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Real McKenzies bring Celtic/punk blend

Grab a pint, throw your arms around your mates and wail along with their from-the-heart anthems and you’ll fit in just fine.
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Sometimes you’ve got to wear it on your sleeve. Scottish Canadians are the third largest ethnic group in Canada

PHOTO: Sometimes you’ve got to wear it on your sleeve. Scottish Canadians are the third largest ethnic group in Canada, with upwards of a fifth of Canadians thought to have some Scottish ancestry. But you might not know it these days because they don’t wear kilts around all the time, like Vancouver-based Celtic punk rockers the Real McKenzies. They’ve kept true to their punk and Scottish heritage fusion over their 20-year career, pumping out up-tempo ballads and stomping punk songs that explore Celtic roots and history. It doesn’t matter if you’re not part Scot. Grab a pint, throw your arms around your mates and wail along with their from-the-heart anthems and you’ll fit in just fine. The Real McKenzies play the Traverse Lounge on Thursday, Sept. 26. They’re touring their 2012 album Westwinds. ~ Aaron Orlando.