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Sultans of String
Full Band

 

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BIO

Over the past two decades and nine albums, Chris McKhool and his bandmates — co-founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté, bassist Drew Birston, nyckelharpa player Saskia Tomkins, and Cuban percussionist Rosendo Chendy Leon  — have excelled at thrilling listeners around the globe with their genre-hopping fusion of Celtic reels, flamenco, Django-jazz, Arabic, Cuban, and South Asian rhythms. Sultans of String celebrate diversity and creativity with warmth and virtuosity. And they often do it with artists such as Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains, Richard Bona, Benoit Bourque (Bottine Souriante), Nikki Yanofsky, Alex Cuba, Ruben Blades, Crystal Shawanda and Ken Whiteley.

With their historic and visionary seventh and eighth albums Refuge and Sanctuary, McKhool and co. bring their unique brand of musical synergy and collaboration into the studio like never before. Their most inclusive and passionately political album, Refuge puts the Toronto-based Sultans face-to-face with a VIP roster of artists from around the globe — including American banjo master Béla Fleck, Israeli vocalist Yasmin Levy and others, like Iraqi violinst Imah Al Taha and Iranian santur master Amir Amiri, who have fled the peril and persecution of their homelands for the safer shores of North America.

Their 9th album Walking Through the Fire was made in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and Final Report that calls for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to work together to show a path forward. This album and live show are a powerful collection of collaborations between the roots group and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists from across Turtle Island.

Of course, Sultans of String have never taken the easy road. Since releasing their debut album Luna in 2007, they have continually strived to make each chart-topping album more original and meaningful than the last. That includes working with an orchestra (2013’s Symphony), teaming with Pakistani sitarist Anwar Khurshid (2015’s Subcontinental Drift) and even crafting a world-music holiday album (2017’s Christmas Caravan), which landed them on the Billboard charts and the New York Times. Their ambition and work ethic have garnered them multiple awards and accolades, including three Juno nominations, first place in the International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries), six Canadian Folk Music Awards, and countless other honours.

Their live resumé is similarly stellar. Equally at home in a concert hall, jazz club or festival setting, the Sultans have gigged at the legendary club Birdland in New York, the renowned Celtic Connections Festival in the U.K. and the San Jose Jazz Festival. They have performed with symphonies across Canada and the U.S., and played live on BBC TV, Irish National Radio, World Cafe and SiriusXM in Washington. No matter the venue, the goal is the same, McKhool says.

“I’ve always wanted our concerts to be a place where everyone feels welcome. I want to reach out to diverse communities to say, ‘Come out and enjoy music with us — you’re going to have a really good time. It benefits society as a whole, to have people from around the world blending their ideas, mixing their cultures.”

And sharing the wealth.

 

“Virtuoso playing…. An exuberant and infectious sound… Powerful and moving…The Sultans are simply an awesome musical group!” – Mike Hill, Artistic Director, Mariposa Folk Festival

“They are players without borders… world music that transcends place and time with a heavy dose of playfulness added in.” – The Vancouver Province

“Chris McKhool and the boys were fantastic!  They can play my Bar Mitzvah.” – Bob Ezrin, producer (Pink Floyd, Kiss)

“Simply brilliant!” – Jeff Mifsud, 3NRG 99.3FM, Australia

Nominations and awards

• 2025 Chris McKhool received the Key to the City in Burlington
• 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards – nominated Ensemble of the Year
• 2025 Festivals & Events Ontario – Performer of The Year
• 2025 Festivals & Events Ontario – Innovation Award
• 2024 Best Musical Film and Best Soundtrack at the Cannes World Film Festival
• 2024 Folk Music Ontario – Performing Artist of the Year nominee
• 2024 Burlington Performing Arts Centre Hall of Fame for McKhool
• 2024 Merilaïnen Music Awards – Indigenous Ally of the Year
• 2023 International Songwriting Competition – Finalist with Black Winged Raven,
The Rez, and Nîmihito
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards – Global Roots Album of the Year with Sanctuary
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards – McKhool Producer of the Year with Sanctuary
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards – nominated Pushing the Boundaries & Contemporary Album
• 2022 Dr. Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award – JAYU Arts For Human Rights for McKhool
• 2022 Folk Music Ontario – Song of the Year winner – Mi Santuario
• 2022 Folk Music Ontario – Nominated for Performer of the Year
• 2022 Cannes World Film Festival – Best Musical Film
• 2022 Burlington’s Best Local Musician/Band for McKhool
• 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards winner for Producer of the Year with Refuge
• 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee for Ensemble of the Year with Refuge
• 2021 Canadian Independent Music Association – Pivot Award
• 2021 Markham Performing Arts Awards – Professional Artist of the Year
• 2021 International Songwriting Competition – World Music – Mi Santuario
• 2020 Folk Music Ontario- Songwriting Award – Instrumental – “Refuge”
• 2020 Folk Music Ontario- Songwriting Award – Political – “I Am a Refugee”
• 2020 Independent Music Awards – Instrumental Song of the Year – The Grand Bazaar
• 2020 Independent Music Awards – World Music Producer of the Year – Refuge
• 2019 International Songwriting Competition- Folk semi-finals – “Power of the Land”
• 2019 International Songwriting Competition- Performance semi-finals – “Power of the Land”
• 2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees– Producer of the Year
• 2018 Music featured in the acclaimed film, “Hotel Mumbai”
• 2017 Billboard World Music Charts  — # 6
• 2017 JUNO nominees – World Music Album of the Year
• 2017 New York Times Hits List
• 2017 Billboard World Music Charts  — # 15
• 2016 Canada’s High Commission in London UK presents SOS at Trafalgar Square
• 2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards winners– World Music Group of the Year
• 2016 Global Music Awards– World Music / Beats
• 2016 ISC – Honorable Mention
• 2015 JUNO nominees – Instrumental Album of the Year
• 2015 TIMA winners – Best World Album
• 2014 SiriusXM Independent Music Awards Winner- World Group of the Year
• 2014 IMA Independent Music Award Winner – Instrumental
• 2013 ISC  International Songwriting Competition Winner- Instrumental
• 2013 Festivals & Events- Performer of The Year
• 2013 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for bandleader Chris McKhool
• 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards winners– World Music Group of the Year
• 2012 Festivals & Events- Entertainer of The Year
• 2011 International Acoustic Music Awards Finalist – Instrumental
• 2011 Independent Music Award 2x Finalist – Instrumental & World Beat Album
• 2011 ISC International Songwriting Competition 2x Finalist-  Instrumental & World Music
• 2010 JUNO Award Nominees –  “Instrumental Album of the Year”
• 2010 Canadian Independent Music Awards nominees- Favorite World Group
• 2009 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) First Place – Instrumental
• 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award triple nominee winning Instrumental Group of the Year
(also nominated for Ensemble of the Year and Pushing the Boundaries)
• 2008 International Songwriting Competition Winner (ISC) – Instrumental
• 2008 Festivals & Events Ontario- Best Variety Act