Whisky Minstrels

Bruce Coughlan – lead vocals, guitar

Bruce’s songwriting is a product of the nearly 40 years which have elapsed since, as a young teen, he left home with no more than a guitar and a profound love of traditional music. From the street corners of his native Vancouver, to festival and concert stages across the globe, this colourful journey is captured in the warmth and depth of the songs he shares.

Evolving from a traditional background in Irish and Scottish music, through a mishmash of Rock, Pop, Rhythm, Blues & Country Music influences, into more unlikely passions as Latin, Calypso and Reggae, Bruce’s influences have always remained primarily acoustic.

Of late, Bruce’s songwriting has flourished into a formidable craft. He has been writing with many of the greatest talents in acoustic music today with songs being recorded by a number acts. Bruce is a multifaceted talent who will undoubtedly be soon recognized as a great Canadian songwriter.

Nolan Murray – fiddle, mandolin, mandocaster

Nolan has a long history as a multi-instrumentalist gun for hire who at an early age, parlayed an impressive list of championships into a touring/recording career that has spanned decades.

Throughout that time, he’s left his musical imprint with a long list of iconic performers including Loretta Lynn, Ferlin Husky, Ian Tyson, David Frizzell, Rose Maddox, Gary Fjellgaard, Brenda Lee, Irish Rovers, One Horse Blue, Randy Travis, Patricia Conroy, Canadian All-Stars, Ricky Van Shelton, Jess Lee, Johnny Russell, John Fogerty, Valdy and Lisa Brokop.

Highlights of his awards and nominations are California Fiddle and Banjo Champion, Top 10 at Grand Masters Fiddle Championship and US National Fiddle Contest, Nomination as CCMA Instrumentalist of the Year, 1991-1992, Nomination as Fiddle Player of Year @ Branson Music Awards, 1995, Western Canadian Bluegrass and Oregon Trail Fiddle Champion, 1996, and International Bluegrass World Championship Band, 1998.