Folk concert featuring the New Brunswick trio Preeper Rhaye MacKay, led by singer-songwriter Jessica Rhaye.
Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper and Sandy MacKay play The Carleton on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. They perform as the New Brunswick folk trio Preeper Rhaye MacKay, and the set is built around their new music.
The trio's sound is a Maritime Appalachian folk rooted in three-part harmony. They draw on Woody Guthrie, Ian Tyson and early Bob Dylan, and their cover of "Blowin' in the Wind" has gathered more than 21 million YouTube views. Critics have likened them to a modern-day Peter, Paul and Mary.
Each member brings a different background to the group. Jessica Rhaye is an independent singer-songwriter and graphic design artist with more than 25 years of touring and nine albums; she leads on rhythm guitar and high harmony. Bill Preeper has played folk since the 1980s, when he worked at the CBC, and adds intricate fingerstyle guitar and mandolin; he also co-founded Bonnett House in 2015. Sandy MacKay is a multi-instrumentalist with over 40 years of experience, his upright and electric bass underpinning the sound.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Halifax and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
Their 2024 debut, Wood & Wire, was recorded at the Capitol Theatre in Oxford, Nova Scotia, and earned an ECMA Roots Release of the Year nomination. They followed it with Blackberry Lane in 2026, and this show celebrates that new material. Tickets are C$28.50, which is C$25 plus HST.
