69th Annual Miramichi Folksong Festival

Melissa Barry is a classically trained violinist who holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Violin from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Education from Crandall University. Her career spans performance, recording, and collaborative work across a wide range of musical styles, including classical, country, Celtic/Irish, Christian, and folk music. She has toured extensively across Canada with various ensembles and has performed at the Canadian Country Music Awards. As a recording artist, Melissa Barry has contributed fiddle performances to albums by well known Canadian artists such as Charlie Major, Michelle Wright, and Jason Blaine, among others. In addition to her live and studio work, she has appeared in national media, most notably as a featured fiddler during the semi finals of The Amazing Race Canada, filmed in Miramichi. She is currently active in several musical projects, including The Mels, a duo with Melanie Ross; The Miramichi Kitchen Party, a trio dedicated to promoting Miramichi tourism and culture; and as the fiddler for the Irish Doyle Dancers.

Mike Bravener began is career as a professional entertainer in 2003 at the age of 42.  Prior to that he was a full time clergyman. He won many awards as a professional Elvis Tribute Artist and was selected by Elvis Presley Enterprises as one of their top 20 artists in the world.  Mike has worked with Hall Of Fame Drummer and Elvis’ drummer from 1955-1968 D.J. Fontana. Mike has released 4 albums and in 2019 was awarded a grant from MNB to record an album of Traditional Miramichi and New Brunswick Folk music from the 19th century. The first two albums, “Depends Upon The Pay” and “Have You Ever Heard The Story” have earned Mike a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for “Best Traditional Singer”. In 2024 Volume 3 of Traditional Miramichi and New Brunswick folk songs was released. “The Plain Golden Band” was produced by Alan Jeffries and features Ray Legere and Julie Robinson joining Alan and Mike on 12 incredible NB folksongs. All three albums were featured weekly on CBC Information Morning. Mike is also a published author! His children’s book “The Lumberjack’s Alphabet” is available all across Canada wherever new books are sold and there is a brand new recording of the song available for readers to listen to and learn the song.

Craig Caldwell has been a piper for over 5 decades. From playing in pipe bands to competing solo at highland games across Ontario and the Maritimes, he has always enjoyed the music for the great highland bagpipe. He has had the honour of playing on Juno beach for both the 75th and 80th anniversaries of the D-Day landings in France as well as being a “Menin Gate Piper”, playing at the daily commemoration service at the Menin Gate in Ypres in Belgium.

You may have heard Craig playing in our local community at all of the high school graduations for MVHS, JMH and NSER. Playing in Saint Michael’s Basilica has been a highlight for him during past graduation ceremonies. He is extremely proud of his Scottish heritage and the music that is associated with it.

Shayan Faal is an Iranian-Miramichier musician, community connector, and podcaster based in Miramichi, New Brunswick. Originally from Iran, he brings the rich traditions of Persian culture to Atlantic Canada through music, including performances with the traditional Persian instrument, the Dotar. Shayan is the host of “The Very Best” podcast and serves on several community boards while leading the Persian Association of New Brunswick. Through music, storytelling, and community work, he builds bridges between cultures and celebrates the power of shared human experiences.

Steve Heckbert is a Miramichi native who lives in Calgary these days and comes home every summer. He learned several of the old woodsmen’s songs from Festival giants like Wilmot MacDonald and Perlay Hare, and sings at the Festival at every opportunity!

Originally from northeastern New Brunswick, Roger Lanteigne grew up in an Acadian family where music was part of everyday life, thanks to his mother. He fell in love with music at the age of six and dreamed of playing the violin, but destiny led him down a different path: he became an accordion player. This twist of fate shaped his unique playing style, inspired by the violin tunes he learned by ear.

Although his performances have earned him many honors and distinctions, Roger remains genuinely grateful for everything his talent has brought into his life. Above all, his greatest pride is bringing joy and energy to his audience—especially when he sees them tapping their feet to the rhythm of his music.

The Miramichi Fiddles formed in July 1992, with Hudson Scott as first lead fiddler, until lead was passed to Matilda Murdoch in Aug 1992. Matilda took lead fiddle until Dec 1995, when she then passed lead fiddle on to Norm Young. Norm remains lead fiddle for the group to this day, and accompanying lead, Bob Morrison.

Since the beginning, the first, the Miramichi Fiddlers continue to meet every Wednesday evening 6 PM, at the Seaman’s Hospital in Douglastown, where they practice, preserve, and promote , and keep the tradition , of Old time Down East Fiddle music alive, while also remaining committed to be an active support of our community, and surrounding area, bringing joy to so many. You can also follow us on our web page.

Shayla’s Gaelic name means ‘fairy palace’ and Morag means ‘great and sun,’ which speaks to her love of imagination, the forest, and the sky.

An avid nature and animal lover, Shayla lives in Nova Scotia and is a lyrical folk-pop indie singer-songwriter who has a background as a sociologist and certified life coach. It was a goal to wrap up her ‘In the Forest’ trilogy with her 3rd album ‘Opal Sky’ by her birthday in October 2024. A car crash experience was the catalyst, and her inspiration came from her journey as a single mom. “While in the smashed car, the voice in my head kept quoting Wayne Dyer, “Don’t die with your music still in you.”

Shayla Morag has previously released two albums, Private Diary (2000), and Secret Castle (2008). A New Brunswick native, Shayla’s music has been previously featured on CBC Radio Atlantic Airwaves (Radio One) and has received critical acclaim in an array of print media. In her earlier albums, her purest approach of mixing voice and piano has been tagged as having Elton John and Paul Simon as influences. She has been referenced as having a similar vocal quality to Tori Amos, Joan Baez, and Merril Bainbridge, with a similar entertainment style to Carole King and Joni Mitchell.

Shayla started taking piano lessons at the age of 5 and taught piano in her studio for many years. She recorded some of her original compositions back in the late 1980s and took vocal training from Patricia Lee at Mount Allison University, and Diane Oxner (Sarah McLachlan’s former vocal teacher) at the Maritime Conservatory of Music in Halifax.

Shayla has been featured on the ‘Euro Indie Music Chart’ and is on the 2025 ‘East Coast Top 30 Hall of Fame’ for her song ‘House of Summer.’ An interview by Mark Robins via ‘Halifax Presents’ published on November 29, 2024 shares more about her story (please click on article title). Opal Sky is available on all streaming platforms. Shayla is a proud member of Music Nova Scotia.

For inquiries or bookings, contact shaylamoragmusic@gmail.com. Instagram: @shaylamoragmusic

The Nelson-Doyle Dancers is a non-profit group of young people, aged 4 to adult, learning traditional Irish dance, music, language and history under the direction of volunteer instructor Ellen Doyle (Eilidh Ni Dhubhghaill). The group is over 20 years old!