MOHAWK VALLEY IRISH CULTURAL Volume 16, Issue 2 EVENTS NEWSLETTER Feb 2019 2019 Great American Irish Festival Features All-Star Lineup When the 2019 Great American Irish Festival (GAIF) comes to the Herkimer County Fairgrounds in Frankfort on Friday, July 26, Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28, it will boast an array of Irish and Celtic performers ranging from the delicate to the raucous. Headlining the traditional stage at this year’s festival will be an act that has become a cultural phenomenon, Ireland’s Folk Band of the year and winners of Irish Music Award’s Top Traditional Performance Show, the High Kings. Boasting a musical pedigree that few can match, and fresh off record-breaking PBS showings, four musical powerhouses -- Finbarr Clancy of the legendary Clancy family, Brian Dunphy, son of well-known singer, Sean Dunphy, renowned vocalist Darren Holden, and vocalist and multi-instrumentalist George Murphy -- have come together to create the most exciting Irish ballad group to emerge since The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem electrified the worldwide folk revival of the 1960s. For those whose tastes are a bit more contemporary, back to headline this year’s festival will be the wildly popular band, We Banjo 3, plying their banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin skills in an innovation fusion of styles that they dub “Celtgrass.” Joining the other headliners on the Contemporary Stage will be Central New York favorites, Enter the Haggis, returning to the festival that helped launch them to prominence in 2005. Making a long-awaited return to the festival will be Celtic rockers The Young Dubliners, who headlined at GAIF ’06. Back after a year away are Donegal’s Diver sisters, better known as The Screaming Orphans. As they did the last two years, the American Rogues will fire up the contemporary stage crowds with their anthemic and powerful performance. Making their debut will be the darlings of Dublin and viral video stars, The Byrne Brothers (none of whom were even born when the first GAIF was held!). Other upper tier bands returning to the festival are the Ottawa Valley’s Searson, long-time favorites, the Glengarry Bhoys, multi-talented Colin Farrell and the Colin Farrell Band (this year, with his brother), and roots-rockers, the Town Pants. Other GAIF favorites making their return to the festival are the husband and wife team, House of Hamill (Brian Buchanan from Enter the Haggis and Rose Baldino, from Burning Bridget Cleary); GAIF veterans the Blarney Rebel Band and Hair of the Dog (each making a record 15th appearance!), local trad groups Craobh Dugan and Arise & Go, and making their GAIF debut as a trio will be A Mighty Craic. In addition to the non-stop music, merchandise vendors from across the U.S. and Ireland, carefully selected from a list of applicants, will be selling Irish and Celtic merchandise, and a variety of food booths will be providing a taste of the Emerald Isle for festival-goers. Returning again this year will be the 5k run, bagpipe competition, whiskey tasting and Irish Mass. Campsites are also available. This year’s festival will be held from July 26-28, 2019 at The Herkimer County Fairgrounds, located just off Route 5s in Frankfort NY, just minutes from the New York State Thruway. For directions, tickets or more information, visit the festival web site at www.greatamericanirishfest.com. And now it’s time to meet the bands: Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 1 The High Kings The High Kings are not just a musical act, they are a phenomenon. Boasting a musical pedigree that few can match, four musical powerhouses -- Finbarr Clancy of the legendary Clancy family, Brian Dunphy, son of well-known singer, Sean Dunphy, renowned vocalist Darren Holden, and vocalist and multi-instrumentalist George Murphy -- have come together to create the most exciting Irish ballad group to emerge since The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem electrified the worldwide folk revival of the 1960s. Ireland’s Folk Band of the year and winners of Irish Music Award’s Top Traditional Performance Show, The High Kings grew up in households steeped in the Irish Musical tradition and each member of the band witnessed firsthand the power of well-crafted Irish music on an audience. Since their inception, the High Kings have sold out hundreds of shows, in Ireland and the US, made numerous TV appearances, and their albums have achieved platinum status. The quartet now brings a new show that showcases their incredible versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, playing 13 instruments between them, bringing a rousing acoustic flavor to brand new songs as well as some old favorites. The High Kings are continuing to live up to their reputation as a phenomenal live band, serving up laughter, good times and even the odd sing along. We Banjo 3 For all the innovation and