Musique Royale: Skye Consort and Emma Björling in Baddeck

In August 2022, Montreal’s Skye Consort and Swedish singer Emma Björling will tour their incredible  "Trans-Atlantic” chamber folk music across Nova Scotia, part of Musique Royale’s 37th Summer Festival, with six performances taking place in historic venues in Margaretsville, Arichat, Baddeck, Maitland, Wolfville and Lunenburg.

With an intoxicating mix of whirling polskas, groovy reels, passionate love songs and breathtaking hymns, Canada’s Skye Consort and Swedish singer Emma Björling have enchanted audiences near and far with their unique mix of Celtic music as well as traditional music from Quebec, Sweden and Norway and beyond. With voices, fiddle, nyckelharpa, cello, and cittern, these extraordinary musicians have been called “breathtaking” by CBC Music on their recent album and Sweden’s Lira Music Magazine praised them saying "it would be hard to find something better than this”.

Clip of Skye Consort and Emma Björling

About the artists

Emma Björling (lead voice, shruti box, perc.) is an award-winning Swedish singer, composer, arranger, active in the renowned Scandinavian bands Kongero and Lyy. Both bands have toured the world, and are busy in the European Folk/Trad scene. Emma teaches and conducts workshops all over the world.

Alex Kehler (fiddle, nyckelharpa & vocals) is a member of La Nef, Soulwood, a Kehler Williams duo, Les Siffleurs de nuits, and also busy playing with Suzie LeBlanc, Jeremiah McLane, Timmothy Cummings. Alex is also a much-coveted teacher at camps and courses.

Amanda Keesmaat (cello & vocals) is a member of La Nef, a vibrant presence in the Montréal early music community, and has recorded and performed with many prominent singers and renowned ensembles. Amanda has recorded for ATMA discs, Early-Music.com, Fidelio, Analekta, ombú, CBC Radio and CBC Television, BRAVO and Radio-Canada. Amanda also teaches regularly.

Seán Dagher (cittern/bouzouki, banjo & vocals) is the artistic director of La Nef and an active performer, arranger, and composer of music from various folk and classical music traditions. He has been nominated for numerous Adisq awards and participated in the Adisq-winning CD, La Traverse Miraculeuse with La Nef and Les Charbonniers de l’enfer.