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Maggie McKaig is a singer/songwriter/instrumentalist, among other talents (read on), who makes her home outside of Nevada City, California. A guitar player and songwriter since she was eleven years old, and an accordionist since the 1989 earthquake, she lights up the stage with the exceptional technique and great tone she brings out of her instruments, while singing in a voice that is natural and authentic. She’s lived through major accidents and illnesses, deaths of loved ones, war and peace, and many travels, and writes about all that is interesting and near and dear to her. This 5th generation California native has also learned and perfected the skills of herbalist, Jin Shin Jytsu, ranch hand, horse trainer, gardener, dog whisperer, tractor driver, cook, mom, theatre director/playwright, teacher of music and drama, teller of tales, and occasionally practices them all simultaneously. Which is something to witness. Maggie began what she calls her “serious musical career” in Calgary, Alberta, and spent nine years playing at many music festivals and clubs in Canada, including Calgary Folk Festival, Edmonton Folk Festival, Regina Folk Festival, Saskatoon Folk Festival, and North Country Folk Festivals. Returning to California, she continued playing while also directing youth musical theatre productions in Nevada County and San Francisco. Specializing in writing original plays based on stories from around the world, she has worked and performed with such wonderful world music artists as Miguel Santos, Monica Bermudez, Ricardo Diaz, Zakariya Diouf, Naomi Washington, Laura Elaine Ellis, Nader Shahin, Amina Goodyear, Susu Pampanin, Danny Duncan, Mestre Beicola, Mary Dollar, Jo Krieter, Aunty Linda Pi'ilani, Carlos Gonzalez, Ed Holmes, Janet Koike, Carolyn Brandy, George Brooks, Emily Klion, Russel Wright, Michelle Jordan, and Kaila Flexer. With her long time partner multi-instrumentalist Luke Wilson, Maggie has had a few bands, including Lost in the Colonies, the Celtic Wonder Band, the McKaig Wilson Band, and Storm Session. Together Luke and Maggie have recorded five CD’s. Luke, born in Oshawa, Ontario, plays banjo, tenor guitar, cittern, dobro, slide guitar, just about anything else with strings, and has an awesome tenor. A veteran of the Canadian and European club and festival scenes, Luke also has a long-standing career as a studio musician, arranger, and producer. Starting with his first band in 1965, Luke has been playing professionally ever since. With musical partner Ron Paul Morin he moved to England in 1970. The duo recorded their first and only album, "Peaceful Company" in 1971. It was produced by John Pearse for Capitol Records. Deciding they didn't like their Capitol contract after all, and seeking to explore other musical avenues, Morin and Wilson eventually went their separate ways. Luke played with several other British musicians during that time including Major Wiley and banjo player Pete Stanley. In 1975 Luke moved back to Canada to Calgary, Alberta, set up shop as a luthier, and formed the band Buckdancer's Choice. A few years later after Buckdancer's Choice broke up, he formed the band Lost in the Colonies, which Maggie eventually joined, and which played many Canadian festivals. By this time Luke was widely known for his amazing improvisational skills on numerous instruments, and his ability to play and fit into all kinds of musical settings, be it blues, jazz, country, rock, bluegrass, or folk. He lent his talents to numerous well-known musicians and bands at the time such as Backline Orchestra, the Diamond Joe White Band, musician Ken Hamm, jazz vibraphonist Arnold Faber, Peter Marley, and many others. Moving with Maggie and their young son to Nevada City, California in 1985, Luke has since played with many of Nevada County's finest bands and musicians including Utah Phillips, Alasdair Fraser, Saul Rayo. Peter Wilson, Tom MacDonald, Sands Hall, Charlie Brock, Joe Fajen, Kimberly Bass, and with Jukolin. When not playing, arranging, or producing music, Luke continues to work in his shop Wolfnote Studio as a luthier, a skill handed down by his grandfather. He also loves to drive his tractor around his farm. Maggie has also performed with two-time Grammy winner Mary Youngblood as guitarist and backup singer, and Vermillion Lies. Other fine Nevada County musicians Maggie has performed with include Peter Wilson (with Luke as the Wilson Triplets), Sands Hall, Joe Fajen, Charlie Brock, and the young folk songstress Mariee Sioux. She has taught guitar at Alasdair Fraser's Valley of the Moon Fiddle Camp, in which she learned among other things how little sleep one actually needs and still be able to function at a reasonable level. Recent Performances Odd Fellows Hall, Nevada City With Mary Youngblood: Imagination Theatre, Placerville, CA Web Links: www.cdbaby.com/cd/stormsession Worthy organizations Maggie has played benefits for: Hospitality House: Unitarian Universalist Church in Grass Valley South Yuba River Citizen’s League: Nevada County TeleVision (NCTV) Briar Patch Natural Foods Coop |
