Irish Millie

Bio

 My Story

At 3, I first heard Natalie MacMaster and begged my parents for a fiddle. By 6, I had my first one, kicking off my journey as a first-generation fiddle player. Now, at 18, I’m studying Music Industry and Technology at the University of Toronto.

During the 2020 lockdown, my dad, Murray, and I recorded our debut album, Thirteen,, which earned me a 2022 Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Young Performer of the Year. My band, The Receivers, and I were nominated again in 2023, and I earned a third nomination in 2024 for my EP,

The Trilogy.

This year, my newest album, GRACE has been nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards: Young Performer of the Year and the Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award, which celebrates an artist who is taking creative risks to create folk-based music that is innovative, original and imaginative. I’m thrilled to share this exciting chapter with my listeners. I’m incredibly proud of the song So Gone, a tribute to my dear friend Pius MacIsaac, featured as the third track on GRACE.

In 2024, my band toured Vermont, I hit Vancouver Island, and I capped the summer with a dream performance on PEI’s Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival—sea to sea, baby!

You can purchase GRACE on Bandcamp, email me if you would like to purchase a CD, or listen on Spotify, or Apple Music.

The Music

You know what I love most about fiddle music? Each person hears something different, and we celebrate it for that very reason. Each tune I play tells a story (mostly from the person who shared it with me) but when I retell it, I get to make it my own, and share a bit of my heart with every note I play.

Although I love all fiddle music, I am passionate about the East Coast, Bluegrass and Contemporary Trad styles. I love to play fast-paced, fun, and challenging tunes that get the crowd up on their feet. I listen to what I love and that's how I've learned to play. I also love to write my own music as you can tell from GRACE, which is made up of all my own tunes. I have been playing with my dad in accompaniment for almost my whole life. Recently we have been collaborating with our band The Receivers. Together we have released four tunes, all written and preformed by us! We even recorded a video for our third tune, OMM. Although it has been a very busy year, I continue to do several fundraising concerts. I also play at weddings, parties, pubs and love to jam with other bands.

Giving Back

When I was wee, I really wanted to go to a local music camp, but my family couldn't afford to send me. Someone who I didn't even know, offered to help. That was a huge gesture that I'll never forget. Soon after, I started busking every Saturday at my local farmers' market so that I could not only pay for camp, but also give back to this community that showed me such kindness. I learned that even though I am young, I can use my gift of music to help others in real and meaningful ways.

The past few years I have focused my fundraising efforts on the Terry Fox Foundation, a cause that is near and dear to my heart. I recently wrote a tune for Terry Fox called "If I Don't Make It". The proceeds from the tune and the accompanying video all go to my annual Fiddling For Fox campaign.

Beyond music, I’m dedicated to helping my community. In 2023, I received the Peterborough Civic Award for Community Betterment.

#shareyourgifts

"When you have a gift (and everyone has one) it's important to use that gift to help others. People think you need money to better the world, but really you just need to share your gifts."

~ Irish Millie, Age 12