That cluster includes trad acts like The East Pointers, Vishtèn, Richard Wood, Ten Strings and a Goat Skin, Gordon Belsher, Cynthia MacLeod, J.J. Chaisson and Roy Johnstone. In that mix as well are  singer-songwriters like Irish Mythen, Lennie Gallant, Catherine MacLellan—daughter of another legendary singer-songwriter, Gene MacLellan—as well as Ashley Condon, Meaghan Blanchard and Mark Haines.

Rob Oakie, a co-founder and Executive Director of Music PEI, says several island artists in the roots/traditional scene here have experienced phenomenal success, not just regionally or nationally but internationally. A prime example is the East Pointers. “The East Pointers are blowing up internationally,” Oakie says of their success. The JUNO Award-winning act is redefining modern folk with dancefloor-shaking, ceiling-rattling, electro-trad breakdowns, and a glorious combination of folk and pop. In addition to their success at home they have developed  a loyal fanbase that spans the globe, reaching Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK, Europe, Mexico and the USA.

„Folk music is music that’s played for folks.“

One of the most exciting acts to surface in the last couple of years is Inn Echo, a trio composed of fiddler Karson McKeown, Tuli Porcher, who plays both 5-string fiddle and cello and guitarist Tom Gammons. “Inn Echo, I think, are one of the most exciting trad acts to come out of Canada period,” Oakie says. “They are taking trad music to another level, but much differently than the East Pointers did. The East Pointers decided to go the pop route and have merged their trad with pop music. Inn Echo, I find, has taken an almost classical approach to it. It’s got that vibe that makes it sound almost a little classical. The three players are virtuosos, incredible players. I think their ceiling is unlimited.” Alan Calder of Rhythms Magazine Australia called their music a “mastery of traditional and contemporary Celtic fusion.”

Oakie is also singing the praises of Maukin, a new folk collective that features three former members of Ten Strings and A Goatskin, fiddler Rowen Gallant, guitarist Jesse Périard and bodhrán player/percussionist Caleb Gallant. They’ve now been joined by  piper/whistle player Nick vanOuwerkerk. Their rich compositions and melodies are shaped from the cultural clay of PEI, drawn from their collective Irish, Scottish and Acadian heritages.

The new crop of singer-songwiters, a number of whom merge folk and pop, is also generating some well-deserved buzz. Included in that number are Summerside based Emilea May who crafts music that acts as a catalyst for healing and growth through raw expression. Her voice is dreamlike and pure, and her lyrics are thoughtful, honest and introspective. “Incredible artist, fantastic voice and a really cool songwriter,” Oakie says. Another artist making waves internationally is roots/blues artist Joce Reyome. “An unbelievable powerhouse talent,” Oakie says. “She’s going to be a star, there’s no doubt about that.” In January 2025 Reyome won the solo/duo division of the  International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

Also high on the list of artists making waves is Noah Malcolm. “Noah’s trajectory is unlimited,” Oakie says. He’s really starting to take off. He’s an incredible writer and has collaborated with a number of artists.” His music embraces everything from folk to k-pop to dance music. A very active composer, he has scored numerous short films and TV shows as well as a  feature length film.

There is considerable interest in Tiffany Liu, an accomplished pipa player who has called PEI home for almost ten years. In January of 2024 Liu, who has also performed as part of a trio with percussionist Mark Carr-Rollitt and guitarist Ivan Garnica, received a nomination for the East Coast Music Award (ECMA) for “Global Recording of the Year.” In 2025 she was awarded the Music PEI Award for “Achievement in World Music” for the second consecutive year. She embodies the essence of a global musician, bridging cultures together through her artistry. Singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan says Liu’s music transcends cultural boundaries and resonates deeply with audiences.

Country-folk storyteller Lawrence Maxwell whose latest album Ballad Of Miles was nominated for no less than seven Music PEI Awards in 2023 is an artist to watch. In 2024 he received the award for Music PEI’s “Entertainer of the Year.” He’s been compared to both John Prine and Merle Haggard.

While emerging artists break new ground several established artists continue to have stellar careers. In terms of longevity Lennie Gallant comes immediately to mind. “What a career,” Oakie says. “Still going, still producing new music, still selling tickets.” And Gallant performs both as a solo act and as half of the duo Sirène et Matelot with another brilliant PEI artist, Patricia Richard. Irish Mythen continues to be a force, selling a lot of tickets worldwide. Still knee deep in the mix is singer-songwriter Dennis Ellsworth who released no less than three albums in the span of twelve months. He loves to record and still likes to tour. In that same boat is Tara MacLean. “Tara is a unicorn,” Oakie says. In addition to her music she’s written a best selling book and is working on her second one. “If you look at her career trajectory she was touring with Dido and they would switch back and forth as to who opened for who, depending on where they were.”

Definitely on the must-see list is singer-songwriter Shane Pendergast, believed by many to be one of Atlantic Canada’s finest folk troubadours. Pendergast has played festivals and events across the country. Oakie describes Pendergast as a massive talent, a cross between Stan Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot with a better voice than either of them. “A great songwriter, fabulous voice, solid guitar player. The whole package.”

The music scene in PEI is very healthy right now. “We go through ups and downs in terms of new artists coming along, there are certainly peaks and valleys. We went through a valley back in 2012 or 2014, something where there didn’t seem to be a lot of new music coming out. Then all of a sudden it explodes. Right now is one of those times. It’s incredible the amount of new artists coming out.”

Oakie credits SOPA, the School of Performing Arts at Holland College, as one of the reasons for that because of the number of talented young musicians the school attracts to PEI from all over the world, particularly from South America. They come, they study, they play with other artists and many decide to stay here.

While some purists question whether what some artists may call folk music is actually folk music, Oakie says folk music today is a much broader genre than it was in say the 1960s or 1970s. “Folk is a very big tent today.” He recalls the late Mitch Podolak, a founder of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, who’s often been called “the godfather of Canadian folk festivals”, as saying once that “folk music is music that’s played for folks.”

The success of artists from PEI on the national and international stage is due in part to the work that Oakie and his staff and board members at Music PEI have done to promote those artists at festivals and events across the country and around the world. “To put it bluntly, that’s our job. That’s why we’re here. And I like to believe we’ve had a fair amount of success. For example, we gave the East Pointers their very first showcase. Through Showcase PEI we’ve created millions of dollars worth of work for PEI artists.”

Some have questioned why so many of the talent buyers who come to events like Showcase PEI have been from folk festivals but Oakie says it’s because that’s where our strength lies. He’s quick to note that they also try to cater to buyers for other genres because island artists embrace all genres. Millions of dollars in bookings have been generated through these showcases and the association has been recognized for the efforts expended to make sure talent buyers have the kind of positive and productive experience that makes them want to do business and to come back again.

All of this is happening in the same province that helped launch the career of one of Canada’s most iconic troubadours, Stompin’ Tom Connors.