Elders, We Banjo 3, Enter the Haggis Headline GAIF
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MOHAWK VALLEY IRISH CULTURAL Volume 15, Issue 7 July 2018 EVENTS NEWSLETTER Elders, We Banjo 3, Enter the Haggis Headline GAIF Headlining this year’s Great American Irish Festival (Jul 27-28) will be three of the Celtic music world’s most sought-after acts; one making their final visit to the festival, one marking their 12th appearance, and one coming in for their first Central New York show. Making their highly-anticipated return to the festival after being away for a year will be high-energy festival favorites, The Elders. The Elders recently announced that 2018 will be the band’s final year of touring, and they and festival organizers left little doubt that GAIF would be included as one of their final stops. Making their debut at the Great American Irish Festival will be a band that is taking both sides of the Atlantic by storm, Galway’s We Banjo 3. We Banjo 3 has carved a niche that sits somewhere between old world tradition and authentic Americana by plying their banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin skills in an innovative fusion of styles that they dub “Celtgrass.” You will not want to miss this wildly popular band, dubbed “the Gold Standard of Irish and American Roots music.” (You heard it here first: Look for them to come back to the area sometime in March 2019!). Finally, 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. Back again at their home away from home for the 12th time, Enter the Haggis is poised to rip it up under the big tent with all the familiar catchy songs that have made fans of Central New Yorkers and Haggisheads alike for over 15 years. Other returning upper-tier acts this year include the high-energy Barleyjuice from Philadelphia, last year’s standouts, The American Rogues, Ottawa Valley’s favorite sons…uh, daughters, Searson, and long-time GAIF veterans the Blarney Rebel Band and Hair of the Dog (each making a record 14th appearance!). Back in the lineup after some time away will be past GAIF performers The Gothard Sisters from the Pacific Northwest, the electrified and electrifying Moxie Strings, Celtic rockers 1916, and the always-popular Stoutmen. Also joining the festival for the first time this year will be the husband and wife duo, House of Hammil (Brian Buchanan of Enter the Haggis and Rose Baldino, from Burning Bridget Cleary). Adding to the non-stop entertainment will be a variety of other local and regional performers, including Donal O’Shaughnessy, Triskele and Arise & Go, plus Irish dancers and pipers throughout the weekend. 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 and the Heavy Games. Campsites are also available. This year’s festival will be held from July 27-28, 2018 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 Elders Back again to headline the Great American Irish Festival are fan favorites, The Elders, making Central New York one of their final stops on their 2018 farewell tour. Since forming in 1998, The Elders have set the music scene on its ear, thanks to a skillful blend of American roots rock and amped-up Celtic folk; a cross-pollination of elements that is high-octane and progressive, yet rooted in tradition. Rightfully regarded as one of the top American Celtic- rock bands, the band employs a variety of instruments including guitars, drums, banjo, accordion, mandolin, piano and fiddle, creating music that transcends the stereotypical notion of Celtic music. Powerful four-part harmonies, blazing instrumentals and songwriting that is unaffected by fads, trends and the giant maw of mind-numbing commercialism – it all adds up to the hottest show in Celtic music today. 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 innovative 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. 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. Searson Building on their Ottawa Valley, Ontario roots, sisters Erin and Colleen Searson have developed their own original style of music, seamlessly blending high energy fiddling, passionate vocals and step dancing. Giving a more modern treatment to the traditional music of their upbringing, the sisters perform on a variety of instruments throughout their live show, which includes Colleen on fiddle, vocals and Ottawa Valley Step Dancing; Erin on piano, vocals, step dancing and tenor guitar; Dave MacDougall on drums and percussion, and Fraser Gauthier on bass/guitar. Searson recently released their 9th studio album, “Homegrown,” a tribute to the Canadian artists, songwriters and instrumentalists who have influenced the band. Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 2 The 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 2017 Great American Irish Festival, American Rogues are taking on the world of Celtic rock, rock roots, patriotic, military and classical music. Known as “The Top Celtic Band Supporting Military Personnel & Wounded Warriors” (Ceili Magazine), they have also moved the Irish Echo to say of them “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.” They are currently working on a new album called “Across the Sea.” Barleyjuice Some bands take a little while to capture a festival crowd. Others seem to connect immediately. Such is the case with Barleyjuice and the Great American Irish Festival, where the Philadelphia-based Celtic rockers became instant favorites a few years back. With six studio albums and two brand new albums – “Live Juice” and “Best of the Barley” -- these five kilted yanks are currently one of the most beloved Celtic rock bands in the USA. Kyf Brewer’s signature whiskey-soaked vocals perfectly trademark the group’s quick-witted and catchy originals, and partner Keith “Swanny” Swanson adds additional lead vocals, guitar, mandolin, whistle, bouzouki, and bagpipes. Rounding out the lineup are fiddler Alice O’Quirke, drummer John Tracey, and Eric Worthington on bass. Go on… try a little Barleyjuice…it’s the best time you can have at a concert without removing your kilt. Hair of the Dog The Great American Irish Festival is happy to be bringing back GAIF veterans and fan favorites, Hair of the Dog. Originally formed as an acoustic trio in 1993, Hair Of The Dog has become one of the world’s foremost Celtic rock bands, releasing ten wildly popular CDs including their most recent, “Liam Left The Lights On Again.” The Dog was also mentioned in Billboard Magazine as one of Irish Music’s biggest sellers. Their song “One Sunday Morning” was featured on the 2003 Colleen Records compilation CD “Songs of Irish Freedom Vol. 3.” In 2005 they appeared on “One Child At a Time,” a charity compilation which also included U2, James Taylor, The Chieftains and Carly Simon. Hair Of The Dog has repeatedly been named “Best Band” by Upstate New York’s top regional newspapers and magazines. 2018 marks HOTD’s 25th year and to mark the occasion, they’ll begin work on their 11th CD later this year and will be sponsoring their 12th trip to Ireland (everyone is welcome to join them) in March, 2019. 1916 Making music since 2006, upstate Celtic rockers 1916 plays a number of old Dubliners songs, coupled with their own original tunes, all amped up and with a unique rockabilly twist. The band -- Billy Herring (vocals, guitar, banjo), Jon Kane (mandolin, backing vocals), Ryan Hurley (upright bass) and Steve Ladue (drums) -- has opened for Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly and Enter the Haggis, to name a few. Their explosive concoction of the modern Irish punk movement with an original mix of “psychobilly” gives 1916 a sound that stands apart from other bands of this genre, transforming them into the hardest hitting Irish Rock band this side of Dublin. Their fourth full length studio album, “Far Beyond the Pale,” promises to be their best stuff yet; full of energy, passion, and “whiskey-fueled punk rock.” Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 3 The Moxie Strings The Moxie Strings is the electrifying combination of fiddler Diana Ladio and electric cellist, Alison Lynn.