Local Manitoba musicians, Morgan Grace and Mitchell Makoons had the opportunity to perform at Juno Beach for the D-Day Anniversary commemoration.
Morgan Grace is a 17-year-old left-handed fiddle player from Manitoba, who has been playing since she was four years old.
“The sound of the fiddle has been a part of my life well before I ever picked it up. I was fortunate that music was always around our home,” she said.
Veterans Affairs Canada found Grace’s fiddle playing on YouTube and invited her and her dad, Keith out to play. Her dad couldn’t make it and Morgan suggested Mitchell Makoons should join and accompany her with guitar.
The accompaniment of Makoons brought so much to the performance and the way he influenced how they played their songs was very important.
Grace’s time spent with the Veterans and Elders was a big takeaway for her and they have reconnected with some of those people back in Manitoba.
Her experience in France has been a standout highlight for her in her music career to date.
Morgan Grace and her dad shared that the music they play is to share the culture of music that she has been brought up in. A goal for Grace is to continue playing bigger stages and continue sharing her music and culture.
The connection Grace makes with youth and Elders is so important for people to see a young musician carry traditions and culture.
Mitchell Makoons is a roots/rock artist from Brandon, Manitoba, and began his musical journey at the age of seven, playing guitar to accompany his grandfather and brother on Métis fiddle tunes.
At the 2023 Manitoba Country Music Awards, Mitchell Makoons was nominated for Roots Artist, Duo or Group of the Year and the Emerging Artist Award.
He released his debut album Lady Boots earlier this year with eight tracks. Makoons wrote every song on the album except for the “Travelling Song,” which was gifted to him by an Elder in his community. Makoons asked if he could make a modern version of the song and included it on the album.
Makoons is planning to go on the road in the fall to play these songs live and would love to stay on tour as long as possible.
Make sure to stay up to date with both Morgan Grace and Mitchell Makoons and all of the exciting shows and projects they have going on!
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