About the artist
Inn Echo is a modern trad trio based in Prince Edward Island, Canada, formed in 2019 by three musicians who came together from different corners of the world. Fiddler Karson McKeown (Ontario), fiddler and cellist Tuli Porcher (British Columbia), and guitarist Tom Gammons (United States) first crossed paths as students on PEI, discovering an unexpected chemistry that quickly grew into a distinctive sound. What began as informal sessions evolved into a musical partnership rooted in Celtic tradition but unafraid to push boundaries.
The band’s music is steeped in the traditional fiddle styles of Ireland, Scotland, and Atlantic Canada, yet it resonates with a distinctly contemporary energy. At the heart of their sound lies the fiddle—sometimes lilting, sometimes driving—acting as a narrative voice without words. Their acoustic guitar foundation provides a percussive and rhythmic pulse, while cello and second fiddle expand the texture into rich, layered harmonies. The result is a tapestry of tunes that can move seamlessly from soulful to explosive, from delicate storytelling to irresistible dance rhythms.
While firmly grounded in Celtic roots, Inn Echo creates a genre-bending style that feels both timeless and fresh. The trio composes the majority of their material collaboratively, weaving original tunes into sets alongside traditional and contemporary compositions. Their 2023 album Hemispheres, produced by Jake Charron and Donnie Richard, further cemented their reputation as innovators within the trad/folk world.
Recognition has followed. Inn Echo are winners of Music PEI Awards and have earned nominations at the JUNO Awards, East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs), and the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMAs). Their dynamic performances have carried them across three continents, with appearances at internationally renowned festivals such as the Woodford Folk Festival in Australia, the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Scotland, and closer to home at the Calgary Folk Festival, Canmore Folk Festival, and PEI’s beloved Festival of Small Halls.
What sets Inn Echo apart is their ability to honour tradition while creating something unmistakably their own. Each performance is an invitation into a living tradition—one that acknowledges its roots while carrying the music forward into new spaces and new generations. Whether on festival stages or in intimate halls, their music sparks an impulse to listen deeply, clap along, or dance until dawn.
Inn Echo is redefining the sound of modern trad in Canada—carrying the torch of Celtic heritage while boldly shaping its future.
