2023 FULL LINEUP BELOW
Gates Open One Hour Prior To First Band
The Elders
Sponsored by Clinton Tractor
Friday & Saturday
“The Elders" remain one of the top Celtic-rock bands in the U-S after 24 years because of their timeless sound. It’s their passion, great melodies, unique harmonies, unparalleled musicianship and strong song-writing that keeps them connected.
And that songwriting began in 1998 when two musicians moved back from L.A. to Kansas City to play Irish music.Norm Dahlor and Brent Hoad, played in numerous bands but their American and Celtic-folk rock roots were calling and The Elders were born.
Their most recent studio album, number 9, “Well Alright Then”, released in March of 2022, was conceived after the band retired and the country experienced a lockdown. The band had not intended on recording again but did so in honor of guitarist Steve Phillips, who urged them to finish the album. Phillips recorded all of his vocals and musical parts before he passed in 2020.
Enter The Haggis
Saturday
For the better part of two decades, Toronto’s Enter The Haggis has combined bagpipes and fiddles with a rock rhythm section to create a distinctively eclectic sound,
Enter The Haggis is clearly comfortable on the stage and develops an easy rapport with audiences, sharing the stories behind their songs and laughing through tour anecdotes. The show is exciting and dynamic, featuring unpredictable and spontaneous moments.
Enter The Haggis' commitment to putting on a great show every single night has made them a favorite at festivals and performing arts centers across the US and Canada.
The Prodigals
Friday & Saturday
The Prodigals have headlined venues ranging from Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center in New York, to Yavapai College PAC in Arizona, from the Levitt Pavilion in Houston, to the House of Blues in Las Vegas; they have ten albums under their belt, with the most recent being released to acclaim this past year, 2022.
The band melds "songwriting strength" (Irish Times) with Irish traditional roots, exuberant energy with world/jazz/funk rhythms, fusing vocals, accordion, guitar, percussion, flute and dance into a sound "so unique it might as well be trademarked." (Weekly Planet FL)
Colin FarrelL & Dave Curley
Sponsored by Clinton Collision
Friday & Saturday
Colin Farrell (Fiddle & Whistles) and Dave Curley (Guitar & Vocals) are two legends of the Irish traditional music world. They have toured, performed and recorded with numerous traditional Irish music luminaries. They are gifted entertainers, and masters of their craft charming audiences with a potent mix of sublime musicianship, electric energy, and a tremendous live performance.
kilrush
Saturday
In 2001 a group of musicians from the Elmira- Corning Region began meeting up to play informal trad sessions in local pubs and coffee shops. Over the years the band evolved and began to play a more contemporary style, infusing the influences of other artists and genres to reflect the Irish-American experience. This resulted in a high energy, crowd pleasing style with all the elements loved in a traditional Irish band, a sound the band refers to as “Triple Distilled Celtic Rock”.
2021 marked the band’s 20th anniversary. Kilrush credits their longevity and success to the love and support of their fans everywhere, (who they consider family ), but also to the fact that after 20 years, Kilrush continues to be fans of the music themselves.
Blarney Rebel Band
Saturday
The Blarney Rebel Band hails from the Celtic hotbed of Central New York.
From the instant they take the stage, the principal aim of The Blarney Rebel Band is to get the audience dancing, clapping and singing (and maybe raising the occasional pint!) With their rousing renditions of all types of traditional Irish music, from rollicking pub tunes, lively sea songs, moving ballads and stirring rebel songs to hand-clapping jigs and reels, they are sure to achieve that aim. It's all on display by a group of talented musicians boasting virtuoso musicianship and perfectly blended harmonies, sure to please old and young alike.
Arise & Go
Saturday
Arise & Go is an exciting Celtic trio noted for their “precision and energy”. From intimate house concerts to festival stages, the band blends traditional melodies and instruments into fresh new arrangements that are sure to excite any audience. Arise& Go has been featured in Irish Music Magazine, Roots Music Canada, The Boston Irish Reporter and the Irish American News where they have been praised for “musical complexity and colour” that is also “authentically mindful of tradition.” 2019 saw the release of the band’s new album Meeting Place as members Ellie Goud (fiddle), Michael Roddy (uilleann pipes, border pipes, smallpipes, whistles) and Tim Ball (guitar, foot percussion) showcase the different Celtic traditions that each brings to the group’s sound.The 13-track recording has been well received by both fans and the media, being described as “combining precision with passion“ (Boston Irish Reporter) and “an example of the cross-border pollination that happens among the fantastically good musicians from Canada and the United States.” (Roots Music Canada)
triskele
Saturday
Triskele, [pronounced Tris-Kay-lee] is the premier all~female Irish/Celtic band in Albany NY. They have been entertaining audiences, since their formation in 2008, with stunning harmonies, singing in the Gaelic language and for their Irish wit as seen through their stage/audience banter. The dynamic trio performs, primarily, vocal traditional Celtic/Irish music, but also have written originals. Triskelenot only revitalizes the Gaelic language, but weaves history, traditions, and stories about growing up in Ireland into their sets, to give the listener a deeper appreciation and understanding of Irish/Celtic history.
