Natalie MacMaster And Donnell Leahy Lead An All-Star Celebration Of Celtic Music’s Enduring Spirit, With Dazzling Performances From The Genre’s Most Electrifying Talents
SUMMARY
- UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy and The Celtic All Stars
- Sun, Mar 1 | 7 p.m. | UCSB Campbell Hall
- Canada’s Celtic superstars Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy and some of the world’s finest musicians explore Celtic traditions across nations, tracing the music’s vibrant global force to its ancient roots
- The Celtic All Stars lineup includes exceptional guests like vocalist Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, four-time All-Ireland Champion banjo player Enda Scahill, critically-acclaimed Scottish piper Ross Ainslie and the duo’s multi-talented daughter Mary Frances
- Don’t miss this night of fiery fiddling, electrifying energy and the heart and soul of Celtic music!
- $43 – $63 General Public / $15 UCSB students (Current student ID required) / $18 Youth
- Tickets & Info: www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu or (805) 893-3535
Santa Barbara, CA – UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy and The Celtic All Stars on Sunday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at UCSB Campbell Hall. In this unforgettable evening of music and celebration, Canada’s Celtic superstars Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy and some of the world’s finest musicians explore Celtic traditions across nations, tracing the music’s ancient roots to its vibrant global force. The Celtic All Stars lineup includes exceptional guests like vocalist Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, four-time All-Ireland Champion banjo player Enda Scahill, critically-acclaimed Scottish piper Ross Ainslie and the duo’s multi-talented daughter Mary Frances. Don’t miss this night of fiery fiddling, electrifying energy and the heart and soul of Celtic music!
ABOUT NATALIE MACMASTER
Natalie MacMaster is one of Canada’s most celebrated and charismatic performers, renowned for her fiery, virtuosic command of the Cape Breton fiddle. Born in Troy, Nova Scotia, in 1972, MacMaster was immersed in the rich Celtic musical tradition of Cape Breton Island, the homeland of her impressive musical lineage, which includes her late uncle, the legendary fiddler Buddy MacMaster. She began playing the fiddle at age nine and is also an accomplished step-dancer, a skill she frequently incorporates into her dynamic live performances.
MacMaster’s career took off with her first independent album at age 16, and her subsequent work has earned her international acclaim, multiple Juno Awards for Best Instrumental Album, a Grammy nomination, and numerous “Artist of the Year” honors. Her signature style is deeply rooted in the Scottish-influenced traditional music of Cape Breton, which she masterfully blends with contemporary elements like American bluegrass, jazz, Latin and rock, constantly expanding the boundaries of the genre.
Over her multi-decade career, MacMaster has performed on distinguished stages around the globe and collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including The Chieftains, Alison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma, Carlos Santana, and Luciano Pavarotti. For her contribution to Canadian culture, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2006, followed by her induction into the Order of Nova Scotia in 2020. Since marrying fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy in 2002, they have become one of Celtic music’s most captivating duos, often touring and recording together while raising their seven children.
ABOUT DONNELL LEAHY
Donnell Leahy has cemented his reputation as one of the world’s finest fiddlers and a peerless instrumentalist capable of synthesizing traditional influences with contemporary Celtic/folk sensibilities. Hailing from Lakefield, Ontario, and rooted in Irish and Cape Breton heritage, Leahy began playing the fiddle at the age of three and has spent his life mastering the instrument, which he has described as an “extension of his body.” He is known for his aggressive, quick-moving, and high-energy playing style.
For over 15 years, Leahy served as the principal fiddler and musical director for his family band, Leahy, which included eight of his eleven siblings. Under his leadership, the group achieved significant success, including three Juno Awards and the honor of opening for Shania Twain on her world tour. Donnell also contributed the distinct fiddle line to Twain’s hit “Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You).” The Leahy family’s musical journey was also the subject of an Academy Award-winning short film, Leahy: Music Most of All.
Since marrying Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster in 2002, Leahy has collaborated extensively with his wife, forming Canada’s “reigning couple of Celtic music.” As a duo, they combine their magnificent individual talents for an unforgettable experience, recording acclaimed albums, co-hosting the Leahy Music Camp, and touring the world, sometimes featuring their seven children on stage. Leahy’s self-taught mastery and unique Canadian style blend seamlessly with MacMaster’s Cape Breton roots, keeping both the tradition and the art of the fiddle vibrant and alive for a global audience.
ABOUT THE CELTIC ALL STARS
The ensemble features several renowned Celtic artists from various traditions, including Scottish vocalist Karen Matheson (lead singer of Capercaillie); Ireland’s four-time All-Ireland Champion banjoist Enda Scahill (known for the band We Banjo 3); Scottish piper and multi-instrumentalist Ross Ainslie; and master guitarist Tim Edey. The lineup also includes the next generation of the headliners’ musical legacy, with their daughter, Mary Frances Leahy, performing on fiddle and piano. This collective band provides an international exploration of Celtic music spanning Canadian, Scottish, and Irish influences.
