Richard Wood & Friends – Celebrating 200 Years of the Benevolent Irish Society on PEI

We are thrilled to present Richard Wood & Friends, the first of four original shows on PEI celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Benevolent Irish Society.

Richard Wood (Fiddle) is a multiple ECMA award winner, renowned for his exceptional fiddle and step-dancing skills. With over 30 years of international performances, Richard has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most accomplished musicians. He was named one of Maclean’s magazine’s Top 100 Canadians to watch in the 21st Century. Career highlights include performances with Shania Twain and The Chieftains and prestigious venues like Lincoln Centre, Kennedy Centre, and Carnegie Hall. Richard has also appeared on major televised programs such as The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, and a live broadcast on Parliament Hill to an audience of over 100,000.

Joining Richard for this special show will be:

• Kimberley Holmes (Keyboard): A talented musician who began playing piano at age 5. Kimberley is Canada’s premier piano accompanist for traditional fiddling, with over 15 years of teaching experience.
• Skip Holmes (Guitar, Bouzouki): A member of the “Up Home Tonight” house band, Skip has over 45 years of professional experience and teaches guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin.
• College of Piping (Dance): Featuring award-winning dance instructors Samantha MacKay and Laura Johnston, this dynamic duo will add the perfect touch of traditional step dancing to the performance.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, dance, and tradition to celebrate the Benevolent Irish Society’s incredible milestone!