Biography
Maine musician Owen Kennedy is an award-winning fiddler rooted in the Maine Maritime musical tradition and immersed in his growing passion for Scottish music, splitting time between Maine and Cape Breton where he's studying Gaelic language, culture, and music at Beinn Mhàbu. Owen's love of traditional music and enthusiasm for performing has taken him all over New England, into Maritime Canada, and over to Scotland and Shetland, where he has played with the Pineland Fiddlers, the Young Tradition Vermont’s Touring Group and Youth Commission (now Sap Line), and in duos with Seán Heely, Ethan Tischler, and Benjamin Foss. Owen is the 2022 New England Regional Open Scottish Fiddle Champion, the 2021 Junior US National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and won the 2021 Young Stars of Maine "Glenn Jenks Future in Music" prize. More recently, Owen has begun adding the tenor banjo and traditional songs into his performances. Owen’s powerful playing can capture the melancholy of a Scottish air, mimic the sound of pipes in a march, or drive a good ol’ New England contradance tune.
Owen’s debut album "Oh When: Now" was recorded with Owen Marshall and released in 2023. Available now on Bandcamp, “Oh When: Now” is a musical snapshot of the places Owen's visited and the musicians he's played with and learned from, featuring tunes he's loved for years as well as newer favorites from Scotland, Cape Breton, and Shetland and includes tracks with Noah Fishman and Seán Heely. Owen is also wrapping up a solo project, 50 Fiddlers from 50 States, which is available on YouTube.
Recent performances include the Young Stars of Maine Prizewinners Concert, the New World Festival, Waldo Fiddle Fest, Maine Celtic Celebration, and the Flurry Festival; opening sets for Còig in Maine and Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas in Vermont; house concerts in Cherryfield, for the Brownington Ceilidh Club in Vermont and a notloB Parlour Concert in Massachusetts; as well as several Maine tours with Seán Heely, most recently playing at the Maine Irish Heritage Center as well as joining the Seán Heely Band at The Dance Hall in Kittery and for the Maine Highland Games. The YTV Touring Group spent 10 days in Cape Breton in April 2023, performing at the Highland Village, Strathspey Place, the Old Triangle Pub, and at the Gaelic College. A May 2023 tour with the Youth Commission took them from a Feast & Field performance in Barnard, up to Quebec for the Fête de Mai celebration, and ended with a performance at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. Over the years, Owen has shared the stage with Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, Genticorum, Claude Méthé, Pete Sutherland & Oliver Scanlon, the Outside Track, Andrea Beaton & Troy MacGillivray, and Owen Marshall and performed solo at local markets & festivals, kicking off the Boys & Girls Club National Conference in San Diego with an audience of several thousand, and at The Big Gig, the final Shetland Folk Frenzy concert at The Mareel.
In addition to performing, Owen Kennedy has been giving private fiddle lessons in-person and online since 2019. Currently he’s also offering group lessons at Beinn Mhàbu and will be teaching at the 2024 Trad Camp in Burlington, VT. Owen’s passion for teaching is fueled by his excitement to carry and pass on the fiddle tradition and what he has learned from the many mentors who have generously taught him over the years.
Now spending part of each year in Cape Breton, Owen is studying at Beinn Mhàbu and thriving in the rich musical landscape. Owen has had the opportunity to learn from Gaelic speakers, culture-bearers, and musicians in the classroom and in the community, whether making “white pudding,” learning waulking songs while hiking along a stream, or playing tunes in the stairwell with one of the artists-in-residence. Owen has joined in several performing opportunities, including a Ships of 1801 show and at the Highland Village’s Oidhche Shamhna (Gaelic Halloween) in Iona, and has been featured in two Wednesday Night Céilidhs at the The Gaelic College. Evenings might find him at an informal céilidh in a local living room, playing or dancing at a square dance, or joining in at a session at The Red Shoe or An Drochaid. Not one to miss the chance to go fishing or exploring, he’s also thoroughly enjoying time out on the water, cooking up fish by bonfire on shore, and hiking in the mountains and along quiet gravel roads.
Quote from Alasdair Fraser
After my opening set for the 10/2/21 show in Colchester, VT Alasdair Fraser shared: "What a lovely way to begin – it made me feel so homesick and very comfortable… I’m in familiar surroundings. Owen, it’s just a beautiful recital you gave there. I loved everything about it!"
Short Bio
Maine musician Owen Kennedy is an award-winning fiddler rooted in the Maine Maritime musical tradition and immersed in his growing passion for Scottish music, splitting time between Maine and Cape Breton where he's studying Gaelic language, culture, and music at Beinn Mhàbu.
