THEY'RE three young Canadians with a penchant for the Celtic tunes of the past.

Formed in 2014, each member of The East Pointers – banjoist/vocalist/step-dancer Koady Chaisson, fiddle player/vocalist Tim Chaisson, andguitarist/vocalist Jake Charron – is an accomplished musician in his own right,and their union produces a blend of Celtic tunes, songs and step-dances moulded into something uniquely Canadian through a history which goes back generations.

Cousins Tim and Koady Chaisson come from Canada’s Prince Edward Island. Here, through six generations of performances and playing, the Chaisson Family have written themselves into the island’s music history. Joined by Jake Charron, they are carrying the island’s tradition forward through The East Pointers.

The East Pointers were formed at late night parties involving fiddles and friends, guitars and Guinness, banjos and bad jokes. As their trunk of traditional and original tunes and songs – some with an Irish influence, some Scottish, others rooted in the Maritimes – started to fill up, the trio realised it was time to put some to tape and take them on the road.

After performing steadily across Canada and at events including Folk Alliance 2014 and East Coast Music Week 2014 and 2015, the band have begun to take the music of PEI further afield.

The following year, they crossed the Atlantic for their first UK tour. Their debut album Secret Victory was released in October 2015 and featured ten original tracks all penned by Tim, Koady and Jake. The album received rave reviews, changing perceptions about Celtic, folk, bluegrass and jigs.

The band followed this with more touring in December 2015 and Jan/Feb 2016, which included their debut at Celtic Connections festival and a live session for BBC Radio 3.

They are back in the UK this month and play The Railway in Winchester on Thursday.

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