artist Kelli Trottier

KELLI TROTTIER

Born and raised in the hotbed of musical tradition and innovation that is Ontario’s Ottawa Valley, Kelli Trottier discovered her passion for entertaining, learned her craft, and developed her distinctive style while still right at home.

Today, Kelli’s talent carries her to stages across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Far North, where she makes fans and friends at every venue along the way.

Kelli’s musical odyssey of dance, fiddle and song began early in life as she studied and mastered the unique and fluid style of step dance that evolved with the loggers and woodsmen of the historic Ottawa River watershed.

The fiddle was a natural extension of the dance; you just can't have one without the other. And who better to learn from than the senior masters of Celtic and Scottish traditional music. Kelli learned well and then embraced the exuberant rhythmic fiddle and step dance styles of the French Canadian pioneers.

Every musical family needs a singer-songwriter and Kelli’s family is fortunate that she has an amazing ear, a beautifully clear, natural voice, and the desire to use that voice at every opportunity. Learning songs she loved from artists she admired, Kelli gave them wings with her effortlessly-developing style, and soon started writing and performing her own.

Developing her art from these deep and lasting roots, while allowing the influences of contemporary music to help shape her performing and recording career, has earned Kelli a dedicated and growing following along with glowing accolades from promoters, organizers and fans.

No stranger to the stage, Kelli was featured as the lead female in the Toronto musical production SwingStep. She is featured annually in the Starbright Christmas Show (http://www.starbright.ca/) and toured North America with the very successful Bowfire (http://www.bowfire.com/) entourage for 9 seasons. Kelli’s is the beautiful voice on the Bowfire songs, “The Line” and “Mist Covered Mountains.”

Kelli has performed for Canadian soldiers in the Middle East and for the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic. She has brought 20,000 NHL Ottawa Senators Fans to their feet many times as the featured mid-game entertainer.

In addition to her extensive performing experience, Kelli continues to be a highly sought-after instructor and judge of fiddle and step dance events across Canada and parts of the U.S. She has been nominated three times for Fiddle Player of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association and is featured instrumentally and vocally on many studio recordings for other artists.

All of this experience results from Kelli’s true passion: performing and touring her music with her band. Time and again these performances earn glowing reviews, requests to return and always more fans!

Promoting her six independent recordings; singing, dancing and playing her way to the top of her musical genre, Kelli Trottier is an unforgettable and enchanting artist, consistently delivering performances that raise her stature in the hearts and memories of audiences everywhere.

KELLI'S BAND, THE MUSHY PEAS ARE:

ANDREW AFFLECK

(Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Comic Relief)

Andrew studied music for 9 years at the Ontario Conservatory of Music and privately with John Gowan of the Toronto Symphony. He is a 2 time winner of the Ontario League Accordion Championships, (a well guarded secret) and is a 5 time nominee for "Bassist of the Year" by the Canadian Country Music Association. His many tours abroad include, "The Human Rights World Conference" in Vienna, Austria, "The Melbourne Music Festival" in Australia, and "The Davi Suuva Festival" in Karesuando, Sweden. Andrew has backed many international artists. Among these are: Susan Aglukark, George Fox, Bob Newhart and the Arrogant Worms. Andrew is one of the most sought after bassists in Canada for recording and live performance work. Not only for his professionalism, but for his famous and relentless dry wit!

BURKE CARROLL

(Pedal Steel, Acoustic Guitar, Dobro, Vocals)

Burke (alias: "Bunkysteel") studied music at the University of Toronto earning himself a Bachelor of Music Degree, which makes him the most "legit" member of the band. Like Andrew, he too has toured the globe extensively backing such artists as: George Fox, The Good Brothers, Shania Twain and The Wilkinsons. A record producer in his own right, Burke brings a level of excellence and knowledge of music and arranging, that makes him an invaluable asset to any project. His credits exceed the amount of space available and his humility would limit the credit he is due. We are honored and blessed to have him as a fellow member of the band.

JERRY "Dirt" CLANCY

(Drums, Percussion, Vocals)

After an extensive career in Toronto backing artists such as Charlie Ekstein, Long John Baldry, etc., Jerry moved to Kingston where he studied music at Queen’s University. His current performance credits include, among others, Juno Nominee Georgette Fry and is without question the most casual member of the band (which as a drummer makes him an oddity), and his reluctance to "blow his own horn" made getting a comprehensive bio liken to "pulling teeth"! However, it is widely known that Jerry’s ability to "lock" in to a click track while maintaining fluidity, has put him in good stead for recording session work. Apart from his dexterity on anything that one might "hit" Jerry brings another lead vocal to the band equation and his wide vocal range is an invaluable complement to any vocal arrangement.

ANDY THOMPSON

(Keyboards, Accordion, Autoharp, Vocals, Musical Director) Andy attended St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto for 10 years where he studied piano, music theory and harmony, choral arranging and conducting. His early introduction into electronic music lead to a career in film scoring and to date has composed the scores for more than 300 Canadian Film Productions. His live performance activities include backing artists such as: Susan Aglukark, George Fox, the late Colleen Peterson and the Arrogant Worms, for whom he wears the Producer’s hat. Andy loves to tinker with stage effects and has recently increased his life insurance policy as he is looking into designing a pyrotechnics display to be used in the finale of Kelli’s show.

I also play with GORDON STOBBE and GREG SIMM quite regularly.

Gordon Stobbe is best known, to Maritime audiences, as the co-creator, host and musical director of the long running TV variety show, "Up Home Tonight". His appearances include radio, television, theatre and live venues across Canada. His fiddle compositions are being recorded by players across Canada and he is constant demand as a fiddle workshop leader.

Greg Simm is a long time mainstay in the Nova Scotia music community. As a much sought after guitarist and bassist, Greg is recognized in both musical and theatrical circles. He and Gordon Stobbe have collaborated on a number of projects over the past 15 years.