Dave Gunning

The Pictou County, Nova Scotia born and bred singer-songwriter and working class hero has built up from humble beginnings to a point where his name is regularly included in conversation with artists such as David Francey, James Keelaghan, Ron Hynes, Stan Rogers, Bruce Cockburn and Gordon Lightfoot.  Writing from a sonic menu that includes flavors of Irish, Scottish, French Acadian, folk and country musical styles, Dave transcends genre with songs that fill your senses and touch your soul.

Dave is celebrating another milestone with the release of his new recording project, No More Pennies (September 2012) marking another chapter for one of Canada’s finest songwriters. No More Pennies, features 12 original songs penned by Gunning and includes co-writes with George Canyon, Dave Francey, Bruce Guthro, Lennie Gallant, Jamie Robinson, Jim Dorie and Scottish songstress Karine Polwart.

Allie Bennett

Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia native Allie Bennett is in his 38th year in the Canadian music industry. He has toured Canada, the U.S., Britain, Sweden, Australia, and Germany and has over 125 album projects to his credit as a studio musician. He has worked with John Allan Cameron, Rita MacNeil, Valdy, Murray McLauchlan, The Rankin Family, The Barra MacNeils, Mary Jane Lamond, Natalie MacMaster, Bruce Guthro, Dave Gunning, Howie MacDonald, Ashley MacIsaac, the late Raylene Rankin, the late Stan Rogers, and many more.

Allie was Musical Director for the 1995 East Coast Music Awards. He was also band leader for the 1997 and 1998 editions of the Cape Breton Summertime Review and the 2000 and 2001 productions of Howie's Celtic Brew. In 2003 he was Musical Director of The Rise And Follies Of Cape Breton - The Second Coming. In 2005, Allie was the recipient of the ECMA Musician's Achievement Award. In 2011, he received another ECMA for his co-production of Dave Gunning's A Tribute to John Allan Cameron CD, which won for Roots/Traditional Solo Recording of the Year.

In 2004, Allie released a fiddle album, his first solo project aptly titled "It's About Time", and will be publishing an Instructional Book on Cape Breton Fiddle. He lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where he operates a private music school teaching fiddle and guitar, as well as working as a studio and touring musician.