Irish Millie

Bio

 My Story

At the age of 3, I heard Natalie MacMaster play for the first time and started begging my parents to let me play the fiddle. At the age of 6 I got my first fiddle, and that is how my story began as a first-generation fiddle player. Now I'm a 17 year old, grade 12 student at Lakefield College School. In 2020, while the world was in lock-down, my dad Murray and I recorded our first album, Thirteen. This project brought me a 2022 Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Young Performer of the Year. Together with my band The Receivers, I was nominated for the same award in 2023 and just announced in 2024 for my EP The Trilogy. In addition to going to the award show together in Vancouver, the band and I were lucky to be invited to tour Vermont this past March. In the summer of 2022 I was extremely excited to go on my first overseas tour in Denmark and had a blast touring the east coast of Canada for the month of July 2023. I will be sharing many more exciting adventures with you but for now the best news is that Murray and I are putting the final touches on our second album to be released in the spring! To tide you over until then, please listen to my most recent single Ghosts, available now on all streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

The Music

You know what I love most about fiddle music? Each person hears something different, and we celebrate it for that very reason. Each tune I play tells a story (mostly from the person who shared it with me) but when I retell it, I get to make it my own, and share a bit of my heart with every note I play.

Although I love all fiddle music, I am passionate about the East Coast, Bluegrass and Contemporary Trad styles. I love to play fast-paced, fun, and challenging tunes that get the crowd up on their feet. I listen to what I love and that's how I've learned to play. I also love to write my own music. I have been playing with my dad in accompaniment for almost my whole life. Recently we have been collaborating with our band The Receivers. Together we have released four tunes, all written and preformed by us! We even recorded a video for our third tune, OMM. Although it has been a very busy year, I continue to do several fundraising concerts. I also play at weddings, parties, pubs and love to jam with other bands.

Giving Back

A few years ago I really wanted to go to a local music camp, but my family couldn't afford to send me. Someone who I didn't even know, offered to help. That was something I'll never forget. Soon after, I started busking every Saturday at my local farmers' market so that I could not only pay for camp, but also give back to this community that showed me such kindness. I learned that even though I am a kid, I can use my gift of music to help others in real and meaningful ways.

The past few years I have focused my fundraising efforts on the Terry Fox Foundation, a cause that is near and dear to my heart. I recently wrote a tune for Terry Fox called "If I Don't Make It". The proceeds from the tune and the accompanying video all go to my annual Fiddling For Fox campaign.

#shareyourgifts

"When you have a gift (and everyone has one) it's important to use that gift to help others. People think you need money to better the world, but really you just need to share your gifts."

~ Irish Millie, Age 12