about SPRAOI
Spraoi (pronounced Spree) is a Traditional Music ensemble from Toronto. Centred around the accordion playing of Pat Simmonds the group features a number of instruments including fiddles, guitars and pianos.
Pat has spent a lifetime associated with traditional music, teaching and performing from New Zealand to Ireland and back again. The group is now based out of Toronto but features musicians scatterd from Melbourne to An Spideal in Conamara. You will find Pat at his regular weekly session (informal music gatherings) at Dora Keogh's Pub on the Danforth every Thursday. Collaborators include Jon Pilatzke: fiddle (The Step Crew and The Chieftains), Steve Simmonds: guitar and songs (The Coogans), Bill Kervin: percussion (Tara Nova), Gino Bonham: guitars and bouzoukis and Charlie Gray: keyboards and horns (Aretha Franklin).
Soundtrack for The Toronto Irish Film Festival on Vimeo
News
Work is finally beginning on the first album of intsrumental dance tracks. Stay tuned for an upcoming episode of Being Erica where Pat performs in the Irish episode.
Recent Projects
Works include providing the guitars and accordion on Loreena McKennitt's Juno nominated album "The Wind that Shakes the Barley", having a song and performance placed on "Being Erica" and providing music for the openning of Ireland Park in Toronto. "Billy Bishop Goes to War", a musical film that Pat recorded much of the music for, has just been released for nationwide cinemas. Pat runs his own mobile recording studio and has produced a number of award winning albums for Enoch Kent and Jon Brooks.
Wedding Ceilis
The Cabbagetown Ceili Band is Spraoi's alter ego. They have played wedding dances all across Southern Ontario and the northern United States. The band has a professional dance caller guaranteed to get young and old alike up off their seats and onto the dance floor. They cater for Irish/Scottish and Canadian style ceilis with an extensive dance card that can be easily adapted to suit client's tastes.
See a Youtube demonstration video
Music Samples
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