Piano, Guitar, Bass

Allan's background in the Cape Breton Musical Tradition is the backbone of his ability to accompany any fiddler, past and present. From Carl MacKenzie, Buddy MacMaster, Rodney MacDonald, Howie MacDonald, John Morris Rankin and John Pellerin for dances and Ceilidhs, to the new generation of up and coming fiddlers such as Troy MacGillivray and Shelly Campbell.

Allan's first 13 years, growing up in Halifax consisted of regular visits from Dave MacIsaac and most anyone who came to the city for a Cape Breton Dance. His musical beginnings were on acoustic guitar, playing for his sister on fiddle and mother on piano. It was the default instrument that wasn't already taken. Around the age of 8, he began to follow along on one of the piano while his mother would play solos or to a tape in the stereo, and was instructed to "do it right if you are going to do it at all". That is all it took for encouragement. There was no formal training of any sort, it was all by ear and by attending every concert, dance and house party he could.

Moving to Antigonish at age 13 was the best thing that could have pushed this interest forward. It was a nerve centre at that time for fiddlers coming to town to take lessons and it was close to Cape Breton. Through this growth of listening and learning, he soon became a regular every summer playing for local dances and "filling in for a set" to give the piano player a break.
"Listening to this music is the only way you really learn it. The Cape Breton style is not written down. You develop it by living it and interpreting what you hear." In between "day jobs" Allan began to tour around North America playing Cape Breton Style Piano. Allan toured with Ashley MacIsaac, and with Mary Jane Lamond as a band member, and independently with a host of others such as Dougie MacDonald, Paul MacDonald, Kieran O'Hare and Jerry Holland.

It was upon return of a trip to Mexico with Jerry in March of 2001 that Allan received a call from Natalie inquiring about his interest in playing with her touring band. Allan has known Natalie since childhood. Playing concerts and dances in years past, and his sister and Natalie were both members of the Youth Fiddlers in the 1980's. It was a non issue in saying yes to being interested, and after some evaluation, Natalie called back and it has been a learning experience ever since.

"Natalie plays traditional Cape Breton music. I play traditional Cape Breton music. The rest of the band creates a melding of an assortment of other influences. Jazz, rock, funk, Irish and the list goes on. This is the most fun I have ever had, and if you attend one of Natalie's shows, you will recognize this on stage, as the chemistry that is created, is conveyed to each and everyone in attendance" says Allan.