Rogue March
Friday & Saturday
Born of the Connecticut coastline between Boston & NYC, Rogue March has been taking New England by storm since the winter of 2021. Powered by the bodhran (celtic drum), bones (traditional whaler’s percussion), 6-string acoustic guitar, and strong vocal harmonies - the duo focuses on traditional Irish & Scottish rebel music, as well as the storied maritime heritage of sea shanties from all around the world.
Rogue March draws inspiration from the Clancy Brothers, Dubliners, Pogues, Wolfe Tones, and sailors & shantymen from centuries past. They play everything from proud anthems and historic ballads to rowdy barroom singalongs and bawdy sailor tunes. In 2022 the boys performed upwards of 40 shows at pubs, clubs, breweries, and basements throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York. 2023 get ready…they’re coming for ya. Slainte!
Donal O'Shaughnessy
Saturday
Donal O´Shaughnessy is a multi-talented performer. He is a self taught musician playing guitar, fiddle, keyboards, pipe organ, bodhran and mandolin. Although he is best known as a performer of Irish music and ballads, his repertoire includes hundreds of songs from pop, country, the swing era and many originals that have become favorites at his regular spots.
Donal is probably best known for his live performances. His quick wit and spontaneity with his audience keeps people in their seats until the very end of the night. He is oftimes called a comedian and is known for his work ethic as he rarely takes a break.
Gerry Dixon
Saturday
Originally Gerry grew up on the west coast of Ireland in a little town called Kilrush in County Clare.
Here he was greatly influenced by the works of Christy Moore, The Furey Brothers and also his mother Christina who would sing a song at the drop of a hat, her tin whistle was never too far from her side.
Gerry immigrated to the US in the early 90’s and quickly formed the band Seanache who recorded many CD’s and travelled the east coast performing at Festivals, Irish Pubs, private parties and many school venues.
Eventually he branched out on his solo career and now travels back to Ireland periodically to perform where it all began.
From the song writing of Ralph McTell “It’s A Long Long Way From Clare To Here” and Gerry’s show is structured to take you on a musical escapade to the Emerald Isle.
craobh Dugan-o'looney
Friday & Saturday
Craobh (pronounced "crave") in Irish is a branch of an organization, so Craobh Dugan is our local branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. It was established in 1978 in Clinton, NY, by Pat and Frank Dugan and Jim O'Looney.
Now located in Utica, NY, Craobh Dugan is one of 50 branches in North America. Our chapter's aims are non-political and non-religious and people of all ages are welcome to participate in our events. You can learn to play an Irish instrument, play in sessions, take dance workshops, learn to speak the Irish language, attend a concert and more.
Butler Sheehan dancers
Friday & Saturday
The Butler Academy of Irish Dance was started in Dublin, Ireland more than 70 years ago by Mae Butler. Her son, Patrick Butler, taught Irish Dance in New York State for over thirty years! He has much to his accomplishment, including the honor of dancing for the Queen of England, President Kennedy and has appeared in the annual St. Patrick's Day show at Carnegie Hall, along with Carmel Quinn for five consecutive years. He is a retired, undefeated Canadian Champion Dancer, and a North American Champion Dancer. We are quite privileged to have had him teach and guide our children!
In 2006, Mr. Butler partnered with Pattie Sheehan-Malinowski to form The Butler-Sheehan Academy of Irish Dance. Pattie had been a student of Mr. Butler since her early childhood and his assistant for many years.
In March of 2007, Patrick Joseph Butler was taken from us, but The Butler-Sheehan Academy of Irish Dance continues his work under the skilled guidance of Pattie Sheehan-Malinowski, T.C.R.G.