Shane Pendergast and Mia Kelly
Sunday December 10, 2:00pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald's Corners
Shane Pendergast is a folksinger from Tracadie Cross, Prince Edward Island. He learned to play by ear at an early age, immersed in a culture of family kitchen parties. In 2021 he released his second album, “Second Wind” which won Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the Music PEI Awards.
Music Reviews
“Shane Pendergast performed his one-man finger-picking ‘dark humoured’ (as stated by Pendergast himself) set. There’s nothing quite like clever lyricism and a varied, tuned baked dish served up hot and very much welcomed. There’s a lot to be said by a musician without the clothed pizzazz or jewels of a try-hard. Pendergast is beautifully understated; allowing the music to speak for itself. The ‘Fiddle Playin’ Girl’ singer is the epitome of a folklore torch bearer. You can almost hear the waves crashing in the background.”
-Rock 'N' Load
“Shane Pendergast is keeping the Island folk music tradition alive, crafting sophisticated music and poetry that takes listeners back in time on an era-spanning journey.”
-The Buzz
“Pendergast, at first would seem to be the kind of person Lomax would steal from, but how he crafts his songs, both in a folk tradition, at an oblique angle to those caught, reworks questions of who is catching, and who is being caught.”
-Parton & Pearl
“Great songwriter out of Canada with a really fascinating take on Canadian traditions.” -Folk Alley
Mia Kelly is a singer-songwriter from Gatineau, Quebec who writes and performs in both French and English. Mia enthralls listeners with a distinctive blend of Folk, Rock, and Blues and is making her mark in the Canadian folk music scene at the age of 19. Backed by her performance on guitar or piano and accompanied by foot percussion, Kelly’s foot-stomping sing-a-longs are anchored by her powerful voice that emanates with raw emotion. Her infectious energy captivates you as she shares her heartfelt stories & banter.
Swiftly gaining recognition as a poetic lyricist with a powerful and versatile voice, Mia is a born performer who radiates confidence on stage. With her knack for adapting the stories of the people she has connected with in her life, Mia is an imaginative storyteller who channels her raw and vulnerable emotions through her expertly crafted songs.
In August of 2022, Kelly released her first album “Garden Through the War”. Produced and mixed at Fixed Hinge Studio by Ottawa’s Jim Bryson (Kathleen Edwards, The Tragically Hip) and mastered by Grammy-nominated Phillip Shaw Bova, the record demonstrates maturity in Kelly’s songwriting. Exploring themes of resilience and growth that follow hardship, the album has already received recognition from the SOCAN foundation.
Mia has had the privilege of playing many incredible folk stages throughout Canada and the United States including RBC Bluesfest, Summerfolk Festival, Festival des Montgolfières de Gatineau, Blue Skies Festival and Club Passim. In 2022, Kelly was awarded Emerging Artist by Culture Outaouais and was named by the Ottawa Citizen as one of the city’s top artists to watch in 2020.
“Mia sings a melody with power and confidence. Within seconds her voice and presence had the audience transfixed. This young lady is someone to watch!”- Off the grid productions
" It was a joy to share the show with Ontario's own Mia Kelly and get to hear her exquisite music for the first time "-Allison Russel, Birds Of Chicago
"Her powerful vocals transcend her young years and she has an impressive natural confidence that is rarely seen. Mia is without a doubt one of Ottawa's most promising emerging artists."-Kelly Symes, Bluesfest
"...she’s one heck of a powerhouse vocalist with a terrific collection of songs."-Roots Music Canada
"She’s a ball of energy and her voice and writing will take her far." - Arthur McGregor, Upper Canada Folk Festival