North Atlantic Drift is a Canadian Celtic ensemble whose music reflects the long‑standing cultural exchange between Ireland, Scotland and the East Coast of Canada. The group’s name refers to the ocean current that flows from eastern Canada toward western Europe and Ireland, symbolizing the historical movement of people, traditions and musical styles across the North Atlantic. The trio consists of: Brian Taheny, a multi‑instrumentalist originally from Sligo, Ireland, Dan MacDonald, a fiddler from Cape Breton Island, known for its strong Scottish‑Gaelic musical heritage, Ross Griffiths, a piper rooted in the Ontario piping tradition. Together, they form a musical “triangle” that blends regional Celtic influences into a distinctly Canadian sound. Their repertoire incorporates traditional tunes, contemporary compositions and cross‑Atlantic stylistic elements, performed on a wide range of acoustic instruments. The result is a multi‑instrumental, multi‑styled Celtic fusion that highlights both shared heritage and regional diversity. North Atlantic Drift’s music emphasizes melodic interplay, rhythmic drive and the subtle differences between Irish, Scottish and Canadian Celtic traditions. Their work contributes to the broader landscape of modern Celtic music in Canada, where cultural influences from both sides of the Atlantic continue to intersect.
See for more.
Good Intentions I
Lost in the Sprawl I
Lost in the Sprawl II
Polaris
Albatross
North Atlantic Drift
Concrete Oceans
Luminous
Monuments
Waiting in the Afterglow
Obsidian Flows