Things are nice and relaxed on the Dards front these days, but we’re just resting up for a busy time coming up. We’ll be heading to one of our favourite festivals – the Tales Trails and Tunes Festival in Norris Point – to do something that we’ve wanted to do for a while. We’ll be doing a gig with Kelly Russell. If you don’t know Kelly, it’s not a huge stretch to say that he’s the most vital living member of the Newfoundland fiddling tradition. This is a guy who went out to rural communities, and collected the majority of the tunes that we play in our group. He also has a dynamic, unique and powerful style – and we’re eager to get the chance to play with him. It’s gonna be deadly.

After that the summer festival season begins. We’re excited to get to play around the mainland including all around Ontario and Quebec. And maybe even another sneaky show back home…but more about that as we get closer to it. Right now, we’re rosin-ing, tuning, polishing and getting ready for the next chapter of The Dards. Can’t wait to see you for it.