Graham Wells

Graham Wells is a young multi-instrumentalist and singer from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He is one of the only musicians of his generation to learn his art in the old way. His music was passed on directly from his family.

He first learned the accordion from his grandfather, accordion player Edward Walsh. From the tender age of 6 he played for countless parties and dances at both his own and many other cabin kitchens on the Witless Bay Line, on the Southern Shore. An area steeped in the musical traditions of Irish Newfoundland.

In 1999, at the age of 19, Graham moved to Galway, Ireland for a year and 6 months. He continued to play and do the odd gig between his shifts working in a hotel bar. It was here he met internationally acclaimed fiddler and honourary Newfoundlander Seamus Creagh. On hearing Graham’s music he suggested that they record an album to reflect the bond between the music of Ireland and Newfoundland. The result was Island to Island, the first direct collaboration on one album of the dance music of the two islands.

After Graham returned to Newfoundland in mid 2000, he started playing music professionally. He was a founding member of the acclaimed traditional group “ A Crowd of Bold Sharemen.” He toured across Canada and Europe with the Sharemen for 4 years, recording and co- arranging a seminal album of Newfoundland traditional music.

Graham then joined the Juno award winning band, The Irish Descendants. He continues to perform with the group all across North America. His tin whistle rendition of “Let Me Fish off Cape St. Mary’s,” has become a trademark of the group from Vancouver to St. John’s

Graham is now embarking on his solo career with the release of his first album in 2008.A mix of driving dance tunes and heartfelt songs from the rich and under-explored tradition of Newfoundland traditional music.