Since getting their start over twenty years ago at a late night session during the Celtic Colours International Festival, Beòlach has established itself as one of Cape Breton’s most exciting and innovative traditional bands. The group features Mairi Rankin (fiddle, step-dance), Wendy MacIsaac (fiddle, step-dance), Matt MacIsaac (pipes, whistles, guitar), and Mac Morin (piano, step-dance).
On stage and on their recordings, Beòlach presents original compositions as well as unique, dynamic arrangements of classic traditional tunes. The band has thrilled audiences at festivals around the world with their energetic performances, witty presentation, and their versatility as dancers and instructors. Each of the players in Beòlach is an experienced performer in their own right, having played for dances and concerts around Cape Breton Island and beyond long before they got together as a group.
They have released half a dozen solo albums among them and have made individual guest appearances on countless other albums. Beòlach’s two group recordings, “Beòlach” (2001) and “Variations” (2004), were both nominated for East Coast Music Awards and in 2005 the band was nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Instrumental Artist.
In 2021, they took home 2 Canadian Folk Music Awards for Group Recording and Roots Traditional Recording, are up for 4 East Coast Music Awards including Fans Choice Entertainer of the Year and they also have a Juno nomination for Traditional, Roots Recording of the year for their 2019 album, “All Hands”.
Individually they have taken home more awards such as East Coast Music Awards, a Nova Scotia Music Award, Canadian Folk Music Awards, a silver medal in Oban (a world piping competition) and as members of other bands, awards like Best Group in Live Ireland Awards and Tradition in Review Awards and also made it in the top 10 albums by Folkways in 2012.