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Background
Owen began playing the violin at four years old as a Pineland Suzuki School student, learning music by ear; his first violin was a box with a ruler stuck in it “played” with a wooden dowel rod. He studied with Betsy Kobayashi for ten years and participated in several chamber & orchestral ensembles including the Capital Strings ensemble, Mozart Mentors Orchestra, Maine All State Orchestra, and Mid-Maine Youth Orchestra.
Although he enjoyed the challenge and intricate harmonies of classical music, Owen's true love is fiddling. At seven, Owen began lessons with Maine Master Fiddler Ellen Gawler and performing with the youth group she leads, the Pineland Fiddlers. From his very first fiddle performance of Shetland tunes at the beloved Skye Theatre, it became clear that Owen had a gift: his infectious joy in sharing traditional music. Owen continues to join Ellen Gawler on stage whenever he can and has a deep affection for the Maine Maritime style he plays for contradances, at Maine Fiddle Camp, and at various celebrations and local events.
Owen’s connection to the Scottish style was ignited in Cape Breton, when he first visited with the Pineland Fiddlers in 2015 and when he returned for Celtic Colours 2018. The flame grew in 2019, with an immersion into the music of the otherworldly Shetland Islands at the Shetland Folk Frenzy and jam sessions in Edinburgh. Soon after, Owen met champion Celtic fiddler Seán Heely and was inspired by Seán’s performances and workshops at the Acadia Traditional School of Music and Dance and Fiddle Hell, motivating him to dive into the Scottish fiddling tradition and join Seán’s studio in 2020, and culminating in his own recent win at the Junior US National Scottish Fiddle Championship competition. Since then, they have performed together in Maine each year beginning in 2021 with events at the Boothbay Railway Festival, Doolin’s Pub, and Searsport Shores. In May 2022, Owen joined Seán and Beth Patterson to perform at The Hayloft at Dragonfly Barn, with Belfast Flying Shoes at Mermaid Plaza, at Irish Night at Blue in Portland, as part of the Old South Church Concert Series in Farmington, and in their final stop on the May Tour, Bangor Celtic Crossroads. In August, Owen was a guest performer with the Seán Heely Band at the Maine Highland Games and at The Dance Hall in Kittery. Later that same year, Owen won the New England Regional Open Scottish Fiddle Championship and was awarded best reel, best, strathspey, and best march as well. Most recently Owen and Seán played at the Maine Irish Heritage Center in Portland and at Cumston Hall in Monmouth.
In addition to performing with the Pineland Fiddlers, Owen played with the Maine Folque Co-op for many years, including when the group performed at the American Folk Festival in Bangor in 2015. Led by Cindy Larock and based in the Lewiston/Auburn area, the Maine Folque Co-op provided music for contradances and various special events like St. Patrick’s Day, the Great Falls Balloon Festival, and Maine Maple Sunday. In 2019, Owen joined the Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group, an auditioned trad band of teen musicians, singers, and dancers who focus on learning traditional music and dance repertoire, performing monthly in Vermont at venues like the Barre Opera House, the Chandler Center for the Arts, and the Highland Center for the Arts. In 2022-23 Owen was a Youth Artist Leader for the Touring Group, along with Artist Leaders Dominique Dodge and Andrea Beaton. The group toured Cape Breton playing music at schools, retirement communities, and at local venues including the Old Triangle Pub, Strathspey Place, and the Highland Village.
When Owen is not making music with friends, performing, or practicing on his own, he enjoys fishing, hiking, hanging out with his dogs, boating, taking drives down back roads, cooking, bonfires, and the occasional computer game with his buddies on Discord.
