Mary Beth Carty, winner of the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Award for Traditional Singer of the Year,  is an artist whose creations are rooted in the rich traditions of her Nova Scotian home. Born and raised in Antigonish County, she blends her ancestral Gaelic heritage with the multicultural influences of the community. Whether performing solo or alongside an ensemble, Mary Beth coaxes stories out of her accordion, guitar, and wooden rhythm bones to craft a one-woman orchestra. With a knack for weaving wit and warmth into her shows, she invites audiences to stomp, clap, and sing along, transforming every performance into an intimate kitchen party.

Mary Beth Carty’s musical journey is rooted in the patchwork quilt of tunes and tales that surrounded her growing up. Starting out as part of an iconic folk act that toured major festivals across Canada, she quickly earned accolades for her unique voice. A lover of language and global cultures, Mary Beth has a flair for uncovering the common threads that tie traditions together, sewing melodic tapestries that resonate with all ages. Fluent in English, French, and Scots Gaelic, she brings a deep respect for the old ways, all while staying grounded in the salt-of-the-earth humility of her hometown. Her mother describes her performances as “non-boring,” a playful understatement for an artist who’s anything but ordinary—a performer who listens deeply, sings boldly, and connects effortlessly.

Over the years, Mary Beth Carty has built a career as remarkable as the music she creates. A featured act at the prestigious Celtic Colours International Festival in 2022 – one of the top Celtic festivals in North America – she’s graced stages across Canada, from the Vancouver Folk Festival to Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, and toured extensively in Europe, earning a reputation for her magnetic performances. One of her proudest moments came in 2015, when she was invited by the Canadian ambassador to the Congo to collaborate with Nkento Bakaji, an all-female band, as part of Women’s Month celebrations. The experience brought her from Congo to Rwanda, where she performed in Kigali with Ben Ngabo and musicians from Mighty Popo’s École d’Arts, collaborating and building connections through music. Whether she’s belting out tunes at iconic folk festivals, collaborating across continents, or playing a kitchen party back home, Mary Beth’s performances are nothing short of “‘S math sin (smashing)” —sure to put a stride in your step and leave you thinking, “Math fhéin—goodness itself!”

Mary Beth Carty’s music has found fans around the globe, earning her accolades and frequent radio play. Her album Crossing the Causeway reached No. 8 on the Folk Alliance International Radio Play Chart for 2023 and claimed the No. 1 spot on the prestigious Richard Gillman Chart in March of the same year. Her songs have received airplay on BBC Scotland and BBC Alba, where her Gaelic singing strikes a chord with listeners. As veteran arts journalist and music historian Bob Mersereau observed, “What’s most impressive is Carty’s ability to shine in all these different musical and vocal styles, bouncing back and forth between languages, old trad numbers, her new adaptations, and her own compositions.” With her two solo albums Crossing the Causeway and Les biens-nommés showcasing a savvy for blending timeless tunes with fresh ideas, she’s hard at work on a new project that promises to delight fans old and new. With an East Coast tour and festival dates on the horizon, Mary Beth continues to push the boundaries of folk music and defy expectations.