Canadian Roots

From sea to sea, from the prairies to the Rockies, every acre of our great land is rich with folk and roots tradition. We begin our celebration of songs that live and breathe the national character with Ian & Sylvia's ode to transient farm workers "Four Strong Winds" — written by former rodeo man Ian Tyson and covered by the likes of Neil Young and Bob Dylan — and a salty tale from Newfoundland and Labrador: Great Big Sea's version of "Rocks of Merasheen." You'll find Sadies, McGarrigles and Castors in Next Steps.

Roots shows its many shades here, from the smooth alt country of Toronto outfit the Sadies ("Never Again") to the incredible, haunting harmonies of McGarrigle sisters Kate and Anna (here joined by Kate's daughter Martha Wainwright on "Winter Lady"), and the rustic, foot-tapping Quebecois sounds of La Volée d'Castors (the Flying Beavers), who rattle through "Que les fêtes commencent (Medley de chansons)" at a merry old clip. Traditions are broken down, and rebuilt, in Deep Cuts.

Redefining string-band traditions here is the Creaking Tree String Quartet ("Sliding Down"), who specialise in fusing experimental elements of jazz and chamber music to a technically outstanding bedrock of bluegrass. No less innovative are Nova Scotia's Ghost Bees — twin sisters Sari and Romy Lightman — who head into captivating folkloric territory with their excellent 2008 debut Tasseomancy (featuring "Sinai").

More of a tapestry than a list, this group of Canadian Roots Essentials offers a national portrait of sorts, as filtered through the talents of our finest musicians. We've got Ashley MacIsaac and his flaming hot fiddle ("Fairy Dance," with Mary Jane Lamond); Bruce Cockburn picking a seamless route through "Foxglove"; Daniel Lanois going bilingual on an accordion-backed "Jolie Louise"; Le Vent du Nord channelling age-old Celtic traditions via its Quebec heritage on "Le vieux cheval"; the Good Brothers kicking up dust on a bluegrassy byway with "One True Thing"; and much more.