J.P. Cormier and The Elliot Brothers

J.P. Cormier and The Elliot Brothers

Hailing from Cape Breton J.P. Cormier is a first class bluegrass/Folk/Celtic singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, sideman, innovator, recording artist and multi award winner.

This amazing individual has been bringing his dazzling compositions and finger work to many theatres and festivals across North America and overseas for the past 25 years. This includes two former appearances at the Shetland Folk Festival (in 1997 and 2004) and we are delighted to welcome him back once more, this time accompanied by the fantastic Elliott Brothers.

J.P began playing guitar, self taught, at the age of 5 and quickly become immersed in the rich musical heritage of his Cape Breton roots. He moved to the U.S for 10 years and performed many memorable nights at the Grand Ole Opry with such notable artists as Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Charlier Louvin and Vince Gill. Since his return to Canada over a decade ago, Cormier has released eleven award-winning recordings. His impressive body of work has earned him a vast and loyal fan base and multiple award nominations and wins, including 12 East Coast Music Awards, Canadian Folk Music Award, 5 Music Nova Scotia Awards, Juno nominations as well as commendations from the Governor General of Canada and Premier of Nova Scotia. Fans of the writing traditions of Stan Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot tend to equate the name J.P. Cormier with "songwriter", even before multi-instrumentalist. As a performer, J.P. is known for his flawless delivery of original 'story songs', most often basing his lyrics on true events.

Joining JP on this trip across the Atlantic are the Elliot brothers who are 40-year veterans of the Canadian music scene and two of the finest sidemen to ever take the stage. JP Cormier has always surrounded himself with top-shelf musicians and in performing with these brothers since 2009, has taken his music to a new and exciting level. The Elliotts have been travelling and playing East Coast Swing music since before they could shave and have been on the leading edge of the Atlantic Canadian bluegrass scene playing with their father, the legendary Carl Elliott. With Mike on bass and Bill on guitars, both are also multi-provincial fiddle champions. Between them they also play guitar, bass, mandolin, five-string banjo and piano and are an engaging cornucopia of hot club talent. As musical brothers to JP Cormier and his renowned skills for all things stringed, this partnership is simply electrifying and magical – as witnessed by Shetland Folk Festival organisers at Celtic Colours in 2011. They have just recorded their first album with a release date set for early summer 2012. Welcome back JP!