Since being added to the Celtic Colours lineup in 2022, the L’Arche Cape Breton Gathering Place has proven to be a popular place to get together for an October afternoon of music. You’ll find the venue west of Whycocomagh, just off the Trans-Canada Highway on the way to Orangedale. This afternoon’s gathering brings together musicians of all ages from both coasts of Canada. Daniel Lapp is a renowned musician and educator from Prince George, British Columbia, who founded the British Columbia Fiddle Orchestra and is the founding Artistic Director of the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s School of Contemporary Music. Daniel is joined this afternoon by former student and British Columbia Fiddle Orchestra alum Tia Greenwood and current student and Orchestra member Max Francis. A spirited cellist with infectious energy and passion for traditional music, Tia is known for her fluid and relaxed style and innovative approach to trad cello. Max is the youngest ever Canadian Grand Master’s Fiddle Champion as well as an accomplished classical violinist and award-winning composer, and multi-instrumentalist. The fifteen-year-old released his Canadian Folk Music Award-winning debut album in 2024. Eliza Rhinelander is a young singer-songwriter with deep family roots in Inverness County. Born and raised in Halifax, she has composed Merritt Award-nominated scores for Shakespeare by the Sea Theatre Company—a 1920s jazz-inspired score for Twelfth Night and a folksy, banjo-led score for As You Like It—and last year released her debut, full-length album. A versatile writer, Eliza weaves elements of Celtic, indie, country, pop, and rock music into her lyrically powerful and original songs. Some tunes from legendary Cape Breton fiddle and piano duo Kinnon and Betty Lou Beaton will wrap up this afternoon gathering nicely.