invention that goes into modern music these days, it’s the inspiration derived from one’s roots that proves the most enduring. So credit Galway, Ireland’s We Banjo 3 for finding common ground between old world tradition and authentic Americana by plying their banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin in an innovation fusion of styles that they dub “Celtgrass.” Variously described as “astonishing,” “the Gold Standard of Irish and American Roots music,” and “the Irish Punch Brothers,” it’s little wonder then that We Banjo 3 is literally taking both sides of the Atlantic by storm, carving a reputation as one of the world’s most imaginative ensembles. The Young Dubliners Founded in 1988 by Dublin native Keith Roberts and Paul O’Toole, the Young Dubliners have grown from their beginnings as a traditional folk/pop band, influenced by Celtic musician Christy Moore and Irish band The Fureys, to a style marked by a fusion of Irish traditional instruments and music with modern rock. The Young Dubs have released eight albums of original material and one Irish ballad cover album, and are currently at work recording a new CD. They have headlined throughout the United States and Europe since 1994, and have shared the stage with Jethro Tull, John Hiatt, Chris Isaak, Jonny Lang, Great Big Sea and Collective Soul, and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. AllMusic.com states, “Their live shows (have) a jam-like appeal, similar to the vibes of Phish and the Dave Matthews Band.” Enter the Haggis Toronto’s Enter the Haggis has led the charge among Celtic folk/roots/rock bands, delighting fans with their memorable performances, inspired songwriting, musical proficiency and high-quality recordings, including 4 EPs, 8 studio albums, five live and one compilation CDs, as well as two solo side projects. With their signature Celtic rock sound and instrumentation of bagpipes blazing over a powerhouse rhythm section, they’ve long been a fan favorite in Central New York and throughout the continent. Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 2 Screaming Orphans Aptly described as “When honey and gravel collide,” The Screaming Orphans is an all-sister band from Co. Donegal, who’ve grown into one of the most sought-after Celtic bands in the US and Europe. Their powerful, award winning sound combines their own original melodic old-school pop songs with a unique and modern take on Traditional Irish music and song. Headliners for the 2017 Great American Irish Festival, the ladies are back…much to the delight of fans old and new. The Byrne Brothers The Byrne Brothers – Luca (14), Finn (13) and Dempsey (9) along with dad, Tommy -- are a traditional family band from Dublin who now reside in Orlando Florida. Despite their age, they have garnered multiple awards and championships for their dancing, banjo, mandolin, guitar, bodhran and button accordion skills, and the 2016 video of their ad hoc performance on a Galway street got 3.4 million views, making it the most viewed video from Ireland that year. The boys – and their parents – are beyond thrilled to be making their debut performance at the Great American Irish Festival. American Rogues Originally formed several years ago as a more traditional bagpipe band, The American Rogues have morphed into their own band, with their own style, and even their own genre: “CeltRockFolkWorldClassicalMusicForTheMasses.” One of the standout acts from the past two Great American Irish Festivals, American Rogues are taking on the world of Celtic rock, rock roots, patriotic, military and classical music. Said The Irish Echo: “The American Rogues know how to command a massive stage and animate a crowd with the sounds of fiddles, pipes, and an impressive miscellany of instruments and styles.” Colin Farrell Band Colin Farrell is no stranger to the Great American Irish Festival, having first appeared with the Elders. Having since gone out on his own and with the band Lúnasa, Colin continues his meteoric rise on the Celtic trad scene. In the Colin Farrell Band, he is joined by former Creel bandmate Damian McCarthy (guitar, vocals), Dan Lowery (flute/guitar /vocals), and for this go-around, he is joined by his brother Shane. Through their skill and virtuosity, they have established themselves as top entertainers in Irish traditional music with a vibrant and exciting show; delivering their tunes and songs with sublime musicianship. Glengarry Bhoys Described as bold, unorthodox, vibrant and evocative, the Glengarry Bhoys’ hybrid of Canadian Highland Scots and French Canadian musical idioms has evolved into a sound that is weighty, authoritative and extremely entertaining. Their blend of traditional music, fused with the multicultural sounds of modern and contemporary Celtic music, has brought them international acclaim. Fiery guitar and bass, intense percussion and fiddle, teamed with pipes and vocals, make for a memorable performance.