Events

High-energy fiddling, Scottish Lowland Border pipes, smooth whistle tunes, rocking guitar, and drum solos are just a few of the things you might see in a West of Mabou stage performance, as the Western Canadian band taps into their strong Scottish, Irish, and Cape Breton roots to deliver a unique brand of high-energy, traditional music with a contemporary flare.

The band’s combination of traditional and original fiddle and pipe tunes has earned them a nomination for Instrumental Artist of the Year at the 2019 Western Canadian Music Awards, Instrumental Group of the Year at the 2018 Canadian Folk Awards, and World Artist of the Year at the 2018 Western Canadian Music Awards. The band was also named as one of the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast’s “Top Bands of 2017.”

West of Mabou’s latest album, “The Bridge”, was produced by master Cape Breton musician, Wendy MacIsaac. The album reached #3 on the iTunes Canada World Music Charts, and has received radio play on 4 continents.

West of Mabou unites the talents of Scott Benson (fiddle), Jared Dormer (percussion), Justin Easton (guitar/bass), Alex Rasmussen (pipes/whistles), and Roberta Wallace (fiddle). Each of the band members is an experienced performer in their own right, having performed at venues around the world.

With a strong respect for tradition and a unique contemporary style, West of Mabou continues to charm audiences with their impossible-to-sit-still tempos and their ability to fold Celtic sounds with modern inflections into a recipe for dance.