Richard Wood
It has been a long awaited return for this Prince Edward Island (PEI) artiste but fiddler Richard Wood is BACK, having last performed at the Shetland Folk Festival back in 1997! Named by MacLean’s Magazine as one of the Top 100 Canadians to watch in the 21st Century, five-time ECMA and multi-Music PEI Award-winning Richard Wood has captivated sold-out audiences worldwide with his fiery brand of traditional Celtic music.
Richard Wood’s 30-year career includes touring with musical A-listers such as Shania Twain and The Chieftains, as well as performing at renowned venues like the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the prestigious Carnegie Hall. Wood has appeared on special televised events and programs including The Tonight Show and Good Morning America.
Richard has performed for quite a number of dignatories through the years - King Charles III, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, William and Kate (Prince and Princess of Wales), Prime Ministers, Senators, Governor Generals, and the Emperor of Japan. However, he is most proud to have entertained Canada’s Armed Forces in the North Pole, Bosnia, and twice in Afghanistan.
His 9th album, Unbroken, which was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award and won an ECMA award, was mastered by legendary multi-Grammy Award-winning Bob Ludwig from Gateway Studios in Portland, Maine.
In addition to winning numerous championships as both a step dancer and fiddler, Richard has earned the Don Messer Memorial Trophy—twice. He was also the recipient of the 2023 ECMA Stompin’ Tom Award.
Richard has just released his tenth album (and first live album), Richard Wood Live! An Evening of Celtic Music, which was recorded live at the last show of a record-breaking 15th season of Richard Wood’s Evening of Celtic Music series. The album features two of the musicians who will be travelling to Shetland with him - Brent Chaisson on guitar and percussion (who was last in Shetland with Troy MacGillivray in 2007) and Kimberley Holmes on piano, who previously performed at the Festival with the late, great and legendary Canadian Fiddler Graeme Townsend.
As one of Prince Edward Island’s most notable exports and a proud ambassador of his homeland, Richard has brought his energetic Celtic music to audiences around the globe, touring extensively across Australia, Europe, Asia, and North America. We are excited to have him back in Shetland!
