AERIALISTS

Canadian prog-trad quintet Aerialists alchemizes Scottish, Irish, and Nordic folk traditions and post rock influences into a sound with striking clarity. It’s ethereal yet precise, technical yet visceral. Aerialists emerged from the new acoustic scene at Berklee College of Music nearly a decade ago, born from the creative affinity between harpist Màiri Chaimbeul, fiddler Elise Boeur, and guitarist Adam Iredale-Gray. Now with three albums, a JUNO nomination, and a Canadian Folk Music Award under their belt, Aerialists have staked their claim on the leading edge of the neo-folk world.

With their new record I Lost My Heart On Friday (coming Fall 2024), Aerialists reaches beyond their introspective history to capture the celebratory, sunset-on-the-grass feeling of a summer festival. Asserting the belief that a harp can groove like a drum kit, that a fiddle can be as ferocious as a distorted electric guitar, and that traditional tunes are sturdy and flexible enough to thrive in the landscape of indie-rock instrumentation, the new album is a celebration of their deep personal roots in folk traditions, seen through a distinctly Canadian lens.