The Iona Heights Inn

Cape Breton Celtic Trad Sessions
2026-05-24 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-05-31 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-06-07 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-06-14 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-06-21 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-06-28 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-07-05 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-07-12 16:30 - 19:30 (America/Halifax) and 1 more date | The Frolic’n Folk Pub & Grill, 4115 HWY 223, Iona, Nova Scotia, B2C 1A3, Canada
Come and enjoy a casual gathering of musicians who have come together to play traditional Cape Breton celtic music.
Anyone is welcome to join in, or just sit back and enjoy the tunes.
Sundays at The Frolic 430 – 730pm
Full kitchen and bar service.
Minors allowed till 10pm

Trivia Night at The Frolic
2026-05-28 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-04 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-11 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-18 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-25 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-02 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-09 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-16 20:00 - 22:00
Come test your wits & win prizes!
3 Rounds – 12 general knowledge questions each round.
Play solo, or form a team. Funniest team name gets showered with accolades.
Hosted by your man – Ruarí Aonghas Lonce Murphy, every Thursday Night

Mike McKenna Jr. w Dane Pedersen
2026-05-29 20:00 - 22:00
Singer-songwriter and Cape Bretoner Mike McKenna Jr. has become a compelling new voice in the North
American folk scene. With a raspy, soulful delivery and warm acoustic tones, his songs are anchored by
captivating storytelling and a deep connection to place. Born in the town of Glace Bay and raised along
the Mira River, McKenna’s songwriting aesthetic draws heavily from his small-town East Coast roots.
Blending folk, country, and Americana—he’s earned over one million global streams, shaping a sound
that is both timeless and unmistakably his own. His music has brought him to major festival stages like
Ottawa Bluesfest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Vancouver Island MusicFest, Montreal’s Folk Fest sur le
Canal, Lunenburg Folk Harbour Fest, Reevestock and many more across the continent.
Over four studio albums, he’s brought forward the nostalgia of home through stories about life and death
in Nova Scotia’s coastal, working-class communities. His 2020 release ‘At The Edge of the World’ was the
winner of an East Coast Music Award, and was nominated at both the Canadian Folk Music Awards and
Music Nova Scotia Awards. Two songs from the album, High Ground and At the Edge of the World were
also semi-finalists at the International Song Competition, the world’s largest songwriting contest.
Mike’s 2024 Canadiana folk album ‘Smokey Mountain High’, produced by Quinn Bachand, has received
outstanding reviews since it’s November release, including features by Roots Music Canada, Canadian
Beats, SaltWire, V13, Tonic Grain, and many others. His first single ‘Grassfire’, cowritten with Nova
Scotia-born, Nashville-based Makayla Lynn Parry and touted by The Wild is Calling as “A brilliant piece of
recording art”, was as Semi-finalist in the 2025 American Songwriter Song Contest, and has been on
regular rotation internationally with both CBC Radio and Sirius XM’s ‘North Americana’.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with and developing a wide range of Canadian
artists, including Sam Roberts, The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan, Great Big Sea, Buck 65, Ashley
MacIsaac, and Tegan and Sara. Canada has consistently produced some of the most authentic and
influential voices in music, and I firmly believe Mike McKenna Jr. stands in that lineage.”
– Scott Graves, Head of A&R American Songwriter

Dane is a singer-songwriter and actor from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He has been performing since age 8, in a wide range of settings, from cafes to professional theatrical productions to folk festivals, such as the Stan Rogers Folk Festival and Celtic Colours International Festival. He is also a recent graduate of the Jazz Studies Program at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS. He now aims to blend the vibrant palette of his influences in service of his love of story and song.
Dane’s debut EP, Travelling Alone, a blend of heartfelt original songs and reverent reinterpretations of songs by his heroes, is now available. The project was made possible by the Big Sampie Award, given by the Celtic Colours Volunteer Festival Drive’ers Association and Lakewind Sound Studiosin support of rising Cape Breton folk music talent.

Céilidh Matinee
2026-05-30 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-06 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-13 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-20 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-27 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-04 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-11 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-18 17:00 - 20:00
Get a taste of local celtic music & culture with our Saturday ceilidhs (kay-lee).
Expect to see world-renowned talent & budding entertainers from all over our native Cape Breton.
General admission seating $5 cover
First come first serve at the pub. No reservations. Minors allowed up until 10PM

Garrett Mason
2026-06-06 20:00 - 22:00
Garrett Mason is a Juno and Maple Blues award winning artist from Truro, Nova scotia. Widely regarded as the greatest guitar player in Canada, Garrett’s one man show is a unique blend of blues, soul, funk, rock n roll, country, and psychedelic. It is one show you do not want to miss.

Summer Concert Series
2026-07-01 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-08 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-15 20:00 - 22:00
Summer Concert Series at The Frolic and Folk Pub (Ticketed shows TBA)
This summer, The Frolic and Folk Pub invites you to experience the magic of live music every Wednesday evening with its Summer Concert Series. In the months of July and August, world-class musicians from across the globe will take the stage, delivering unforgettable performances in an intimate, cozy setting. Whether you’re a fan of folk, blues, indie and everything in between, each week will bring a new genre, showcasing the talent and diversity of top-tier artists.
Grab a pint, settle in with friends, and let the sounds of summer wash over you at The Frolic and Folk. It’s the perfect way to spend your Wednesday night – surrounded by great music, good company, and a welcoming atmosphere. Don’t miss out on this unique experience – where every note is a celebration of the season.
