CANTRIP will perform at Nunes Barn in Sudbury on Sunday, April 29

“Cantrip must have one of the strongest group personalities on the folk circuit. Their presentation is all energy as they channel modern swoops and slides of sound into the traditional repertoire. Their music comes from wild landscapes and wild places of the spirit.”—The Orcadian

“It was one of the best concerts we’ve ever had the pleasure to experience.”—greenmanreview.com

“Cantrip” is an Old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell or piece of mischief. It aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in the musical arrangements and compelling potency of Scottish power trio Cantrip. The renovated Nunes Barn in Sudbury provides the perfect setting for the group’s folksy, high-energy live performance. They perform there on Sunday, April 29 at 7 p.m. Suggested donation $20. The barn is at 125 Powers Rd., Sudbury. For info call 781-648-5579 or visit www.cantrip-music.com. For reservations contact [email protected].

Originally formed as a quartet, Cantrip sprung from a local session in Edinburgh, Scotland. After attracting a loyal fan base with their scintillating live shows and three recordings (2001’s "Silver,” 2005’s “Boneshaker,” 2008’s “Piping the Fish”), the band trimmed down to a trio and redefined its sound. Their much anticipated fourth release "The Crossing" appeared in 2015, featuring founding members Dan Houghton of Vermont on pipes & flute and Jon Bews of Scotland on fiddle, and new addition Eric McDonald, a Massachusetts native, on guitar and mandolin. 2018 marks the band’s 20th year, and to celebrate they will release a live re-recording of their first album, Silver in the fall.

Piper Dan Houghton was born in Ghana, but was transported to Scotland shortly thereafter, where he was surrounded by the indigenous music. He began his career with the whistle at age seven and started playing bagpipes in the early nineties, proceeding to win the Scottish Lowland and Border Pipers' Society Open Borderpipes and New Composition events (multiple times), as well as the Maitre de Cornemuse at St. Chartier. Over the years he increased his versatility as a multi-instrumentalist, becoming an accomplished player on the flute, bouzouki and DADGAD guitar. Dan is an instructor at the Vermont Institute of Celtic Arts, and holds a BSc Hons I degree in Applied Mathematics and Geophysics from the University of Otago and an MLitt degree in Gaelic Literature and Language from the University of Edinburgh.

A veteran of the fiddle, having started at age four, Jon Bews came to Scots music from a classical education by way of Goth rock. But it didn't take long for him to entrench himself in the world and carve a name for himself as a fiddler. A prizewinning graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 1994, he has performed and recorded with such diverse artists as Malinky, James Yorkston, Mikel Urdangarin, Ranarim, Deaf Mutes and Samling. In addition to Cantrip, he currently plays with renowned Edinburgh ceilidh band Callanish and critically acclaimed indie rock quintet The Last Battle. Jon is also widely recognised as a composer and arranger. His string arrangements have been sought out by Ewan MacPherson and Fribo and his tunes have won high acclaim across the board. Jon moved to the Scottish Borders in 2003 where he spent two years as Traditional and World Music Development Worker for Scottish Borders Council. He stayed there because the view is nice and only moved back to Edinburgh because the shops are open later.

Guitarist and mandolinist Eric McDonald found his way to traditional music through the rich local music scene in Boston. He studied at Berklee College of Music under world renowned musicians such as guitarist/mandolinist John McGann and cellist Eugene Friesen. Known for his tasteful approach and quick ear, he can be heard on recordings by many artists such as Cape Breton and Scottish fiddlers Katie McNally and Brendan Carey Block. His string pieces have been performed by orchestras in the US and Canada, and his work as a music director for Boston theatre company Actors’ Shakespeare Project was praised in publications including the Boston Globe and the Wall Street Journal. In addition to Cantrip he performs with Scottish lowland piper Will Woodson, master fiddler Ryan McKasson and the contemporary string trio the Knockbox Stringband. Eric teaches students at Maine Fiddle Camp, Club Passim, and privately.

WHAT: CANTRIP in concert

WHEN/WHERE: Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Nunes Barn, 125 Powers Rd., Sudbury

SUGGESTED DONATION: $20, contact [email protected] for reservations

INFORMATION: 781-648-5579, http://cantrip-music.com/