Referring to a handful of communities on the north side of Sydney Harbour—primarily North Sydney and Sydney Mines, but also the surrounding areas of Florence, Bras d’Or, Little Pond, Alder Point, and Point Aconi—the Northside is one place on Cape Breton Island known for having a particularly Irish influence on the traditional music, which is typically more associated with having Scottish roots. There’s been a weekly trad session running on the Northside, first at Rollie’s Wharf and now at The Blue Mist Tavern, for more than 25 years, so it’s a fair bet that there’s some good craic on the go on the Northside anyway. Tonight’s lineup will make sure of it. Born and raised in Newfoundland’s Codroy Valley, fiddler Lisa MacArthur made her way to Cape Breton and immersed herself in the local music scene, particularly on the northside, playing in sessions and pubs and at dances with members of the Barra MacNeils’ family over the years. Now living in Halifax, Lisa hosts a monthly trad session in Halifax with Glencoe, Inverness County native Kolten MacDonell on piano. Malcolm MacNeil didn’t grow up living on the northside, but he did grow up with deep musical roots and surrounded by family music sessions. The guitarist and fiddler rounds out the trio with Lisa and Kolten. And it’s The Voices of Ireland’s last gig of the festival. They’ve been responsible for some fine craic over the past few days and they’ll have one more go at it tonight.

And if you’re looking for somewhere to eat before the concert, try the Famous Fish & Chips at the nearby Legion, Branch 008.