18-Year-Old Fiddler Irish Millie Earns Single of the Year Nomination and Folk Music Ontario Performing Artist of the Year Recognition
Irish Millie, the 18-year-old Canadian fiddler, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who is taking the roots scene by storm, has released “You Were There,” the standout single from her acclaimed EP Between Then and Now. The track has earned the young artist her seventh Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, this time for Single of the Year. Simultaneously, she earned her fifth consecutive nomination for Young Performer of the Year, having been recognized in that category every year since the release of her debut album Thirteen in 2021.
The Peterborough native has also been recognized as a nominee for Folk Music Ontario’s 2025 Performing Artist of the Year, cementing her status as one of Canadian folk music’s most dynamic rising voices. Released on July 6, 2025, via LaunchPad Records, Between Then and Now showcases Irish Millie’s artistic evolution, blending East Coast drive, Bluegrass energy, and Contemporary Trad grit across four compelling tracks. “You Were There,” co-written with Matthew Cicciarella, features Millie on fiddle and vocals alongside Cicciarella on guitar, with Tyler Martin contributing electric guitar and additional string arrangements.
Produced by Martin at Electric Alchemy and mastered by Gregory Pastic, the song exemplifies Millie’s gift for crafting emotionally resonant material that honors tradition while pushing boundaries. The EP’s four tracks, including “Allison,” “Mystery to Me,” and “WASTED,” reveal different facets of Millie’s artistry. From the intimate fiddle and guitar interplay of “Allison” to the fuller arrangement of “WASTED” featuring piano and drums, the collection demonstrates her versatility as both performer and composer.
Her ability to play fiddle, vocals, piano, guitar, and foot percussion gives her music a distinctive sonic signature that has captivated audiences across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Her previous album GRACE earned praise from Celtic music royalty Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, who called it “Fresh, lively… cool tunes and great playing”. Alex Monaghan of FolkWorld Magazine wrote, “What most grabs me about Irish Millie’s music is the passion, full of fun, fire, and feeling for the music she loves”.
Irish Millie will embark on her second East Coast Holiday Tour with long-time music collaborator Luka Hall from December 27, 2025, to January 2, 2026, performing five intimate shows across Ontario. The mini-tour continues a growing holiday tradition for the pair, blending Millie’s lively Celtic folk fiddle tunes and Luka’s soulful acoustic songwriting. Each stop features stories, spontaneous collaborations, and plenty of audience sing-alongs, offering a cozy, communal way to close out the year and ring in the new one with music, laughter, and connection.
A past Peterborough Folk Festival Emerging Artist of the Year and recipient of the Peterborough Civic Award for Community Betterment for her “Fiddling for Fox” campaign, Millie is currently studying Music Industry & Technology at the University of Toronto while maintaining an active touring and recording schedule. She is supported on stage by her father, Murray Shadgett, on guitar. Planning for a July 2026 tour across Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes is currently underway.
Hi, Millie! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers for those not familiar with your music?
Hi! I’m Irish Millie — an 18-year-old Canadian fiddler, singer, and multi-instrumentalist from Peterborough, Ontario. My music blends contemporary folk with East Coast and bluegrass influences, creating a sound that’s energetic, emotional, and rooted in storytelling.
I started performing when I was nine, and I’ve been recording, touring, and growing as an artist ever since. With several Canadian Folk Music Award nominations and a deep love for performing, I’m always working to make music that feels alive, authentic, and connected to the traditions that shaped me.
“You Were There” just earned a Single of the Year nomination and your seventh CFMA nod. When you recorded it, did you have any sense it would become such a defining track for you?
Not at all — “You Were There” began as something very small and personal. I wrote it with my partner, Matthew, in my first-year university dorm room after he told me he didn’t think he could write songs. I wanted to challenge him, and together we created something honest and vulnerable.
It’s a song about finding love in the strangest places without trying, and realizing someone was exactly who you needed all along. We’ve continued collaborating on stage and across social media ever since, which makes the song even more meaningful. I never expected it to resonate this widely or lead to a Single of the Year nomination, so it has been a very special surprise.
You play fiddle, piano, guitar, vocals, and foot percussion. When you begin a new song, which instrument usually leads you into the story?
For instrumentals, it’s always the fiddle — that’s where my emotional vocabulary lives. I improvise until a melody hits the right feeling, and that usually becomes the foundation.
But for songs with lyrics, guitar is my starting place. It gives me the space to explore chord progressions, phrasing, and vocal ideas naturally. So fiddle shapes the instrumentals, guitar guides the songs — and together they help define the story I want to tell.
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy have praised your playing, and FolkWorld highlighted the “fire and feeling” in your music. How do you hold onto that sense of fun and passion while growing at such a fast pace?
I stay connected to the real-life experiences that shape me. I write from my actual stories, emotions, relationships, and moments — it keeps the music honest and helps my life and art feel like one journey.
The joy of playing keeps me grounded too. The fiddle has always been my happiest place, and that spark stays no matter how busy things get. Playing with my dad, Murray, also keeps everything rooted in love, family, and fun.
You already have a July 2026 tour in the works. What themes or sounds are you hoping to explore as you move into your next chapter?
I’m excited to record a lot more, especially vocally. I’ve been writing new material and I’m already in the early stages of working on new music. My themes lately revolve around growing up, independence, connection, and finding your place in the world while life keeps shifting.
Musically, I want to experiment with fuller arrangements, richer harmonies, and new textures that let the fiddle shine in different ways. I also hope to return to Europe in this next chapter — and hopefully play some big, big venues as a cherry on top. This chapter feels bold, emotional, and full of momentum, and I can’t wait to share what’s ahead.
East Coast Holiday Tour Dates:
December 27 – Torchbearer Taproom, Oshawa (9-11 PM)
December 28 – Brewer’s Pantry, Bowmanville (2 PM)
December 29 – Princess Gardens, Peterborough
December 31 – Dockside Bistro, Campbellford
January 1 – Royal Gardens, Peterborough
*Planning for a July 2026 tour across Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island is currently underway.
Connect with Irish Millie:
Website
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok