Glendale is a stronghold of Gaelic culture on Cape Breton Island. The area is well-steeped in Gaelic language and traditions, and the hall in Glendale has been an important gathering place for music and dance for generations. The community has always held their culture and heritage in high regard here, and that sentiment is reflected in tonight’s lineup. Bradley Murphy is a Gaelic singer, fiddler, and piano player from Cape Breton who proudly showcases the relevance, beauty, and power of traditional songs and melodies. He will be on stage with Màiri Chaimbeul, a Juno-nominated harp player and composer from the Isle of Skye in Scotland. A native Gaelic speaker, Màiri’s versatile sound is rooted in language and tradition. Her distinctive improvising voice and expressive approach to rhythm is a fine complement to Bradley’s framing of traditional Gaelic songs in ephemeral and rhythmic sonic landscapes. Shetland pianist Amy Laurenson explores the music of her homeland alongside traditional and folk music from Scotland, Ireland, and Scandinavia. With a style that ebbs and flows with traditional, classical, and jazz influences, she challenges the role of piano as a solo instrument in traditional music. Likewise, guitarist Miguel Girão’s playing hints at classical, contemporary, and traditional traits as he shapes and shifts from accompanist to soloist. Music and dance are inextricably linked in Gaelic culture and Kinnon, Betty Lou, and Andrea Beaton are some of the finest exponents of that tradition this Island has to offer. Tonight’s concert shows that Gaelic traditions are strong in the Glen.