A 2017 highlight of Perth’s renowned Americana jamboree, Southern Fried festival, Northern Star was originally commissioned to mark 150 years since Canada’s confederation into a single dominions, as well as celebrating the festival’s own 10th birthday. A stellar line-up of Scottish singer/songwriters, spanning the realms of folk, rock and pop, salute the copious classic material penned by their Canadian counterparts, past and present, meanwhile reflecting the two countries’ myriad connections through history and kinship. Hamish Stuart, Kris Drever, James Grant, Rab Noakes, Dean Owens, Emma Pollock, and Karine Polwart are also joined by charismatic young Nova Scotian soul star Cyndi Cain under the guiding hand of musical director Stuart Nisbet and his superb band. While their song choices naturally foreground the work of Canada’s greatest musical icons – The Band, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen – they also highlight the vast breadth and depth of its songwriting talent down the decades, from Hank Snow, The Vancouvers and the McGarrigles to Ron Sexsmith and Arcade Fire.