Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!

The Newfoundland Musicians You Can Hear in New England

Graham Kennedy
The music, as it was always played, does have a lot of fire.

Newfoundland's story is one of survival, of hearts and heroes. It's a culture of singers and storytellers, a place that people can learn about through the music. It's also a place that many have never heard of -- though names such as Great Big Sea, Ron Hynes, and Figgy Duff may ring a bell. They're just a few Newfoundlanders bringing their music to the world stage. Matthew Byrne is one of these, a singer and guitarist whose voice, aptly put by fellow musician Alan Doyle, is "friggin' perfect." 

Mom actually says that myself and my brother were humming songs -- traditional songs -- before we could actually speak the words to sing them.

 

Credit Steven Varnum
Matthew and his father, Joe Byrne, at the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival

So we compiled a list of some great Newfoundland musicians (though the list could go on for miles) as well as a soundscape of this year's Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival

buildout_soundscape.mp3
Soundscape: Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival

Put the whole preserving thing aside, good music lasts. That's why we're still playing this.

Matthew Byrne

You can find Matthew's New England Tour Dates, and more about his newest album, Hearts and Heroesat his website.

Anita Best 

Anitawill be singing atMcClary Hill Farm in Epsom, New Hampshire, on August 27th at 7pm -- you won't want to miss it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppf9QVHGcuw

Alan Doyle

Come on out to see Alan play at the Capitol Center for the Arts on September 27th! You can check out more music and tour datesat his website.

The Dardanelles

"The Dards" will be up at the American Folk Festivalin Bangor, Maine, on August 28th, 29th, and 30th. Definitely worth coming, even from afar. 

Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.