Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys

Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys

Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys is a roots and bluegrass group from Charlottetown, Canada, active since 2010. The band centres on Gordie MacKeeman, whose fiddle playing and stage movement are part of the act’s live identity, alongside a rhythm section that supports a strongly arranged roots sound.

Line-up

The group features Gordie MacKeeman on fiddle, feet and vocals; Mark Geddes on bass, drums, percussion, mandolin and banjo; Thomas Webb on vocals, banjo, guitar, pedal steel guitar and bass; and Peter Cann on vocals and guitar. The band also comes from Prince Edward Island, and its performances are known for high-energy showmanship and close engagement with audiences.

Recordings and style

The group’s album Pickin’ n Clickin’, produced by Nathan Wiley, draws on traditional bluegrass and roots music and also includes rockabilly-inspired rhythms, upbeat reels and slower laments. It features MacKeeman’s fiddle work alongside original songs including ‘Gonna Get Out’, ‘Hay Boys’, ‘Scrape the Paint’ and ‘Working Title’, as well as ‘Jim’s Lament’, ‘Champagne Polka’, ‘King Ganam Style’ and a cover of Two Hours Traffic’s ‘Heroes of the Sidewalk’.

Awards and performances

Pickin’ n Clickin’ wins the 2014 East Coast Music Award for Roots Traditional Group Recording of the Year. The band also receives the Galaxie Supernova Award at the 2012 Ottawa Folk Festival for outstanding high-energy performance. Their touring includes appearances at Glastonbury Festival, the Woodford Folk Festival, WOMAD and Celtic Connections, as well as performances across Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Malaysia and Australia.