Alasdair Fraser

Alasdair Fraser, one of the most respected Scottish fiddlers, has a concert and recording career that spans over 30 years, with a long list of awards, honors, radio and television credits, and performances on the best film soundtracks (The Last of the Mohicans, Titanic, etc.).

In 2011, he was made member of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Through the four summer programs that Alasdair founded at the Scottish Violin School, he teaches master classes and workshops for performers of all ages, levels and instruments, with an emphasis on the linguistic nature and rhythmic momentum of traditional music. Several different themes are available, including: finding your own voice on your instrument, learning to groove, playing together, arrangement, creativity and improvisation, and working with small chamber orchestras. The emphasis is on inclusion and creating community through music creation. He knows how to create a place of learning where teaching is done by ear.

Jean-Marie Verret

Many Quebecers born before the Quiet Revolution remember Saturday evening vigils punctuated by the sounds of the violin and the accordion. Privileged witnesses of this era anchored in popular imagery, four generations of the Verrets from Lac-Saint-Charles have perpetuated a musical repertoire bearing lots of tradition.

In 1952, Jean-Marie Verret, at the age of seven, listened to his grandfather Jean-Baptiste (1894-1955) and his father Jules (1916-1982), each adding a folkloric atmosphere to many evenings. He takes taste for this music transmitted orally from generation to generation, without any notes or partitions. Today, Jean-Marie is the guardian of an important repertoire of pieces from our Quebec heritage, many of them having never been recorded or transcribed.

Jean-Marie inherited this musical background. He estimates he knows some 2000 pieces, also drawing to other sources and creating his own compositions.

A virtuoso violinist and talented composer, many see him as the most Quebecois of our fiddlers. His musical repertoire is extensive and highlights the quadrille tunes of the 19th and early of the 20th century.

Michael Jerome Browne

Michael Jerome Browne, named Traditional Singer of the Year (2015) and Solo Artist of the Year (2012 and 2008) at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, winner of the “Blues With A Feeling” award at the 2020 Maple Blues Awards (and nominated 35 times since 1999), has been a five-time Juno Award nominee (in two categories: Roots/Traditional and Blues), and a finalist in the “New Folk” category at the Kerrville Festival (Texas-2012). Michael is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and performer—a living encyclopedia of American Roots music.

Whether he’s playing slide guitar on his resonator, creating intense moods on his 12-string with tremolo, or delivering clawhammer banjo tunes or Cajun melodies on his violin, Michael’s passion and virtuosity are always evident. In the true folk tradition, his performances inspire us and reveal the connections between cultures and influences that have shaped American Roots music. Blues, Gospel, Old-Time, Country, Soul, and Cajun—when it comes to Michael, you can expect all these styles and more.

Born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1960, Michael is the son of English teachers who were passionate about poetry and music. They took him to clubs in Montreal from the age of nine, where he could discover jazz, blues, and folk. Today, MJB tours globally, gracing the stages of major festivals in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States.

Zigue

Since 1992, Claude Méthé and Dana Whittle have been playing, composing, and sharing everything in music. Both are singers and prolific songwriters overflowing with creativity and love for the style of music they create together, primarily inspired by the traditional roots of Quebec. Zigue is an amalgamation, a fusion of simple and complementary elements drawn from the contemporary landscape of their imagination. Here, Claude’s heartfelt and authentic violin playing is supported with rare precision by Dana’s rhythmically assured guitar accompaniment, which also carries, delicately, her powerful voice. The addition of their son, Aimé Méthé, in 2019 perfectly illustrates their commitment to preserving musical heritage and brings new intensity to their sound. By the end of 2022, a fourth member with multiple talents, Mario St-Germain, joined their ranks, further enriching their deeply rooted sound. On stage, magic happens—an energy that can only be found within the “family”—meaning the great family of tradition!

É.T.É

É.T.É is a Quebecois trio of musicians formed in 2015. The group consists of Élisabeth Moquin (violin, percussive dance, vocals), Thierry Clouette (bouzouki, guitar, foot percussion, vocals), and Élisabeth Giroux (cello, vocals). Their music offers a modern and dynamic take on Quebec’s traditional music, with bold and refined arrangements.

Each member of É.T.É brings diverse influences, ranging from folk to jazz, progressive rock, and classical music. Their repertoire primarily features traditional Quebecois tunes, but they infuse their own personal touch by creating original compositions and incorporating step dancing into their performances.