Selected Performances
2023
Flurry Festival with YTV Ambassadors - Saratoga Springs, NY
Brownington Ceilidh Club with Youth Commission - Brownington, VT
St. Patrick's Day with the Youth Commission - Montpelier, VT
Kennebec Contra Dance with the Pineland Fiddlers - Hallowell, ME
Surry Contra Dance with the Windjammers - Surry, ME
Chandler Center for the Arts with YTV Touring Group - Randolph, VT
Cape Breton Tour with YTV Touring Group - Highland Village, Old Triangle Pub, Gaelic College
Young Tradition Festival - Burlington, VT
Maine Irish Heritage Center with Seán Heely - Portland, ME
Oasis of Music - Lewiston, ME
Feast & Field Concert Series with Young Tradition Youth Commission - Barnard, VT
Farewell Reunion Concert with Young Tradition Youth Commission - Sheldon, VT
Fête de Mai with Young Tradition Youth Commission - Waterville, QC
Campfire Festival at Club Passim with Young Tradition Youth Commission - Cambridge, MA
Searsport Concert Series with Pineland Fiddlers and Ben Foss - Searsport, ME
Old South Church Concert Series with Ethan Tischler - Farmington, ME
Acadia Trad Festival with Owen Marshall and the Youth Commission - Bar Harbor, ME
Cherryfield House Concert with Ethan Tischler - Cherryfield, ME
Music at the J Concert Series with Owen Marshall - Portland, ME
Ships of 1801: Bochans & a Birthday - Mabou, Cape Breton NS
Highland Village Oidhche Shamhna (Gaelic Halloween) - Iona, Cape Breton NS
Weds Night Céilidh with Colin MacDonald at the Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College - St. Anns, Cape Breton NS
Tapestry Singers Concert "Tis the Season" - Damariscotta, ME
Boxing Day Contradance with Ellen Gawler and Ben Foss - Hallowell, ME
2022
Club Passim Virtual Open Mic Set
Brunswick Winter Farmers Market – Brunswick, ME
Boston Celtic Music Festival with Seán Heely (virtual)
Private Wedding – Marco Island, Florida
Mardi Gras Party with Young Tradition Vermont (virtual)
Mid Maine Youth Orchestra Concerts – Oakland, ME
New England Folk Festival Trad Fiddle Show (virtual)
Vermont Maple Festival with Young Tradition Touring Group - St. Albans, VT
Young Tradition Festival - Burlington, VT
Maine Tour with Seán Heely & Beth Patterson - Bridgton, Portland, Searsport, Farmington, Bangor
Make Music Portland - Portland, ME
East Fairfield Summer Concert Series - East Fairfield, VT
Maine Celtic Celebration - Belfast, ME
Cherryfield House Concert with Ethan Tischler - Cherryfield, ME
Readfield Union Meeting House with Greg Boardman & Steve Muise - Readfield, ME
Maine Red Hot Dog Festival - Dexter, ME
The Dance Hall with the Seán Heely Band - Kittery, ME
The Maine Highland Games with the Seán Heely Band - Brunswick, ME
Norland Living History Center - Livermore, ME
Burlington City Arts Concert with Young Tradition Vermont - Burlington, VT
New Hampshire Highland Games Open Competition - Lincoln, NH
The Big E Vermont Day with Pete Sutherland, Winslow & Sam - W Springfield, MA
Fiddlers in the Forest with Seán Heely - Lewiston, ME
Vienna Music Hall with Pineland Fiddlers and Seán Heely - Vienna, ME
Cumston Hall with Seán Heely - Monmouth, ME
notloB Parlour Concert with Ethan Tischler - Harvard, MA
Open for Waldo Fiddle Fest with Ethan Tischler - Waldoboro, ME
Open for Glenn Jenks Revue - Rockport, ME
Oasis of Music - Lewiston, ME
Open for House of Hamill - Farmington, ME
Open for Coig with Ethan Tischler - Farmington, ME
Laura Ingalls Christmas Concert - Clinton, ME
Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group Concert - Shelburne, VT
2021
Concert with Mid-Maine Youth Orchestra – Farmington, ME
Young Tradition Touring Group Online Event with Chandler Center for the Arts
Virtual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Portland video project
Virtual Celtic Equinox with Cabot Arts
Young Tradition Touring Group Online Event with Town Hall Theater in Middlebury VT
Solo Trad Fiddle Show with Virtual New England Folk Festival
Prizewinner Set with Virtual Young Tradition Festival & Duo Video with mentor & teacher, Seán Heely
Virtual Campfire Festival In the Round solo sets with Club Passim
Young Stars of Maine Prizewinners Concert – Rockport, ME
Make Music Portland at Bell Buoy Park and Lobsterman Park – Portland, ME
Virtual Old Songs Festival with Young Tradition Touring Group – Burlington, VT
Fiddle on the Front Porch solo show at Cumston Hall – Monmouth, ME
New World Festival, solo & with Owen Marshall – Randolph, VT
Edinboro Highland Games Junior US Nat’l Scottish Fiddle Competition (virtual)
