performed in the "Roots of American Music" Festival at the Lincoln Center in New York City. In July 2005, Bell and Anne Lederman travelled to Estonia to perform at the Viljandi Folk Festival. Also in 2005, he told the story of the youth and growth of Canadian artist Tom Thomson through music. This was in conjunction with a special exhibit about Thomson. The Durham West Arts Centre describes him as a noted musicologist, historian, and performer. In March, 2011, Muddy York and the O'Schraves played a benefit concert to raise money for the Matthews Memorial Hospital Association to hire a doctor for the hospital in the central Algoma district, on the north shore of Lake Huron. Muddy York also appeared in Sault Ste. Marie at an Algoma Traditional Music concert with Jeff Beck of the Cowboy Junkies and the O'Schraves. They have also worked at the Algoma Traditional Music Camp as both performers and teachers. Bell appeared on dozens of recordings as a sideman as well as several under his own name. He plays guitar, button accordion, harmonica, mandolin, smallpipes, and fiddle. Bell still plays regularly for old-time square and contra dances across Southern Ontario. On these occasions, two or more musicians provide live music for the dancers. Bell has played music with these performers: Wade Hemsworth Anne Lederman Dave Zdriluk Geoff Somers Tom Leighton David Woodhead Denis Rondeau Chris Schiller John Mayberry Ian Robb The Friends of Fiddler's Green Enoch Kent The Allison Lupton Band, Patio Dave & The Lanterns The Bilge Rats The Dawnbreakers: Kate Murphy, Brian Pickell & Geoff Somers Bell's accompanists and bandmates have included these performers: Oliver Schroer – violin David Travers-Smith – trumpet, producer Geoff Somers – fiddle, mandolin Anne Lederman – fiddle, piano Brian Pickell – guitar, mandolin Tom Leighton – piano James Gordon – singer, guitarist The CD My Pious Friends & Drunken Companions was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award—"Traditional Singer of The Year". Musical contributions Much of the early Ontario instrumental music on "Scatter the Ashes" was discovered through original research into the personal tune books of 19th-century Ontario musicians. Sources included the Allen Ash Manuscript, the John Buttrey manuscript, the James Dow manuscript, and the Ira Doan manuscript. Many of the songs were learned from period broadsides and newspapers and from field recordings. Contributions to the music industry: Bell's original songs have been performed and recorded by, among