Blackthorn

Blackthorn
Est.1989 Vancouver, BC Canada

Biography

Blackthorn is a Celtic band that Michelle Carlisle
saw its first inception back in 1989 Vocals, flute, piccolo,
when a small group of expats pennywhistle, fife
found a common interest in a
music that wasn’t all that common Rosie Carver
in Vancouver at the time. Since Fiddle, vocals
then, the group has travelled a
long road through the streets of Tim Renaud
traditional and not-so-traditional Vocals, bass, bodhran,
Celtic music. octave-mandolin

Blackthorn features four talented
musicians, three of whom
share lead vocals offering a
refreshing variety of styles, and
between them all, play a wide
array of musical instruments.
The results of their collective
musical background, training and
experience are evidenced in their
entertaining performances.

Blackthorn’s extensive repertoire
celebrates the traditional music
of Scotland and Ireland as well as
folk music of English and French
Canada. This means that they are
not only in demand for Robbie
Burns and St. Patrick’s Day events but also concerts, festivals, Highland Games, ceilidhs and
private functions throughout the year.

Blackthorn can rip up a reel, bounce along with a jig, pull your heart strings with a mournful
ballad and have you singing along to a favourite old tune all in the course of a performance
and it is very apparent that they have fun and enjoy what they are doing.

“a leading light in the Celtic music scene in B.C. Michael Viens
– and beyond.” Vocals, guitars,
bodhran, harmonicas
— Rogue Folk Review
email: [email protected]
Contact Information Tel: 604.879.7958 web: www.blackthornband.com

Michael Viens
#611 - 4676 Yew Street
Vancouver, BC V6L 2J6

Blackthorn

Discography CD Reviews

2008 After an association with Vancouver’s Blackthorn that goes back many years now,
2003 I’m delighted to hear fresh material from their long anticipated sophomore release,
1996 ‘Singing The Travels’. They obviously spent the time well, crafting a knockout CD of
songs and instrumentals. I’m most impressed with the polish on the product. ‘Sailor
Boy’ is one of the most achingly beautiful songs I have heard by any artist. The
arrangement is breathtaking and Michelle Carlisle delivers the lyrical melancholy with
the voice of an angel.

—Cal Koat, Producer, Celt In A Twist

I’ve just listened to the entire performance and it’s great! It will be a pleasure to share
my enjoyment of Blackthorn’s music with the network audience.

—Max Ferguson, CBC Stereo

This one is a good listen, and helps prove how well the music travels from across the
Atlantic, and what good hands it’s in locally with the musicians inspired to keep it
going.

—David Ingram – Rogue Folk Review – Vol. 17 No. 4

Market Town - Just about the time I thought I’d had enough Celtic along come
these splendid stalwarts with this new package and away I get blown: by the tunes,
the playing, the fun and fire of the whole thing; saying nothing of the excellent
production (a lot of big labels don’t sound this good). It’s fresh and crisp and full of
charm and energy; rousing dances and lovely lilts.

—Jurgen Gothe, DiscDrive, CBC Stereo

[Market Town] is a completely self-produced album. All the artwork and all the
creative efforts in it are their own... and we’ll be hearing more of that in coming
weeks, I can guarantee you.

— Steve Edge, What the Folk, CFRO FM 102.7

What a treat! I like the sound of Blackthorn very much. Many thanks for the CDs
[Dark Island & Market Town]... They will go into our music library and I’ll notify the
other producers who use music in their programs...

— Margaret Isaacs, Weekender, CBC Stereo

1992

Guest Artists: Do Mo Chara Maith –
World champions, Simon Fraser
Blackthorn also appears as guest artists on the following: University Pipe Band’s 1994
recording features Blackthorn as
A Magical History Tour – guest artists.
Fort Langley National Historic Site’s
visitors orientation video features
the music of Blackthorn.

