Nathan MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Nathan Bishop MacDonald better known as Nathan Bishop is a singer-songwriter based in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. He was a founding member of a popular Canadian Celtic music
group, which was based in Ottawa
Celtae
, and also performs original music under the name Nathan Bishop.
MacDonald was born in Sydney
, Nova Scotia
, Canada
and raised in Glace Bay on Cape Breton Island
in Nova Scotia. His song "Merchant Marine" was used as the theme song for Paul Ciufo's CBC radio drama, On Convoy. The same song has been included on Avondale Records' 2004 release, Singalongs & Shanties 2. MacDonald is a baritone singer who performs music on guitar
, but is also known for his bodhran
playing. He has an eclectic musical history. MacDonald ha s performed at major festivals throughout Canada including the Canadian Tulip Festival, The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, The Regina Mosaic Multicultural Festival and more. He has also performed at prestigious venues such as the National Arts Centre, in Ottawa, The Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, Cape Breton, and Centre Point Theatre in Ottawa.
The Nathan Bishop project has been a sharp departure from his previous Celtic roots. The Ottawa Citizen
referred to these compositions as "funky folk".
In September 2008, Nathan Bishop moved to Toronto and began construction of Uptown Underground recording studio.
On June 1, 2011, Nathan Bishop released his debut solo album "Lovers, Leavers, and Believers" under his Uptown Underground record label.
Two songs from the album were chosen to be used in the motion picture "The Unleashed".
A demo version of Bishop's song "Without You" was a finalist in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition
.
Bishop's music has been referred to as Chop Music which is described as a post hip hop form of roots rock.
and the University of Western Ontario
, MacDonald was one of Canada's most successful intervarsity debaters. He won consecutive North American Debating Championship
s in 1998 and 1999, and was the Vice-President of the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate
. He was also the fifth-place public speaker in world at the 2000 World Universities Debating Championships in Sydney
, Australia
.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a founding member of a popular Canadian Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
group, which was based in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
Celtae
Celtae
Celtae are a Canadian band based in Ottawa, who play neo-Celtic music. The band was founded by Nathan MacDonald of Cape Breton Island, and also includes Matt Holland of Summerside, Prince Edward Island and Tyree Lush of Gambo, Newfoundland and Labrador...
, and also performs original music under the name Nathan Bishop.
MacDonald was born in Sydney
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and raised in Glace Bay on Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
in Nova Scotia. His song "Merchant Marine" was used as the theme song for Paul Ciufo's CBC radio drama, On Convoy. The same song has been included on Avondale Records' 2004 release, Singalongs & Shanties 2. MacDonald is a baritone singer who performs music on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, but is also known for his bodhran
Bodhrán
The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
playing. He has an eclectic musical history. MacDonald ha s performed at major festivals throughout Canada including the Canadian Tulip Festival, The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, The Regina Mosaic Multicultural Festival and more. He has also performed at prestigious venues such as the National Arts Centre, in Ottawa, The Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, Cape Breton, and Centre Point Theatre in Ottawa.
The Nathan Bishop project has been a sharp departure from his previous Celtic roots. The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
referred to these compositions as "funky folk".
In September 2008, Nathan Bishop moved to Toronto and began construction of Uptown Underground recording studio.
On June 1, 2011, Nathan Bishop released his debut solo album "Lovers, Leavers, and Believers" under his Uptown Underground record label.
Two songs from the album were chosen to be used in the motion picture "The Unleashed".
A demo version of Bishop's song "Without You" was a finalist in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition
International Songwriting Competition
The International Songwriting Competition is an annual song contest based in Nashville, TN, whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of...
.
Bishop's music has been referred to as Chop Music which is described as a post hip hop form of roots rock.
Education
While attending the University of GuelphUniversity of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
and the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, MacDonald was one of Canada's most successful intervarsity debaters. He won consecutive North American Debating Championship
North American Debating Championship
The North American Debating Championship is the official university debating championship of North America, sanctioned by the national university debating associations in the United States and Canada, the American Parliamentary Debate Association and the Canadian University Society for...
s in 1998 and 1999, and was the Vice-President of the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate
Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate
The Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate is the national organization which governs all competitive university debating and public speaking in Canada. It sanctions several official annual tournaments and represents Canadian debating domestically and abroad...
. He was also the fifth-place public speaker in world at the 2000 World Universities Debating Championships in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.