The
Celtic Wonder Band
The Celtic Wonder Band plays music from Ireland, Scotland and England as well as original material inspired by these places. As Californians, we are also influenced by the culture that surrounds us. Rock, jazz, bluegrass, and classical have left their impressions on each of us. In the folk music process, a collage of new and different elements combine with the old to produce something unique. That's the beauty and wonder of it. We call what we do California Celtic .
Maggie
McKaig , a native of the central California coast, relocated
to Alberta, Canada where she met husband and partner Luke Wilson. Maggie
is a singer/songwriter who began playing guitar at age 11 and has recently
added accordian to her bag o’ tricks. She has recorded two previous albums,
"Grand Promenade"
in 2003 with band members Luke and Shawn, and "Lost in the Colonies"
in 1984 with husband Luke and others. More at maggiemckaig.com. 
Born in Oshawa, Ontario, Luke Wilson plays cittern, banjo, dobro, just about anything else with frets, and has a great tenor voice. He is a veteran of the Canadian and European club and festival scenes. Luke also has a long-standing career as a studio musician, arranger,and producer. Starting with his first band in 1965, Luke has been playing professionally ever since. With musical partner Ron Paul Morin he moved to England in 1970. The duo recored their first and only album, "Peaceful Company" in 1971. It was produced by John Pearse for Capitol Records. Deciding they didn't like their Capitol contract after all, and seeking to explore other musical avenues, Morin and Wilson eventually went their separate ways. Luke played with several other British musicians during that time including Major Wiley and banjo player Pete Stanley. In 1975 Luke moved back to Canada to Calgary, Alberta, set up shop as a luthier, and formed the band Buckdancer's Choice. A few years later after Buckdancer's Choice broke up, he formed the band Lost in the Colonies which played many Canadian festivals.
By this time Luke was widely known for his improvisational skills on numerous instruments, and his ability to play and fit into all kinds of musical settings. He lent his talents to numerous well known musicians and bands at the time such as Backline Orchestra, the Diamond Joe White Band, Ken Hamm, and others. Moving with musical partner and wife Maggie McKaig to Nevada City, California in 1988, Luke has since played with many of Nevada County's finest bands and musicians including Utah Phillips, Alasdair Fraser, and Saul Rayo. He began playing with the Celtic Wonder Band in 2002. When not playing, arranging, or producing music, Luke also continues to work in his shop Wolfnote Studios, as a luthier, a skill handed down by his grandfather.
Hear
cuts from The Celtic Wonder Band's new CD - Small
Wonder