BIOGRAPHY
Mac MacKenzie is a traditional English & Gaelic folk singer, Uilleann Piper, multi-instrumentalist, writer and poet, performing original and traditional music from the British Isles and Canada, seasoned with influences drawn from a diverse range of world folk traditions.
He has performed on a range of musical instruments including the Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Recorder, Appalachian Dulcimer, Guitar, 24-string “Cruite” (Gaelic for “Lyre”), Didjeridu, Native Flute, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Bodhran, Djembe, Cajon, Dumbek, and Egyptian Tabla. Mac sings and recites poetry in both English, Scottish Gaelic and Irish. He is a fluent Gaelic speaker and has a strong interest and preference for the old traditional Gaelic styles known as “Sean Nòs” (Gaelic for “old style”). He has a passion to expose the rich heritage and beauty of Gaelic song, literature and poetry to a wider audience.
His career as a singer and musician spans more than 30 years and he is still very active writing and producing original tunes and songs in traditional Celtic styles. He has released numerous recordings including several originally penned Celtic singles featuring the beautifully haunting sound of the Uilleann Pipes, “The Peace Project: Music For Prayer, Meditation, Movement and Healing,” and an EP recording with the Celtic band “An Realt” (Irish for “The Star”), including the heartwarming title track, “Dancing in the Morning.”
He has performed for weddings, funerals, churches, concerts, festivals, clubs, pubs, house concerts, awards ceremonies, corporate events and television shows. Some venues of note include The Jack Singer Concert Hall, CITY TV’s Big Breakfast Show, CFCN Calgary, Global Fest, City of Calgary's Canada Day Festival, Marda Gras, Taste Of The Nations, Alberta Touring Alliance, The Lilac Festival, Rocky Mountain Folk Club, The Cuchulain Club, The Cochrane Valley Folk Club, The Vibe Awards, Westside King's Church, Knox Untied Church and Prairie Bible Institute.
When not hanging out with his family, hiking, reading, writing or creating ‘something or other,' Mac likes to spend his time working with “The Mosaic Network,” a network of simple, organic church communities and “The Arts Farm” a community of faith-based artists dedicated to the principles of creativity, community and commitment.
Mac is a member of the American Federation of Musicians (Calgary Loc. 547), Alberta Recording Industries Association (ARIA) and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers (SOCAN).
