The music of Mairi Rankin and Eric Wright is like a conversation between two good friends. From the northeast of both Canada and the USA, the union of Mairi's Cape Breton fiddling with Eric's Old Time cello brings together two virtuosic musicians, each bringing a respect and a reverence for their traditions, but with the command and creativity to blend their styles.
Mairi Rankin is a fiddler and step dancer who has been influenced by some of the best Cape Breton traditional musicians and instructors on the island. She has developed her own unique style by being immersed in this rich musical culture, pulling from her native Cape Breton and her strong Scottish roots from North Uist. Màiri has toured nationally and internationally as a member of both the Cape Breton super group Beòlach and the highly acclaimed pan-Celtic group, The Outside Track.
Eric Wright is a very unique cellist. Raised on pure Vermont air and inspired by his love for American Old Time and Irish music, he sets out to incorporate cello into new and traditional music in ways that haven't been done before. Taking his innovative bowing techniques, chording styles, and 'the chop', to new levels, Eric has become a highly sought-after performer, accompanist, producer, session musician, and arranger for all types of folk styles. Eric has performed and recorded with numerous bands including Ruth Moody, Trey Anastasio, Natalie MacMaster, The Fretless, John Reischman, and many others.
Winners of the 2019 Canadian Folk Music Awards Instrumental Group of the Year, Mairi and Eric make a unique sound that is lush, powerful, and rooted in groove - exchanging rhythmic and melodic roles with a call and answer feel.