Ian Bell is a Canadian folk musician who performs and records on a part-time basis but has worked professionally across Canada and the United States for more than a quarter of a century. He appears on dozens of recordings as a sideman and also releases material under his own name.

Career

Bell performs in concerts and at folk festivals in a wide range of venues. His festival appearances include Winnipeg, Mariposa, Edmonton, Ottawa, Yellowknife, Owen Sound, Lunenberg and Montmagny, among others. He also continues to play regularly for old-time square and contra dances across Southern Ontario.

His work takes in seldom-heard Canadian musical traditions, which he incorporates into his performances. Over roughly the past 30 years, he has presented his music through concerts, broadcasts and recordings from coast to coast.

Groups and collaborations

Bell leads The Dawnbreakers and Professor Chalaupka's Celebrated Singing School. He is also a former member of Muddy York, the Canadian folk group he performs with alongside Anne Lederman. With that group, and with Wade Hemsworth, he performs at Expo 86 in Vancouver at the Folklife Pavilion.

Bell has a long-time collaboration with Anne Lederman, including travel to Estonia to perform at the Viljandi Folk Festival.

Notable appearances and honours

In 1993, Bell is named Folk Artist in Residence at Joseph Schneider Haus Museum in Kitchener, Ontario. In 2004, he appears as part of the Roots of American Music Festival at Lincoln Centre in New York City.

Recordings

Bell's most recent CD is Shallow Water, which is released in November 2006. He also appears on several recordings under his own name as well as many as a supporting musician.