Following the release of their debut album, “Le boire des minuits” in 2017, É.T.É was named Discovery of the Year at the Gala des Prix OPUS by the Quebec Music Council. They also received the Lynda-Lemay Award, recognizing outstanding artists noticed by the international delegation at the Festival international de la chanson de Granby. Since then, the group has continued to shine with numerous concerts across Quebec, Canada, and abroad, including appearances at Celtic Connections in the UK and events in Australia.

Their latest album, “Sur ces eaux”, released in November 2022, promises to further captivate audiences worldwide. É.T.É. continues to enchant listeners of all ages with their unique and mesmerizing music.

Liette Remon

Violinist and singer Liette Remon has created shows and founded different bands that draw their inspiration from tradition (Fanfare Monfarleau, Bobelo, Talencourt, Histoires de femmes à l'oeuvre, Les Passeurs d'airs). She also participates in various world music projects with the Strada company. In 2021, she received the title of Master of Living Traditions awarded by the Conseil québécois du patrimoine vivant.

“I learned the violin with my father Réginald who had learned it from his turlute-signing mother and his Bernatchez grandparents from the Rang des 28 in Grande-Rivière, Gaspésie. On my mother's side, at the Leblanc family home in St-François-de-Pabos, between Chandler and Grande Rivière, my grandfather Diogenes and his 15 children all sang and played an instrument: organ, piano, violin, accordion and harmonica. It is not a professional path, but it is the exceptional region from which I come and which determined my passion for music."

Young Tradition Vermont

Partnership between Young Tradition Vermont and the Sutton Fiddle Festival 2024

Young Tradition Vermont, a program of the Vermont Folklife organization, is pleased to continue its partnership with the Sutton Fiddle Festival over the years. Young Tradition Vermont appreciates this opportunity to have young musicians from Vermont participate in the festival, allowing their budding artists an immersive experience in authentic Quebecois traditional music. In August 2024, four of their talented young musicians will join the festival to take part in workshops and perform what they’ve learned alongside two leading Quebecois traditional artists: Pascal Gemme and Véronique Plasse.

Cécilia

Cécilia is traditional music that creates a sensation and fills every room! Widely recognized as three of Canada’s finest musicians, it’s a delight to witness how much Timi Turmel, Erin Leahy, and Louis Schryer enjoy playing together. While honoring their legacy as Cécilia, their music undeniably has a fresh and lively sound. They blend the best of various musical worlds in their explorations of traditional, Celtic, and Quebecois music. Each of their pieces is skillfully arranged and enhanced by influences from contemporary, classical, jazz, and swing styles. Cécilia’s recent debut album, Accent, is an impressive offering full of vibrant rhythms and melodies, all resonating with a unique warmth and expressive richness. Every Cécilia performance is an invitation to come out and share—not only the joy of three dedicated musicians making music together but also the creation, with Timi, Erin, and Louis, of a distinct and memorable musical experience. You’ll find yourself smiling long after the last notes of Cécilia’s accordion, piano, and violin have faded away.

Gangspil

Gangspil will take you on an entertaining and diverse journey through the traditions of Danish folk music. These spirited musicians perform old dance tunes and songs from all corners of their Scandinavian homeland. From rural islands like Læsø to the metropolis of Copenhagen, and even some of their own compositions, expect everything—from wild polkas and jigs to lyrical waltzes, fiery reels, and joyful hopsas. Not to be forgotten are the exotic dance tunes of “Sønderhoning” from the famous island of Fanø, along with long-forgotten songs from across the country. An unforgettable live experience infused with humor and stories from their many years on the road. They have shared stages with some of the most exciting and well-known folk musicians in the Danish and Nordic scene.

Gérard Morin

Gérard Morin immersed himself in the world of family gatherings on the road of Côte Georges in St-Henri-de-Mascouche. His studies in Professional Teaching did not steer him away from his passion for calling in traditional dance, just like his father. From 1992 to 2003, he served as the president of AQLF Richelieu-Yamaska in Granby. Additionally, he was a caller for the Danseurs et Musiciens de l’Île Jésus in Laval from 2001 to 2016. Gérard held the position of secretary at the SPDTQ in Montreal from 2001 to 2007. He played the role of host at Plateau gatherings and taught calling at the École des Arts de la Veillée. Currently, he is a caller for the P’tites Veillées de Terrebonne and participates in calling workshops throughout Quebec.