Halifax-based step dancer, mandolinist and member of the Old Beef Stringband, Dane George, is ushering in the season with the May 16 release of his debut solo album, Spring Buds.
Spring Buds is an ode to the people I love through celebration of musical kinship and tradition. – Dane George
Known for reimagining Appalachian old-time and Celtic fiddle tunes on the mandolin, George’s new album is a deeply personal project featuring collaborators from Nova Scotia’s traditional music scene.
“Spring Buds is an ode to the people I love through celebration of musical kinship and tradition,” says George. “It’s largely instrumental, mandolin-driven, and filled with original compositions dedicated to friends, family, and colleagues.”
Recorded with several fellow musicians from Nova Scotia’s Celtic and old-time scenes, the album mixes mandolin, fiddle, banjo, accordion, and bass with less conventional elements like rhythm bones, shakers, and jaw harps.
The title comes from a tune inspired by two former roommates of George, a song he composed while watching their friendship blossom as they basked in the spring sun. “This also title captures the spirit of the whole project—my first solo release, born alongside my children as the world emerged from the pandemic,” he says.
Despite his love for instruments, George says it’s step dancing that most often pulls at his heart. “I always struggle with which to choose in a jam or session,” he says. Spring Buds allowed him to embrace both passions, weaving dance into the music’s foundation.
One standout track is the oddly titled Septic Tank Breakdown, which George composed just before a coworker’s septic mishap.
“I had already named the tune after dancing on a tank cover at a rural cabin while on holiday,” he says. “The title, the melody and the energy are fun and outside my usual comfort zone. Recently, I performed the tune with my friend Nick Bishop – a great guitar player who brings a metal-type energy to traditional tunes – it’s so fun to play.”
Beyond Spring Buds, George continues to explore the intersections of music and history. He’s currently performing in Koromanti and the North Star, a project led by Art Bouman. The project features Josh Awe on djembe and himself on mandolin and miscellaneous percussion. “The idea behind the project is to reimagine what early banjo music might have sounded like in African American communities,” he says.
He’s also in discussions with his Old Beef Stringband bandmates about new projects later this year. And of course, he’s always writing. “I’m always composing new fiddle tunes, and am already imagining how to approach a follow-up album,” says George.
Spring Buds is available now on Bandcamp and Spotify. You can also follow Dane George on Instagram.
George will host an album release party on May 19, 2025, at Aurora North End Parish Church (5666 Sebastian St, Halifax) from 2 to 4 p.m.