Get to know our 2026 artists: Brooke Bachand and Charlie Gannon

Q BROOKE BACHAND AND CHARLIE GANNON  - SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 3^RD @ 7PM Plus Saturday afternoon dance

charliegannon.com

Q is a two-time Irish Music Award-winning nonbinary folk and Celtic artist, born and raised on the Esquimalt / Songhees and Lekwungen-speaking territories, where they are now once again rooted after years of study and performance abroad in Amsterdam and Limerick. Of mixed ancestry, including Scottish and Irish heritage, Q brings a deep, ancestral pulse to their music and art.

Formerly known as Qristina Brooke Bachand, Q is a dynamic and charismatic performer known for their powerful fiddle playing, emotive vocals, and raw, engaging stage presence. Once a teen fiddle prodigy, they have since evolved into a bold, butch troubadour of rebel ballads, resistance songs, and foot-stomping traditional tunes. Their performances move between riotous energy and poignant stillness—capable of drawing tears or sparking collective joy.

Q’s journey has been one of transformation—embracing their nonbinary identity, mental health challenges, and life purpose through the healing and expressive power of music and abstract visual art. Their influences range from Phil Ochs and Dick Gaughan to the rich oral traditions of Celtic song and story-sharing. Whether singing a cappella protest ballads or launching into a whirlwind of fiddle fire, Q’s performances are both soulful and subversive.

With formal training in classical violin and an MA in Traditional Irish Music Performance (first-class honours, University of Limerick), Q’s fiddle playing is known for its rich tone, expressive nuance, and sheer passion. They’ve received numerous scholarships and accolades, including full scholarships to study Irish fiddle at Ceili Camp (Harrison Hot Springs) and Cape Breton fiddle at the Gaelic College (Nova Scotia). They also hold an MSc in Infectious Diseases & Public Health from VU Amsterdam, where they conducted field research in Kasese District, Uganda—evidence of their curiosity, compassion, and commitment to a more just world.

Q is the current president of the Victoria Fiddle Society and a sought-after fiddle teacher and mentor, having taught at festivals, schools, and camps across Canada, the US, and Europe. Highlights include the Leahy Music Camp (Ontario), Goderich Celtic Roots College, Fiddler’s Farm (Netherlands), and workshops with undergrad and graduate students at the University of Limerick.

A proud mad artist living with schizoaffective disorder, Q finds inspiration and meaning through their experiences with mental illness, addiction, and recovery. Their music and art are vital tools of resilience—illuminating the struggle and joy of being alive in a body and world that often defies easy understanding.

Joined by accomplished guitarist Charlie Gannon, the duo delivers a captivating mix of Celtic, folk, and roots music, combining masterful instrumental playing with expressive vocals and engaging storytelling. Their performances move seamlessly from driving traditional tunes to poignant ballads and contemporary folk songs, creating an experience that is both powerful and deeply authentic. Whether performing in concert halls, folk clubs, festivals, or community venues, Q and Charlie bring exceptional musicianship, warmth, and a genuine connection to audiences wherever they perform.

Charlie Gannon is recognized as one of the best young guitarists in Victoria, playing a wide range of styles from Celtic to Rock. His playing is highly technical yet sensitive, with inventive harmonies and chord voicings he has learned from many years of playing jazz. He brings new life to the simplest of songs and performs even the most difficult with ease.

Charlie was born in Victoria, BC, and grew up listening to his large extended family play music together. He began his musical journey by taking classical piano lessons at age five, but then switched over to the guitar at age ten. Soon after, he and his friends formed a garage band, Electric Winter, which played many gigs around town. Charlie’s high school, St. Michaels, gave him plenty of opportunity to play music in the Jazz Band, Swing Band, Vocal Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Pit Orchestra. In 2013, he received a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music five-week program, where his Juno award winning uncle, Oliver Gannon [ LIVES PART TIME ON PENDER! ], graduated from in 1969.

Charlie has also attended the Tommy Emmanuel guitar camp in both New York and New Orleans, where he got to study finger style acoustic guitar with Tommy and perform for him on stage. Currently, Charlie is the guitar player for the popular fiddle group in Victoria, Coastline. In 2015, they represented Canada at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and toured all over Scotland, even playing on the historic Culloden battle grounds.