Released May 2026. For more than two decades, The McDades have been carving out a sound that refuses to sit still. Rooted in Celtic and Canadian folk traditions, the Juno Award–winning ensemble blends the freedom of jazz improvisation with global rhythms, deep grooves, and an unshakable sense of family. What began as a shared language learned at home has grown into a musical conversation that continues to evolve onstage and in the studio.
At the core of the band are siblings Shannon Johnson (fiddle, vocals), Solon McDade (bass), and Jeremiah McDade (whistles, saxophones, vocals), whose musical upbringing was shaped as much by traditional fiddle tunes as by the artists, cultures, and collaborators they encountered along the way. Joined by longtime collaborators Andy Hillhouse (guitar) and Eric Breton (percussion), The McDades operate less like a typical ensemble and more like a living organism, responsive, intuitive, and deeply connected. Improvisation is central to the group’s identity. No two performances are the same, and the band thrives on risk, interaction, and listening as much as virtuosity. Their instrumental music can be expansive and rhythm-driven, while their songs—sung in English and French, carry emotional weight through close vocal harmonies that only a family can deliver.
Over the years, The McDades have quietly built a reputation as a band that bridges worlds: traditional and contemporary, acoustic and electric, festival energy and late-night club intimacy. Critics have described their sound as landing “somewhere between a down-home kitchen party, a jazzy after-hours club, and a folk festival,” a balance the band continues to refine rather than define.
The McDades are winners of the Juno Award for Best Roots Album (Group) and multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards, including World Group of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Instrumental Album of the Year. Their catalog reflects a steady arc of growth, curiosity, and collaboration, culminating most recently in Thread The Light a new release that push further into groove, composition, and collective exploration. Still driven by the same curiosity that brought them together, The McDades remain committed to the long game, making music that honours tradition while constantly asking what comes next.
https://themcdades.com/
https://www.facebook.com/themcdades https://www.youtube.com/@themcdades/videos
You can find their Album on their Web page, Bandcamp and Spotify. https://themcdades.bandcamp.com/album/thread-the-light https://open.spotify.com/int.../album/7rkCAd8ZANMvxd2QULWN7D