Enter the Haggis Plays Iota

January 9

Recommended Beverage to go with this show:
I.P.A.: bold and hoppy

Enter...a talented Celtic band from Toronto. Enter the Haggis, an all-male quintet of multi-instrumentalists, was engaging and truly brimming with talent. These blokes managed to mix so many different genres of music and so fluidly. "We get bored really easily," lead singer Brian Buchanan commented to me. That works to the fans' advantage, as they fused Celtic with rock, bluegrass, folk, and in some songs Latin rhythms.

Buchanan also played fiddle and acoustic guitar. Craig Downie, who sang lead vocals on several songs and had the most Irish-sounding singing voice of the bunch, also played Highland bagpipes, acoustic guitar, and a tin whistle. Guitarist Trevor Lewington alternated between acoustic and electric guitars and also sang lead a couple of times. They were backed by two tight musicians keeping the rhythm, drummer James Campbell and bassist Mark Abraham.

What is haggis? It's a hearty Scottish stew, traditionally made with lamb and/or mutton and oatmeal. Enter the Haggis, therefore, is the perfect name for these guys who created a fantastic, lively musical stew. It was a clapping, toe-tapping, and booty-shaking good time.