FARMINGTON — Old South Church Concert Series welcomes Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen — two of the five original members of the band Còig from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia — as part of the tour for their debut CD tour at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27. at the Old South Church, 235 Main St.

Old South Church Concert Series presents multi-instrumentalist, Darren McMullen and Rachel Davis on fiddle, sharing vocals in concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 in Farmington. They are part of the Nova Scotia band, Coig. Ryan MacDonald photo

With more than a decade of making records and touring the world behind them as members of Nova Scotia’s award-winning and internationally acclaimed group Còig — Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen now have their sights set on something new: “Home.”

Recorded with award-winning songwriter, musician, and producer Dave Gunning, “Home” is the duo’s long-imagined, and much-anticipated album. Highlighting the pair’s outstanding musicianship and vocals, “Home” mixes traditional tunes and songs with original co-writes and signature classics.

Davis and McMullen are well-established and respected instrumentalists in the traditional music world and their playing on this album certainly lives up to that reputation. But over the years, each has also gained recognition for their vocal abilities, most notably with Davis receiving a 2020 Canadian Folk Music Award in the Traditional Singer of the Year category for Còig’s fifth album, “Ashlar.”

While Còig’s repertoire always included songs, the focus of the group was really on the tunes. Davis and McMullen wanted to shift that focus for this album and feature their vocals more. They take turns on lead vocals and harmonies throughout the 11-track album, which is split about evenly between songs and instrumentals, and the result is a cohesive collection of music.

From the gentle but commanding riff that opens “River and the Road,” written by Scottish songwriting royalty Archie Fisher, to the unexpectedly bouncy breath of fresh air that is Laurence Gowan’s 1993 hit “Dancing on My Own Ground,” to an old standby from their live sets, “We Remember You Well” by their pal, Cape Breton Music Hall of Fame writer Buddy MacDonald, the songs on “Home” couldn’t be a better fit for their voices and musical sensibilities.

The pair also wanted to do more songwriting for this album and they hit the jackpot with recording, engineering, and arranging collaborator Dave Gunning and acclaimed singer-songwriter Terra Spencer. Both Gunning and Spencer add harmony vocals to the songs they co-wrote, with Gunning also playing a variety of instruments on the album. Other musical guests include Margie Beaton (piano), Thierry Clouette (bouzouki, foot percussion), and Zakk Cormier (guitar, foot percussion) taking turns on the tunes, and English folk singer Jackie Oates who joins Rachel and Darren on harmony for the lovely Cornish folk song “Sweet Nightingale,” which closes the album.

Admission cost is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 65-plus and students 12 and older, and is free for children younger than 12.

For tickets or more information visit farmingtonucc.org or call 207-491-5919.

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