Drew Elmer is the newest member of the Crimson Celts. We met Drew at the Pirate Festival in Toronto and was greatly impressed with his work ethic and his musical abilities. Welcome Drew

Drew started at an early age with music.  At 4 years old he began taking lessons in piano in the small southern Ontario town of Tottenham.  Though he soon learned that the walls of a musical classroom were too small for him when he was scolded for ad-libing one of the pieces required to pass a test.  After only a year Drew decided to take music into his own hands.  He gave up the lesson and began playing by ear and by heart every day for the next 14 years.  Drew walked into a local pub one Monday night to find five of his friends were jamming there.  Immediately after he walked in the door he noticed an old beat up double bass just lying on the floor as his eyes fixed on it, he hear “can you play that thing?” shouted across the floor.  Drew replied “ nope…but I’ll learn!”  Drew has attended nearly every Monday night since.  He quickly learned the guitar, mandolin and fiddle shortly there after.

Drew Elmer has always been known for his adaptability.  Working in jobs from factory labor to managing political campaigns to construction management.  Drew’s ingenuity has made him infamous locally for his ability to take day to day materials and transform them into whatever he needs.  The phrase “Jimmy Riggin’” has gone by the wayside and been replaced with “Drew’n it up”

Being on stage is nothing new to Drew.  He has a long list of performances and studio work under his belt.  Sharing the same stage with performers such as Jason McCoy of  the Roadhammers, Serena Ryder, Fred Eaglesmith and Hurricane Mike Thompson.

Drew Elmer was always very lucky to have been surrounded by such talented musicians.  Most of whom he met whilst being on the committee for the Tottenham Bluegrass Festival.  To have exposure to people who not only know how to do it but will take the time to show him how to get there has been Drew’s saving Grace.  Mike Kirley, Jerry Switzer, Tom Malone, Bruce Proudfoot and Hurricane Mike have been helping Drew along the way to becoming the professional musician he is today.