Maxwell 'n' Cavanagh

Through a partnership between Manchester Folk Festival and Music PEI, Robbie Cavanagh has been working with Canadian artist Lawrence Maxwell in a very special pan-Atlantic project.

Following time spent together in Prince Edward Island and in Manchester, this concert will be a chance to hear some of the music from two wonderfully talented singer-songwriters.

Described as ‘Manchester’s finest son’, Award Winning songwriter and artist Robbie Cavanagh released his much anticipated 3rd record ‘Tough Love’ in May 2023, and in the months since has been touring prolifically as a headline artist, as well as in support of American trio The Wood Brothers. ‘Tough Love’ has seen Robbie perform at The Long Road Festival, The British Country Music Festival, Celtic Connections, Your Roots are Showing and as an official showcase artist at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City. Robbie’s momentum continues in 2024 as he embarks on more UK headline dates including a live album recording at London’s prestigious ‘Pizza Express Live venue’, an appearance at Cambridge Folk Festival, and more support shows with The Wood Brothers on mainland Europe.

Lawrence Maxwell cut his teeth on beer caps, rough waters, and country music. His latest album, ‘Ballad of Miles’ was nominated for seven Music PEI Awards in 2023, and in 2024, he received the award for Music PEI’s ‘Entertainer of the Year.’ His songs have received airplay on: Sirius XM’s ‘Top of the Country,’ Country Hits Radio UK and CBC ‘Q’. With its neo-traditional production, and comparisons to both John Prine and Merle Haggard, Roots Music Canada has dubbed the record “the first great Canadian alt-country album of 2022.” His music video for “Back to Cape Breton” was a finalist in the Canadian Independent Music Video Awards and his song “Better You” was selected in the Top 100 for CBC/Toyota Searchlight in 2022. As an ECMA award nominee and two-time Music P.E.I. award winner, this Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter will tell it to you like it’s folk, and sing it to you like it’s country. Maxwell hails from Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province but one with a rich country music history based on every citizen’s relationship to the land and sea.