Anna Ludlow hails from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and has been rocking the Canadian Celtic and folk scene for the past 2 decades. Entertaining with her fiddle and vocals, she captivates audiences, giving a true kitchen party experience. Having collaborated with some of Canada’s most renowned artists, lead her to become the principal fiddler for the Juno nominated critically acclaimed production DRUM, and In 2018 she became the inaugural fiddle player for the hit and Tony award-winning show ‘COME FROM AWAY’. Outside of theatre work Anna is influenced by her working-class Celtic ancestry, and fuses the traditional Cape Breton music of the Scottish Gàidhealtachd with a modern percussive vibe. With over 8  multi-award nominations, multiple performances on The Marilyn Denis Show, a feature on Bell Fibe TV featuring her original music you won’t want to miss her perform. She is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and song-writer and uses her dynamic performances to give listeners a modern taste of history and culture. You can also find her touring and recording with multiple bands across Canada. 

Bang On The Ear ( Of Celtic origin meaning a affectionate kiss or pat on the cheek) have been entertaining crowds since the bands formation in 2006. Led by husband and wife Bradley & Michelle McMillan the band have created a sound all there own while retaining the sounds of traditional Scottish / Irish music and that Glengarry County sound that has remained a staple in the community for 50+ years. The group have released 5 studio albums since 2006 and have garnered over 100000 streams worldwide on various streaming platforms. They have collectively written more than 30 original songs, which are featured throughout the bands discography.

They have played up and down Canadas East Coast, Ontario and Quebec and have been privileged to have performed at several of the countries top drawing festivals and Entertainment events including The Glengarry Highland Games, The Prince Edward Island Shellfish Festival, New Brunswick's Casley Park Summer Concert series, Canadas Irish Festival (Miramichi, New Brunswick) , The Almonte Celtic Festival & The World Education Festival. They have performed at some of the most reputable Irish pubs through out Canada including The Douglas Hotel, Hurleys Irish Pub, The Olde Dublin Pub, PJ O'Briens and Dolans Irish Pub to name a few.

They have been fortunate enough to have performed alongside The Mahones, Jimmy Rankin, Signal Hill, Ashley MacIssac, Hadrians Wall, Paddy Kelly, Joey Kitson (Rawlins Cross), The Trews and more.

Their live show is one that must be seen in person, the bands love of traditional Celtic music and there love of Glengarry County shines brightly every time the band takes the stage.
Slainte.

Bob Burnie has been entertaining the people of Glengarry and the surrounding area for years, with various groups, notably Bob & Ducky. His renditions of old and new Celtic music have contributed to his popularity which has passed the test of time. This year, Bob will be joined by some friends to bring some of Glengarry's Celtic favourites to life. Bob's goal is always to please his loyal fans while having fun. It is a goal that is always and easily met with success.

Brandy 'N' Port has been a main stay in the Eastern Ontario Celtic music scene for several years now. Their longevity & success, with many performances at pubs, festivals and private events in both Canada and the USA, can be attributed to consistently providing energetic and quality performances year after year. While always sticking to their Celtic roots, Brandy 'N' Port can always provide versatile & original arrangements to many different music styles. Their latest CD "Kiss Me I'm Irish", is the bands' most successful CD to date and by no coincidence, is very much what you would hear in an onstage performance. Brandy 'N' Port is made up of, Alec Long from Derry, Ireland on Drums & Vocals. Richard Linke from Vankleek Hill, Ontario on Lead Guitar, Flute, Whistle & Vocals. Grant Tomkinson from Westmeath, Ontario on Bass Guitar & Vocals and Danny Byrne from Ottawa, Ontario on Guitar, Banjo & Vocals.

Brandy 'N' Port is extremely proud of their affiliation with The Glengarry Highland Games and feel grateful to be invited to play "the Games" year after year.

The Brigadoons have been entertaining across Canada, the United States and on cruises in the Caribbean for over 45 years! People in the area have grown up with their music and their children are now doing the same. Denis Carr leads the group and is the longest serving member; Reg Portieous and Dan Leroux keep the sound going with Heather Flipsen and Paddy Kelly added to the mix.

