BIO
Prairie Wolfe has been a part of the traditional Celtic music communities of Boston, Seattle, and her native Vancouver, BC for over two decades. She was inspired to play fiddle when she heard Canadian fiddler Anne Lederman on CBC. She got her fiddling start in the Vancouver Scottish Fiddle Club, studying the Cape Breton style with Scottish fiddler Shona Le Mottée. She embarked on a pilgrimage to Cape Breton Island to meet her musical idols, and ended up on a trial-by-fire tour through Europe with Goth-Irish trio Damanta before finally settling down in New England, USA.
In Boston, Prairie taught adult learners, and was a founding member of MIT contradance band La Banane Enchantée, infamous for fusing Disney, Top-40, and bananas. After migrating to Seattle, Prairie joined French Canadian step-dance/crankies musical group Podorythmie, representing Canada among American and French members. Podorythmie has performed on numerous festival stages, including Vancouver Folk Festival in 2017, Northwest Folklife Festival in 2018, Festival du Bois and Mission Folk Festival in 2019, and Harrison Festival of the Arts in 2022.
Since returning to Vancouver, Prairie has performed with Celtic rockers Kailyarders, English singer/songwriter Tim Readman, and appeared in Todd Wong's popular Gung Haggis Fat Choy Scottish-Chinese cultural extravaganza. Prairie currently leads contradance band Ground Effect.
SHOWS
february 2023
18feb7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH GROUND EFFECT
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT will feature the exciting sets from our September debut, and incorporate even more new tunes! Prairie Wolfe (fiddle, percussion) and Claire McCague (woodwinds) will be joined
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT will feature the exciting sets from our September debut, and incorporate even more new tunes! Prairie Wolfe (fiddle, percussion) and Claire McCague (woodwinds) will be joined by musical friends TBD. Maureen Collier is our esteemed dance caller.
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door. All levels of dancers welcome! Dancers will be required to mask.
Time
(Saturday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
march 2023
24mar(mar 24)3:00 pm26(mar 26)3:00 pmFestival du BoisWITH PODORYTHMIE
Event Details
Podorythmie is honoured to be invited back to Festival du Bois for its 2023 season. We are joined on Friday and Saturday by Devon and Louis Leger of
Event Details
Podorythmie is honoured to be invited back to Festival du Bois for its 2023 season. We are joined on Friday and Saturday by Devon and Louis Leger of La Famille Léger. Our schedule throughout the festival will be:
Friday, Mar 24: 7-8pm – with Devon and Louis Leger (Main Stage)
Saturday, Mar 25: 3-330pm – with Devon and Louis Leger (Children’s Tent)
Sunday, Mar 26: 1-130pm (Mackin House)
Time
24 (Friday) 3:00 pm – 26 (Sunday) 3:00 pm
Location
Mackin Park
1046 Brunette Ave, Coquitlam, BC V3K 1E7
17mar7:00 pm11:00 pmSt. Patrick’s Day @ The Jolly CoachmanWITH COLLIN WADE & LARRY CHURCH
Event Details
Time: 8pm-12am With Colllin Wade (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Larry Church (mandolin, bass, vocals), Prairie Wolfe (fiddle, bodhran, vocals)
Event Details
Time: 8pm-12am
With Colllin Wade (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Larry Church (mandolin, bass, vocals), Prairie Wolfe (fiddle, bodhran, vocals)
Time
(Friday) 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Location
The Jolly Coachman Pub
19167 Ford Rd, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B6
july 2023
08jul12:00 pm6:00 pmMulticultural ConnectionsWITH TIM READMAN
Event Details
Community event that will celebrate multiculturalism, diversity and inclusivity, featuring over a dozen musical and cultural performances from 10am to 6pm, as well as a great selection of
Event Details
Community event that will celebrate multiculturalism, diversity and inclusivity, featuring over a dozen musical and cultural performances from 10am to 6pm, as well as a great selection of food trucks representing different cuisines. Join Prairie Wolfe and Tim Readman as they journey across Canada and encounter the unique musical traditions of the Métis, French Canadians, and Cape Breton Island.
