Sophie & Fiachra bridge the gap between Québec and Ireland. Québécoise Sophie Lavoie has a “lovely voice” (Songlines magazine) and “has captured the essence of Quebecois music with her fiddling” (Fiddler Magazine). Irish musician Fiachra O’Regan is all-Ireland Champion on the pipes and whistle. His music has been described as a “fine example of good and solid uilleann piping »(Mustrad UK).
Together, Sophie & Fiachra have been active on the international folk/celtic/trad scene for more than a decade. They have recorded numerous albums acclaimed by critics and appeared in major international events including Celtic Connections (Scotland), Milwaukee Irish Fest (USA), Aukland Folk Festival (NZ), WOMEX (Portugal), the Canada Games and the Canadian Folk Music Awards gala (Canada). Sophie & Fiachra’s music comes straight “from the heart” (Songlines Magazine). It brings the listener from one land to another, and from old to more recent repertoire thanks to Sophie, who « is also a sublime composer » (FolkWorld).
“One of the rising stars of Québécois music”
fRoots magazine
“Sophie Lavoie is also a sublime composer on Celtic/French terrain”
folkworld.de
“lovely voice and expert fiddling”
Songlines magazine, UK
“Her tune compositions are lithe and masterful”
The Irish Times
Sophie Lavoie is a musician (fiddle player, pianist and singer) and ethnomusicologist from Lac-Saint-Jean, in Québec. She grew up in a family where traditional music and songs were to be heard often and she started learning music herself with classical piano at the age of 10. In 2004, Sophie graduated from the University of Montreal with a Batchelor degree in Classical Piano and in 2019 she submitted her thesis Les violoneux du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean : style et répertoire des derniers de leur lignée and obtained a Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology. Sophie has recorded on numerous albums acclaimed by critics, such as L’Attisée (2010), Sophie & Fiachra (2010), Rewind (2014), Un Canadien errant (2016), Au bout du rang (2016), Portraits (2019), Le bonhomme sept heures/The Bonesetter (2021) and Bleu bleu (2023). Notably, her latest album Bleu bleu « has captured the essence of quebecois music » (Fiddler Magazine). This work of entirely original, inspired by quebecois traditional songs, is « a gem » (Fiddler Magazine).
Sophie has also been described as a “sublime composer” (folkworld) and an “expert fiddler” (songlines magazine). She obtained three nominations (2016, 2019, 2022) at Canadian Folk Music Awards in the category Traditional Singer of the Year. She has given talks and workshops in most prestigious institutions, such as Université de Montréal and the world recognized Irish Word Academy of Music and Dance, in Ireland, where she taught for a full semester. Sophie is “one of the rising stars of Québécois music” (fRoots Magazine). sophielavoie.ca
“A truly remarkable and sincere work”
Ildiapasonblog Italy, Alessandro Nobis
“A fine example of good solid uilleann piping”
Mustrad UK, Ken Ricketts & Marya Parker
“Fiachra’s piping is particularly impressive, sometimes wild like Paddy Keenan, sometimes more delicately restrained like Liam O’Flynn could be, and always spot on”
fRoots Magazine
“From the first note to the last, excellence dominates and Fiachra’s talent shines through. A real success.”
Le Peuple Breton / 5 Planètes, Philippe Cousin
“In a world where the solo tradition is rarely in the spotlight, this album is sunlit upland of the piper’s art”
Irish Music Magazine, Seán Laffey
Fiachra comes from Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland. He plays uilleann pipes, tin whistle, tenor-banjo & Mandola. He is internationally recognised in a solo capacity and as a member of various bands. His music has taken him all around the globe as a tutor and performer. He has received many awards and accolades for his musical work over the years, and been lucky to share the stage with many renowned musicians.
Fiachra has appeared on and recorded for several TV shows over the years and his recorded works are played regularly on radio in North America and Europe.
In 2023 he released his second solo Album Na Beanna Beola which was exceptionally well received by critics. fiachrapipes.com