The Brigadoons are still performing that traditional sound and while new songs are being added to their repertoire , they still perform all of the old favourites: Glengarry My Home, The Martintown song, Pipers of Glengarry at the request of their loyal fans.

In 2019 a group of Glengarry musicians, all with extensive performance experience, joined together as The Ceilidh Drovers. The name can be interpreted as “The Party Drivers” and that is exactly what this group of musicians does. Now performing over forty shows a year, they bring a high energy selection of Celtic music boosted by harmony vocals and exceptional fiddle, piano, guitar and drums. Their enthusiasm is infectious and their talent injects new life into many traditional tunes.

The County Lads were formed in 2015 by brothers Alec (lead vocals and guitar) and Hamish (fiddle) McDonald, where they began playing their take on everything from Celtic to Country music in the SD&G Counties. Quickly adding two close friends, Nolan Laframboise (bass) and Joah Vaillancourt (drums, the band was complete, and their sound was unforgettable. Throughout the years, these young lads have had the chance of sharing their tight harmonies and energetic performance all over Eastern Canada from the East Coast to Toronto, From Landsdowne Park on New Year’s Eve to Sudbury. While always remembering their small town roots, The County Lads continue to write and perform their music for everyone to enjoy.

Derina Harvey leads the award-winning Canadian Celtic Rock group, the Derina Harvey Band (dHb). With a show that offers a fresh take on traditional folk songs as well as a few originals, Derina’s vibrant personality takes center stage with humour, storytelling, and, of course, her powerful vocals. The band has covered a fair amount of Canada via the performing arts and festival circuits and is now poised to do the same in the United States

dHb has been likened to a “rockier” version of Canada’s Great Big Sea, if fronted by Adele, and has earned a reputation as a high-energy group that leaves many an audience out-of-breath and hollering from their seats!

Since their formation in 2017, multi-instrumentalist Bill Quigley and Marco Belanger have been gracing Canadian stages from Ontario to Newfoundland delivering high energy performances and selling out Tap Rooms, Concert Halls, and Music Festivals along the way. Nominated for "Folk / Roots Group of the Year 2022" by MusicNL and "New Artist of the Year 2023" by Capital Music Awards, this versatile group can set the tone for an up close, intimate show or scale things up to entertain audiences in any type of venue. Influenced by many different genres of music, the singer songwriter ensemble released their debut studio project titled “Home” in 2022. This much anticipated release takes listeners on a musical journey with storytelling compositions influenced in the alt folk / roots rock genre. In addition to their tasteful originals, the set list just wouldn’t be complete without including some Celtic, East Coast inspired crowd pleasers that keep people on their feet, dancing and coming back for more.

The ‘Empties’ were formed one late night at the Alexandria Curling Club back in the winter of 2004. Mark Hall pulled out his guitar, started playing, and Paul Villeneuve began singing…and that was the beginning of a friendship that soon developed into Glengarry’s very own Fridge Full of Empties. Of course accordion virtuoso Nelson MacPherson was there from the very beginning.

With his incredible talent and calm demeanor, Nelson’s wealth of experience on stage was a perfect fit for this trio. Over the years many talented musicians have shared the stage with ‘The Fridge’; today Andrew Munro and fiddle player extraordinaire Kelsey Duval round out the band.

Although they have played countless venues all over this great country, nothing pleases them more to entertain in ‘Glengarry Our Home’!!

The Glengarry Girls Choir is back and ready to celebrate 16 years of singing! Made up of girls aged 7-18 years old the choir is directed by renowned Maxville based soprano Kim Little. Over the years the GGC has performed at many event including the Antigonish Highland Games, Ottawa Kiwanis Festival, Upper Canada Village's Alight at Night and of course the Glengarry Highland Games! 

Hadrian’s Wall is a Celtic ceilidh band from Glengarry, Canada. Well-versed in the ancient ways of celebration, Hadrian’s Wall is a family collective of performers, delivering joy to festival audiences across North America for over two decades. The music of Hadrian’s Wall borrows elements of Scottish and Irish tradition, and blends these with their own influences of Folk and Canadiana. Together, they foster a sound that is universal yet unique, novel yet familiar, and ultimately inspiring of the good times had when feet set to dance.

