The Bookends

2025 Juno Awards - Nominee Traditional Roots Album of the Year - "The Road Back Home" Loreena McKennitt
2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards - Traditional Album of the Year nominee for A Celtic Celebration

From foot-stomping reels to soaring airs, The Bookends take their audience on a musical adventure with good natured banter, fascinating footnotes, and a steady switching of instruments. These multi-instrumentalists explore the library of traditional gems and contemporary favourites from the Celtic world and draw on their diverse musical backgrounds to craft a compelling repertoire with distinct arrangements and original compositions.

The tale of The Bookends begins in the storybook town of Stratford, Ontario where the wafting notes of an Irish whistle brought together two neighbouring couples on a warm summer’s eve. This serendipitous pairing of Cait & Pete Watson and Miriam & Errol Fischer, with a shelf-full of stories and a collection of instruments between them, became The Bookends.

The Bookends have appeared at numerous Celtic and Folks festivals including the IRL Festival, Stratford Summer Music and Streetside LIVE! festivals and in 2021 were headlined at the gold-standard of Canada’s festival scene: the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival.

In addition to their own shows and tours, The Bookends have performed for several years as the backing band for multi-platinum, international sensation Loreena McKennitt, performing in both her Under A Winter’s Moon Christmas concert series, which was recorded and released as a live album, as well as in a series of rare performances headlining numerous festivals in Ontario in August 2023. These performances were captured on her live album, The Road Back Home, which was released in March of 2024.

The band released their first album, Chapter One, in April 2020 during the early days of the pandemic. This timing required creativity and innovation when introducing their music to a world in lockdown. The Bookends’ efforts and unique approach to launching their debut album were fittingly featured in legendary journalist Jan Vanderhorst’s book Just Us Folk – We Shift and Remain. Roots Magazine Canada marveled that The Bookends “think outside the box” in their music and album promotion, crediting them with helping to boost the local economy in Stratford during the pandemic lockdowns.

In 2021 The Bookends began a performance and collaboration relationship with the renowned Stratford Symphony Orchestra. The resulting concert was recorded live and released as their second album, A Celtic Celebration, which has been nominated as Traditional Album of the Year for the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Both Chapter One and A Celtic Celebration have enjoyed airplay on radio and popular podcasts around the world. Currently, the band is working on completing their second studio record, Chapter Two, which will be released in early 2026.

“It’s been wonderful to have The Bookends so close at hand and to be able to work with them. Their musicianship is warm, natural, yet invigorating. That they are lovely human beings and great to work with, is a bonus on top of everything else!!!”
Loreena McKennitt - Canadian singer/songwriter; award-winning Recording Artist

“The Bookends play from their hearts. Their warm personalities and musicality fill the room. Whether a rehearsal or a concert they elevate the gathering with their heartfelt and uplifting tunes. They have great arrangements and consistently keep the audience tapping their feet!”
William Rowson - Principal Conductor & Musical Director, Stratford Symphony Orchestra

"The Bookends brought their full sound of high energy, driving rhymes and beautifully crafted Celtic melodies to the stage. It was the perfect ending to our Friday night line-up!"
Cheryl Prashker - Artistic Director, Goderich Celtic Festival