Blackthorn

Performance Reviews Past Highlights

The Christmas Wassail and Bonfire Night at the Dundarave Festival of Lights Northwest Washington State Fair,
wouldn’t be complete without your presence. Your high energy music keeps WA
bodies warm with clapping and toe tapping and your heart warming selection
of universally appealing music brings smiles to young and old. We feel that Bumbershoot Festival, WA
the spirit and joy that you bring to your music is what live music is all about. Northwest Folk Life Festival, WA
You interact with your audience and bring life to the community. You lit Portland Highland Games, OR
up the beach and the audience didn’t feel the weather on that cold, wet Pacific Northwest Highland Games,
December night.
WA
— Mary Markwick, Executive Director Irish House Pavillion, 2010 Olympics
Dundarave Festival of Lights Society BC Highland Games
Canmore Highland Games, AB
Thank-you for a fantastic show last week! Patrons and staff have been sharing Burns Cabaret,
nothing but glowing comments about how wonderful it was to have great
entertainment in our Glacier Lounge. Everyone loved it and thought you guys Evergreen Cultural Centre, BC
were great! We hope to work with you again! Burns Cabaret, Place des Arts, BC
Burns Night,
— Jennifer Shaver, Executive Manager, Marketing,
Cascades Casino Hotel and Convention Centre Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, BC
Vancouver’s First Night, BC
The Maritime Festival this year (2009) at Britannia Heritage Shipyard had the Maillardville’s 100th Anniversary
largest attendance to date, largely due to the fact that Blackthorn, a Vancouver
based celtic band headlined the Musical Expresions series on the Saturday Celebrations, BC
night. Their performance was magical, a highlight of the summer series. They Canadian International Dragon Boat
are amazingly talented musicians. Their voices blend together beautifully
and they moved the audience sometimes to tears. I also love their inbetween Festival, Vancouver, BC
song antics, it really brings the audience in, making them feel like they are a CelticFest Vancouver
part of the show. I had many emails after the show from fans of the Musical Richmond Maritime Festival,
Expressions series, telling me how much they loved Blackthorn.
Steveston, BC
— Cherelle Jardine, Producer, Musical Expressions Brigade Days,

Blackthorn is a great Celtic folk band offering feel-good sound. As I looked Fort Langley, BC
around our audience, people were smiling, singing along and paying rapt Tall Ships Festivals –
attention. That’s saying a lot for a Beer Garden audience – I had many
compliments on their performances from all types of people. Vocalist Michelle Steveston / Vancouver, BC
Carlisle epitomizes the Celtic voice, in a tone that rings clear and true Gung Haggis Fat Choy,
alongside Blackthorn’s traditional instrumentation. Rosie plays the fiddle like
your heartstrings, and the rest of the band are talented multi-instrumentalists. Vancouver, BC
No wonder their CD sales were brisk! I’d bring them back every year if I could! Enchanted Evening Concerts,

— Sally Garen, Entertainment Chair, Canmore Highland Games, 2009 Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens, BC
Kelowna Fringe Folk Club, BC
Thank you so much for participating in this year’s Sunday Coffee Concerts in Festival du Bois, Coquitlam, BC
Port Coquitlam. We’ve had excellent reviews from those in attendance; what Hornby Island Festival, BC
a top notch show! Your group was also punctual and professional – we are Island Folk Festival, Duncan, BC
pleased to have chosen Blackthorn for this event. Looking forward to working Filberg Festival, Comox, BC
with you again! Envision Twilight Concert Series,

— Zach Lundrie, Program Assistant, Fraser River Heritage Park, BC
Arts & Culture, Parks and Recreation, City of Port Coquitlam Festival d’hiver FRANCOFUN

Performing with professionalism and joie-de-vivre, Blackthorn always creates Prince George, BC
smiles and tapping feet. Their crowd-pleasing mix of Celtic, Quebecois and Dundarave Festival of Lights
folk music gives their shows an appeal that crosses cultures and generations.
Blackthorn’s shows in Harrison Hot Springs have ended with well-deserved West Vancouver, BC
standing ovations and encores. Hockey Day in Canada

— Phyllis Stenson, Executive Director, Harrison Festival Society Olympic Oval, Richmond, BC