The McDades

The Empress

Alberta-based trio The McDades have received so many awards and accolades since their inception in 2000 that they must be a wee embarrassed at this point (how typically Canadian, eh?) The Washington Post even called them “the Dizzy Gillespie of the tin whistle.” Though perhaps a bit extreme, the reviewer wasn't that far off. On their new album, The Empress, The McDades again incorporate such an amazing array of instruments and styles that the music is simply beyond proper description. Woven through the tapestry of the engaging 11-song mosaic, however, is a Celtic thread of traditional melody that firmly cements their legacy as contemporary carriers of classic customs. Vocalist (and violinist) Shannon Johnson just might be one of the finest singers in the genre today. ~ SPC