The Hallions are a high-energy Celtic rock band from Glengarry County, Ontario. Influenced by artists like Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, The Peelers, The Mahones and The Pogues, their music brings a fresh take on traditional Celtic music. In 2018, they released their debut EP featuring the hit single "Take Me Back" and have since opened for The Real McKenzies. The band is made up of Pat Miller on lead vocals and guitar, Alex Macmillan on guitar, banjo, and mandolin, Rachael Campbell on fiddle, Noel Campbell on bass, Stephen Blondin on drums, and Bob Pavlounis on guitar and banjo. Their dynamic live performances celebrate their heritage and love for music, leaving audiences dancing and inspired.

While firmly rooted in the fertile ground of Scottish traditional music, harpist Rachel Clemente and piper Dan Houghton’s gritty, avant-garde musical interpretations put them at the forefront of Celtic folk musicians in New England. They are both avid tunesmiths and their repertoire reflects this as it features many original compositions as well as traditional melodies.

John Young is a gifted and passionate singer who vacillates easily between his baritone and tenor range. His voice is just as warm and inviting as it is strong and deep. He is a staple performer with the Handel’s Messiah at the National Arts Centre and has graced the stage as a soloist and in a number of musical theatre productions. John Young first tasted haggis at Knox Church in 2001 when he moved from Edmonton to Ottawa. This proved to be something of a conversion experience, which ignited his interest in his heritage and a quiet fascination with Scottish traditions. As John is no stranger to challenges, he used the pandemic to go deeper and learn songs based on the poetry of Robert Burns and through this experience, life has opened a new door to share his love for singing. 

A Governor-General’s Gold medal winner from McGill University in 2002, Dr. James Wright is a Full Professor of Music at Carleton University. A prolific composer, he was named University of Toronto Louis Applebaum Distinguished Visiting Professor of Composition in 2019. His chamber art song cycle Letters to the Immortal Beloved has been performed on five continents, and recorded by the Gryphon Trio with soloists Julie Nesrallah and David John Pike. His recent String Quartet No. 1 was described by CBC Music as “one of the year's best discoveries” for 2022. All of his music reflects his lifelong passion for dance. Dr. Wright has also published a number of books and his forthcoming book on Music and Antifascism will be published in 2025 by Routledge Press. He is descended from the Clan Campbell of Argyll on his mother’s side, and Scottish music and culture have always been a source of pride and inspiration for him. 

John Young and James Wright are delighted to be collaborating again this year for two performances at the Glengarry Highland Games. 

Nolan Stoqua is a youth entertainer from Ingleside, Ontario. However his family is rooted firmly from Glengarry County.  

He has played guitar since he was seven and credits his teachers Marc Muir, Paddy Kelly, and Al Love for giving him opportunities to sing and perform celtic, folk, and country music.

Nolan recently joined the Glengarry School of Piping and Drumming and when not engaging in music, he can be found playing and refereeing hockey, shooting hoops, biking with friends, and blogging and podcasting about political affairs.

Paddy Kelly and Paddy Maher started out in 1999. Since then, they have become a popular duo in celtic music. Both musicians are versatile, both vocally and instrumentally.

The 2 Paddy’s bring a more traditional flavour to their Irish music which include tunes, ballads and some of the usual old Irish favourites. Certainly a duo to relax to and enjoy.

Paddy Kelly

Paddy Kelly plays fiddle and guitar, along with bodhran, long neck banjo and penny whistle on occasion. After growing up in Ottawa, his first professional group was the Descendants, (not related to the current Irish Descendants). In 1982, he joined a group called the Brigadoons, a Scottish group from Glengarry County and was with them full time until 1997, but continues to play with them on occasion today. He currently resides in Glengarry County, Ontario and continues to entertain crowds for all occasions.

Paddy has also had the privilege of being inducted into the Glengerry Celtic Music Hall of Fame in May of 2007.

Paddy Maher

Paddy Maher plays several instruments, which include guitar, bass and Irish bouzouki. He has played in a variety of groups – country to blues to rock – but always returns to his Irish roots. In the late 80’s and early 90’s he played as a member of the Ottawa based trio, Brandy N’Port and also currently plays with Bobby Watt and Ecosse.