the door. Call New England Celtic Arts at 562-4445 for reservations. For more information, go online to www.necelticarts.com.
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