Fredericton Playhouse Spotlight Series Presents: Morgan Toney

Morgan Toney combines the fiery fiddling of Cape Breton Island with his Mi’kmaq roots. At only 23 years old, the Nova Scotian musician has created a name for himself with his unique take on traditional East Coast fiddle music, which he and his collaborator Keith Mullins have dubbed “Mi’kmaltic.” A blend of Mi’kmaq + Celtic, Toney fuses cultural heritages, drawing from old songs of the Mi’kmaq, some dating back 500 years. “There are two worlds of Mi’kmaq music,” Toney explains, “song and fiddle. They had never come together before. People knew of each, but never had I ever seen a collaboration between Celtic and Mi’kmaq culture before.”

Toney’s debut album First Flight, nominated for 3 East Coast Music Awards and a Canadian Folk Music Award, demonstrates this fusion. It celebrates language and transforms traditional songs like the Ko’jua and the Mi’kmaq Honour Song, but also provides totally original works.

Opening Artist: The Hello Crows

Formed in 2022, Judie Acquin, Dylan Ward, Mattie Comeau and Quinn Bonnell originally appeared together when they were all booked together as a Wabanaki songwriter circle. Sharing the stage, the chemistry quickly became obvious. Not only were they all a natural fit for one another, but their combined voices only proved to further amplify their powerful messages. In that instant, making this a more permanent lineup was the only logical ‘next move’.

With The Hello Crows, the aim is to educate audiences about their beautiful culture, history and the positive things happening within their communities, meanwhile honestly sharing the social obstacles in place today.  Within the group, we not only learn of the indigenous cultures, values and traditions, but also gain the perspectives of indigenous women and the LQBTQIA2+ communities as well, making The Hello Crows one of the most important acts working in Canada right now.

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