A 'streel' is a slovenly person in Newfie-speak, but there's nothing shabby about this east-coast-on-the-west-coast quartet of virtuoso musicians, who sing and play an eclectic repertoire of original, maritime, and celtic tunes. Their arrangements are fresh and innovative; their harmonies are seamless and tight. This is Great Big Sea with side-clutching stage banter and infectious energy.

Streels founder and leading man is Lorne Warr. Born and bred in Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Lorne transposes the traditional music of his youth into velvet baritone vocals and intricate guitar and banjo playing. Backing Lorne up on vocals and bass is Wayne Morecombe; on vocals and drums, Revellie Nixon; and on vocals and fiddle, Rosie Carver.

With so much raw talent, it comes of no surprise that the Streels have become a regular fixture at Celtic establishments around Vancouver, BC. Furthermore, with an album, A Night on the Marge, under their recording belts, the Streels seem poised to take the Canadian music landscape by storm, and to reinvent its traditional music in the process.

When asked recently what he thought separated the Streels from other bands on the celtic/east coast music circuit, lead singer Lorne replied, "I think it has a lot to do with the arrangements and the way we play with the rhythms. Newfoundland music is the sort of music that's played with button accordion and spoons. It creates a sort of rhythm that you can't help tapping your foot to. That's the effect we try to get when we're arranging."