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"SMALL OF MY HEART" Songwriters Circle is a concert series that will be touring the East Coast of Canada in the spring of 2024, celebrating our award-winning women and gender diverse artists and musician.
Our "in-the-round' series creates a memorable fan experience of incredible songwriting, harmonies, musicianship and storytelling of real, resilient and unique journeys, including some fun and horrifying road experiences and stories that helped create their celebrated music. Each show and evening will include three award-winning and headlining singer-songwriters who will share their well crafted songs and stories, making you feel like you were sitting alongside them in your own living room. There will be loads of laughs and likely a few tears as well.
No night will be the same. That is the beauty of our unique concert series
APRIL 6TH, 2024
Lunenburg Opera House
290 Lincoln St, Lunenburg, NS
Show: 7:30pm
FEATURING
Erin Costelo
Catherine MacLellan
Lisa MacIsaac
Kristen Martell
APRIL 21ST, 2024
First United Church
711 Prince Street, Truro, NS
Show: 7:00pm
FEATURING
Erin Costelo
Heather Rankin
Lisa MacIsaac
MAY 24TH, 2024
Astor Theatre
219 Main St, Liverpool, NS
Show: 7:30pm
FEATURING
Heather Rankin
Irish Mythen
Lisa MacIsaac
MAY 25TH, 2024
The Stage at St. Andrews
6036 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS
Show: 7:30pm
FEATURING
Heather Rankin
Irish Mythen
Lisa MacIsaac
Kellie Loder
MAY 26TH, 2024
Civic Centre
606 Reeves Street, Port Hawkesbury, NS
Show: 7:30pm
FEATURING
Kellie Loder
Lisa MacIsaac
Heather Rankin
THE ARTISTS
CATHERINE MACLELLAN
Catherine MacLellan has been captivating audiences around the world with her music for over two decades. Born and raised in the idyllic province of Prince Edward Island, Catherine's songs reflect her deep connection to the land and the people that call it home. Her passion for songwriting runs in the family; her father, Gene MacLellan, wrote beloved hits like "Snowbird" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand." While Catherine's music is rooted in folk and roots, her sound has evolved to embrace a wider range of influences over the course of her 7 albums. From heart-wrenching ballads to uplifting anthems, her music has a universal appeal that speaks to the struggles, triumphs, and joys of life.
In addition to her musical pursuits, Catherine has also dedicated herself to shining a light on her father's legacy, producing an award-winning documentary and stage show that explore his life and struggles with mental health.
ERIN COSTELO
"With songs that sound like they were written by your heroes", Erin Costelo has been compared to Carole King, Laura Nyro, and Nina Simone and has had the opportunity to open for legends like Mavis Staples, Dr. John and Boz Scaggs and has performed with Amy Helm and Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble Band as well as Blue Rodeo, Matt Andersen and Joel Plaskett. However, Costelo is unquestionably herself, a singular artist, unfettered by trend. As a producer, arranger and mix engineer, she continues to work with artists across Canada and the rest of the world, collaborating on music of varying genres from Pop to Country and Jazz and Hip Hop.
HEATHER RANKIN
Heather Rankin is a singer, songwriter, actor, and member of the 6X JUNO Award winning band “The Rankin Family”. As a solo artist she has released two multi-ECMA nominated albums, A Fine Line and Imagine. She has taken her solo show to venues across the country, including headlining the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, hosting Songwriters’ Circles at ECMA Week and the Nova Scotia SummerFest, and performing with the Cape Breton Orchestra at Celtic Colours, with Symphony NS, and the Calgary Philharmonic. In 2018 she teamed up with Nova Scotian powerhouses Bette MacDonald, Lucy MacNeil, and Jenn Sheppard to create Island Girls: two unique comedic and musical salutes to Cape Breton which have played to sold-out crowds throughout the last three years. In 2017 Heather was named a Canada 150 Ambassador and she took part in the Canada C3 Expedition on Leg 2 between Montréal and Baie Comeau, where she co-wrote the song “River of Nations” with Alex Cuba and Andrea Menard. She has recorded and performed with many artists including The Chieftains, Johnny Reid, and Carly Simon.
IRISH MYTHEN
Irish Mythen was born in Ireland and now resides in Charlottetown Prince Edward Island Canada. "This Island creates music and musicians, art and artists. I found a shift to take things more seriously when I moved here." And she did just that.Her latest release, Little Bones, gained her recognition around the globe, including a 2020 JUNO nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, seven Music PEI 2020 nominations and two wins — Touring Artist of the Year and Roots Contemporary Recording of the Year, and a Canadian Folk Music Nomination for Solo Artist of the Year. Her previous self-titled album, Irish Mythen, garnered awards and nominations from Music PEI, East Coast Music Association, Folk Alliance International and SOCAN. Write-ups in Australian Guitar Magazine, Rollingstone and a plethora of other print and online media world wide have helped plant Irish firmly on the map of Must-See Artists. Irish's live performances are a thing of raw power, emotion and a connection with her audience that just has to be seen to be believed.
KELLIE LODER
Described as, “a multi-genre marvel” by Hidden-Beats, Kellie’s musical journey began on the shores of Newfoundland & Labrador, lending to their unmatched songwriting prowess, and distinctive blend of folk, Americana and indie pop influences. Loder’s signature sound coupled with their magnetic stage presence has earned them notable accolades including, “Songwriter of the Year”, and “Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year” at the 2023 East Coast Music Awards, placing first-runner-up on Canada’s Got Talent (2022), and co-writing with household names such as Alan Doyle, Steven Page, The Good Lovelies, and Grammy award-winning musician and producer, Greg Wells to name a few. Loder’s empowering anthem, “Fearless” was used as the soundtrack behind the CBC’s Tokyo Olympics coverage and in the Superpower Dogs IMAX Trailer narrated by Chris Evans (Captain America/Avengers). Their groundbreaking video and compelling song “Molded Like A Monster” was recognized with the 2021 ECMA Video of the Year Award and the Music NL Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Award.
LISA MACISAAC
Lisa is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist who originally hails from Cape Breton, NS. She began her on stage career at the age of 10, followed by years of playing traditional Scottish fiddle, joining a multitude of folk artists on tour as a side musician and vocalist. In 1999, the highly acclaimed, JUNO & ECMA nominated, Canadian Folk Award and John Lennon Songwriting Grand Prize award winning duo, “Madison Violet”, was formed with her bandmate, Brenley MacEachern. The duo has toured relentlessly across the globe for over 20 years, gaining lifelong fans along the way, with their stunning harmonies, incredible musicianship and heartfelt lyrics. Lisa was nominated (along with her bandmate, Brenley) for “Producer(s) of the Year”, “Contemporary Album of the Year” and “Single of the Year” at the 2023 “Canadian Folk Music Awards”. 2023 ECMA nominations for "Madison Violet" included “TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year”, "Folk Recording of the Year”, “Songwriter of the Year”, and “Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year”.
OUR MISSION
Banshee Events Co is a not-for-profit created by Lisa MacIsaac (of JUNO nominated Madison Violet) and tech entrepreneur, Jamie Whitty. Our motivation and vision is to empower women and non-binary artists and to create equality within all aspects of the Canadian music industry. We’re collaborating and bringing together the industry’s best, to generate momentum, and taking action to create real change!