Time
(Saturday) 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Location
Lafarge Lake, Coquitlam BC
september 2023
10sep2:00 pm3:00 pmMacLean Park DanceWITH GROUND EFFECT
Event Details
Ground Effect and dance caller Maureen Collier will be leading a 50 minute social dance for community members at MacLean Park in Vancouver, BC. The free dance day
Event Details
Ground Effect and dance caller Maureen Collier will be leading a 50 minute social dance for community members at MacLean Park in Vancouver, BC. The free dance day will feature multiple dance acts. Come out and enjoy the music and sunshine! No partner needed. Beginners very welcome.
Time
(Sunday) 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location
MacLean Park
710 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Y6
october 2023
21oct7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH GROUND EFFECT
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion) and Claire McCague (woodwinds) will be joined by musical friends TBD. Seattle caller Koren Wake makes her intro. Dance
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion) and Claire McCague (woodwinds) will be joined by musical friends TBD. Seattle caller Koren Wake makes her intro.
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door–$15 for students and those arriving after halftime. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Saturday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
march 2024
08mar(mar 8)7:00 pm10(mar 10)1:00 pmFestival du BoisWITH PODORYTHMIE
Event Details
Podorythmie is honoured to be invited back to Festival du Bois for its 2024 season.
Event Details
Podorythmie is honoured to be invited back to Festival du Bois for its 2024 season.
Time
8 (Friday) 7:00 pm – 10 (Sunday) 1:00 pm
Location
Mackin Park
1046 Brunette Ave, Coquitlam, BC V3K 1E7
may 2024
18may7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH GROUND EFFECT
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion) and Claire McCague (woodwinds) will be joined by musical friends TBD. Dance will be at St. James Community Square
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion) and Claire McCague (woodwinds) will be joined by musical friends TBD.
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door–$15 for students and those arriving after halftime. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Saturday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
july 2024
26jul(jul 26)6:00 pm28(jul 28)6:00 pmMission Folk Music FestivalWITH GROUND EFFECT AND PODORYTHMIE
Event Details
We will be debuting a contradance at this year’s festival on Saturday, July 27th. Come join us! With Ground Effect and dance caller Maureen Collier. Additional details to
Event Details
We will be debuting a contradance at this year’s festival on Saturday, July 27th. Come join us! With Ground Effect and dance caller Maureen Collier. Additional details to come.
Time
26 (Friday) 6:00 pm – 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Location
Fraser River Heritage Park
7494 Mary St., Mission, BC V2V 6Y9
06jul11:00 am7:00 pmWorldwide Food FestivalWITH CHIKA BUSTON
Event Details
Attention food enthusiasts and cultural aficionados! Get ready for the most delectable event of the year! We’re excited to unveil a scrumptious evolution as we transition from the
Event Details
Attention food enthusiasts and cultural aficionados! Get ready for the most delectable event of the year! We’re excited to unveil a scrumptious evolution as we transition from the Multicultural Connections Festival to the World Wide Food Festival! Wondering about the change? It’s simple – we recognize that food possesses the extraordinary ability to bring us together and honor the vibrant mosaic of diversity that defines our community. Prepare for an unforgettable experience featuring our signature array of captivating multicultural performances, but with a twist – embark on a global gastronomic journey! From tantalizing street delicacies to exotic tastes, there’s a flavor sensation awaiting every palate!