Open for Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas – Colchester, VT
Fiddle in the Forest with Seán Heely – Auburn, ME
Boothbay Railway Village Fall Foliage Festival with Seán Heely – Boothbay, ME
Searsport Shores Pop-up Trip to Scotland with Seán Heely - Searsport, ME
Hometown Show with Seán Heely – Winthrop, ME
Waldo Fiddle Fest with Pineland Fiddlers – Waldoboro, ME
Solo at Down East Singers American Music Concert – Camden, ME
Best of All Things Irish in Maine
Open for Còig - Farmington, ME
2020
Concert with Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group – Barre, VT
Concert with Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group – Greensboro, VT
Irish Night at Blue Set for Hornpipe Night with Owen Marshall – Portland, ME
February Frolix Solo Show – Mount Vernon, ME
House Concert – Sarasota, FL
Mardi Gras Celebration with Maine Folque Co-op – Orono, ME
Vassalboro Dance with the Pineland Fiddlers – Vassalboro, ME
Concert with Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group – Randolph, VT
Maine All State Orchestra video project
Make Music Portland livestream shows
Floating Fiddle Concert – Belgrade Lakes, ME
Clover Manor with Maine Folque Co-op – Auburn, ME
Club Passim Virtual Open Mic
Live Interview + Solo Set for Young Tradition Vermont
Solo Scottish Fiddle Show for Oasis Music Series – Lewiston, ME
2019
St. Patrick’s Day at Maine Craft Distilling (Portland) and Governor’s Restaurant (Lewiston)
DownEast Country Dance Festival with the Maine Folque Co-op – Topsham, ME
Young Tradition Vermont Contest Finals Concert – Burlington, VT
Pineland Fiddlers Show with Gawler Family Band – Belfast, ME
Bangor Contradance with Maine Folque Co-op – Bangor, ME
Concert Opener for Acadia Trad Festival with Troy MacGillivray – Bar Harbor, ME
Windjammer Festival with Ben Foss – Boothbay Harbor, ME
The Big Gig solo set at the Shetland Folk Frenzy – Lerwick
Solo set & set with Pineland Fiddlers at joint show with Hjaltibonhoga – Lerwick, Shetland
Concert Opener for Pete’s Posse – Farmington, ME
MacArthur House Concert – Marlboro, VT
Oasis of Music show – Lewiston, ME
St. Andrew’s Day Show – Winthrop, ME
2014 to 2018
August 2014: American Folk Festival Maine Folklife Center with Maine Folque Co-op – Bangor, ME
June 2015: Cape Breton with Pineland Fiddlers – Gaelic College, Red Shoe Pub, Celtic Interpretive Center
September 2015: With Lisa Ornstein and Le Bruit Court dans la Ville at Olin Arts Center – Lewiston, ME
March 2016, 2017: Franco Day at the Maine State House with Maine Folque Co-op – Augusta, ME
August 2016: Maine Highland Games with Pineland Fiddlers – Topsham, ME
March 2017 & 2018: Maine Acoustic Festival – Hannaford Hall – Portland, ME
July 2017 & 2018: solo at Celebrity Chef Gala – Carrabassett Valley, ME
November 2017: solo at Tree for Boston Centennial Commemoration – Augusta, ME
March 2018: Contradance at Colby with Claude Méthé and Dana Whittle – Waterville, ME
April 2018: Boys & Girls Club of America Conference National Youth Talent Performers – San Diego, CA
April 2018: solo at Boys and Girls Club of America Board of Directors Dinner – San Diego, CA
August 2018: American Folk Festival Dance Tent with Genticorum – Bangor, ME
October 2018: visited Cape Breton for Celtic Colours with various open mics & sessions
Press
American teens strike the right chord with Celtic tunes during Cape Breton road trip – April 28, 2023
Interview with Ryan MacDonald, CTV News Atlantic Reporterhttps://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/american-teens-strike-the-right-chord-with-celtic-tunes-during-cape-breton-road-trip-1.6375919?fbclid=IwAR1VICMnTZGSMx1rGUIrSGlyfwSDMHtHDeztj51y8sE_WVZic003C45di8Q“Jr. National Scottish fiddler champion to play Fall Foliage Festival” – September 21, 2021
Lisa Kristoff at the Wiscasset Newspaper
“14-year-old Winthrop fiddler plays to see people smile” – November 16, 2019
Abigail Austin at the Kennebec Journal
“Kennedy to perform at national conference” – March 1, 2018
https://www.centralmaine.com/2018/03/01/kennedy-to-perform-at-national-conference/
Social Media Links & Contact Information
Website: www.fiddlerokennedy.com
Email: fiddlerokennedy@gmail.com
Facebook & Instagram: @fiddlerokennedy
www.facebook.com/fiddlerokennedy
www.instagram.com/fiddlerokennedy
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FiddlerOwenKennedy
Booking: Christina Kennedy at (207) 620-2355 or fiddlerokennedy@gmail.com
Hometown: Winthrop, Maine