With the release of the new album Rove, Nova Scotia’s powerhouse Còig has cemented its status as one of today’s most exciting new North American Celtic groups. With a combined total of over 30 group and solo awards and nominations, the four members of the band are already recognized as major stars of the Celtic world. Rove is the group’s third album, after 2014’s award-winning Five, and 2015 seasonal favourite Carols.
Còig is like no other, thanks to the unique mix of four different talents. They all have traditional roots, but each brings something more. Fiddler Chrissy Crowley has touches of world and contemporary music. Pianist Jason Roach has a jazz degree, Darren McMullen (guitar, banjo, mandolin, etc.) has worked everywhere from Irish to rock groups, and fiddler Rachel Davis is the most Cape Breton trad, but with folk flavours as well.
The energy is off the scale, with audiences from New England theatres to European festivals “hootin’ and hollerin’ and clappin’ and stompin’ and goin’ on,” according to McMullen. They’re also falling for the group’s vocal numbers, including Rove’s stand-out, a Celticized version of Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill.”
The best in trad music, in a non-traditional way. That’s Còig.