Time
(Saturday) 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Location
Lafarge Lake, Coquitlam BC
november 2024
16nov7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH GROUND EFFECT
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion), Claire McCague (woodwinds), Sky Leuba (piano/concertina) Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver,
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion), Claire McCague (woodwinds), Sky Leuba (piano/concertina)
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door–$15 for students and those arriving after halftime. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Saturday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
december 2024
06dec7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH TROIS KATZ
Event Details
Impromptu trio Trois Katz brings together seasoned Vancouver-area musicians with a shared passion for vibrant folk traditions. Fiddler Prairie Wolfe has spent over two decades crafting a rhythmic and driving fiddle
Event Details
Impromptu trio Trois Katz brings together seasoned Vancouver-area musicians with a shared passion for vibrant folk traditions. Fiddler Prairie Wolfe has spent over two decades crafting a rhythmic and driving fiddle style influenced by Scottish, Cape Breton, and French Canadian traditions. As the leader of the contra dance band Ground Effect, she channels a dynamic energy that gets feet moving and pulses racing. Accordion and concertina virtuoso Jenny White, a regular at Vancouver’s sessions, farmers markets, music camps, and dances, is known for her deep love of Irish, Old-time, and Quebecois music. Her musical journey is a lifelong adventure, driven by her desire to explore and master the diverse instruments and styles that fuel her passion. Chika Buston, an acoustic fingerstyle guitarist, adds a unique, eclectic flair to the mix. With an expansive range of influences, Chika is a familiar face in BC’s folk music scene, where she plays with a deft touch that seamlessly complements the ensemble’s sound and propels dancers on the dance floor.
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door–$15 for students and those arriving after halftime. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Friday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
april 2025
19apr7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH GROUND EFFECT
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion), Claire McCague (woodwinds), Sky Leuba (piano/concertina) Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver,
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion), Claire McCague (woodwinds), Sky Leuba (piano/concertina)
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door–$15 for students and those arriving after halftime. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Saturday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
05apr7:00 pm10:00 pmVictoria Contra DanceWITH GROUND EFFECT
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion), Claire McCague (woodwinds), Sky Leuba (piano/concertina) Dance will be at St. Luke Anglican Church: 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd, Victoria,
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion), Claire McCague (woodwinds), Sky Leuba (piano/concertina)
Dance will be at St. Luke Anglican Church: 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd, Victoria, BC V8P 2M6
Tickets are $15 at the door. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Saturday) 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location
St. Luke Anglican Church
3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd, Victoria, BC V8P 2M6
may 2025
02may7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH TRIPLE THREAT QUARTET
Event Details
TRIPLE THREAT QUARTET featuring Rich Sobel (fiddle), Prairie Wolfe (fiddle), Brian Hayden (fiddle), and Janet Rozanski (piano) Dance will be at St. James Community Square
Event Details
TRIPLE THREAT QUARTET featuring Rich Sobel (fiddle), Prairie Wolfe (fiddle), Brian Hayden (fiddle), and Janet Rozanski (piano)
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door–$15 for students and those arriving after halftime. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Friday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
october 2025
04oct7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH GROUND EFFECT
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion), Claire McCague (woodwinds), Sky Leuba (piano/concertina) Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver,
Event Details
GROUND EFFECT: Prairie Wolfe (fiddle/percussion), Claire McCague (woodwinds), Sky Leuba (piano/concertina)
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door–$15 for students and those arriving after halftime. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Saturday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
november 2025
07nov7:30 pm10:30 pmVCD ContradanceWITH TRIPLE THREAT QUARTET
Event Details
TRIPLE THREAT QUARTET featuring Rich Sobel (fiddle), Prairie Wolfe (fiddle), Brian Hayden (fiddle), and Janet Rozanski (piano) Dance will be at St. James Community Square
Event Details
TRIPLE THREAT QUARTET featuring Rich Sobel (fiddle), Prairie Wolfe (fiddle), Brian Hayden (fiddle), and Janet Rozanski (piano)
Dance will be at St. James Community Square – 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
Tickets are $20 at the door–$15 for students and those arriving after halftime. All levels of dancers welcome!
Time
(Friday) 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location
St. James Community Square
3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2L2
GALLERY
SOUND
PRESS
With Festival du Bois’ Podorythmie, folk songs meet stepdancing, limberjacks, and-yes-crankies.
STIR VANCOUVER
On the edge of reality with Tim Readman and Prairie Wolfe
SOUTH OKANAGAN TIMES CHRONICLE