Christie Simmons is a born-and-bred Calgarian whose original songs seek to capture the joys of the mundane and the magical and give voice to the soft underbelly of life. As one who spent years playing pipes on the highland games circuit, she can’t deny Celtic undertones in her music. But it’s primarily the literary genius of contemporary writers along with strong, intelligent lyrics and raw melodies of the roots/Americana world that inform her songwriting today. Along with playing her originals as a solo artist, Christie plays whistle, guitar, ukulele and sings lead and harmony vocals with the upbeat folk/fusion group My Son Ted. She has been raised among colourful characters, visual artists and writers who, along with Alberta, the magnificent province she calls home, permeate her and shape her songs.