Biography

Nerea Gourlaouen was born in California from a French father and Spanish mother, 
raised in Cape Breton Island, Canada where she was possessed with a love of music
and dance. With teachings of various masters, she learned how to play the traditional 
fiddle music of the isolated island, lost on the Atlantic coast of Canada. Music 
arrived to this area with the Scottish immigrants in the late 1700’s. Adding a
little flavor from other cultures on the island (Irish, French and Aboriginal),
a beautiful mosaic of music was created and has been preserved to this day. Nerea 
took this ancient tradition in her hands creating a unique performance combining 
music and stepdancing that has been played throughout Europe and North America.

In 2007 Nerea released her first Cape Breton solo album, Footprints,
which earned her a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for
Young Performer of the Year.

She started 2008 with concerts in California followed by the
Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow and then back to France
(where she now resides) to speak at a conference,teach workshops and perform
her beloved Cape Breton music.