FALLdeRAL 2005

Kevin Burke

Fiddler Kevin Burke is legendary for his nuanced playing of traditional Irish music. As a member of the Bothy Band, Open House, the Celtic Fiddle Festival and Patrick Street, not to mention his solo recordings, his playing has inspired a whole generation of musicians. According to the New York Times: "Burke imparts a rhythmic intensity that is remarkably powerful…a superior instrumentalist in any idiom…impressively virtuosic…"

KevinBurke.com

Liz Carroll and John Doyle

The powerhouse duo of Liz Carroll and John Doyle are to be heard to be believed. Fiddler Liz Carroll is a Chicago native whose playing comes from the deeply rooted Irish tradtional music scene in the Windy City. Guitarist and singer John Doyle was born in Dublin, Ireland and comes from an extended family of musicians. Together they weave a rich tapestry of tunes and songs with enough energy to light up a small municipality.

www.LizCarroll.com

www.JohnDoyleMusic.com

The Coulter/Phillips/Grosjean Ensemble

Gourd Music artists William Coulter, Barry Phillips, Shelley Phillips and Deby Benton-GrosJean bring a wide ranging mix of traditional styles. "All the beauty of traditional music and all the excitement of modern instrumentation, arrangement, and performance."- Music Magazine.

http://www.Gourd.com

Kenny Hall

Kenny Hall is an internationally known mandolin and fiddle player. He has recorded several albums of old time stringband music and has influenced many Californian musicians. He has performed at the Smithsonian Folklife festival and has toured in Ireland and Europe. He currently plays with Terry Barrett, and his wife Marta Hall as Kenny Hall and the Long Haul String Band.

Blind Dog

Blind Dog enjoys playing an eclectic mix of tunes which bubble up through the diverse musical backgrounds of its members: traditional American, Celtic, Bluegrass and Classical. Musicians are John McDaniel (guitar, mandolin, banjo, bodhran), Bruce Honeyman (guitar, mandolin, harmonica, vocals), Ann Munson (guitar, pennywhistle, keyboard, vocals), David Fox (cello), Kathy Wosika (fiddle, bodhran). You can find Blind Dog at various venues and events in Fresno as well as a yearly Garden Tour gig in Big Sur.

Celtic Jam Band

The Celtic Jam Band is a festival-only ensemble that includes some of the area's finest jazz, blues, Brazilian and world beat musicians. Many of these musicians play regularly with their own bands at Fagan's Irish Pub. The Jam group includes Steve Ono (guitar and vocals), Eddie Gordon (harmonica), Kevin Hill (bass), Patrick Contreras (violin) and Eva Scow (mandolin and violin). Expect a playful "jazzy" approach to some Celtic favorites!

Crann Tara

The husband and wife duo of Gerard and Sarah Jones perform the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They present an unusual repertoire of rare songs in Irish Gaelic, Scots Gaelic and Welsh, accompanying themselves on harps, guitar, pipes, whistles and concertina.

Cynthia Merrill's Celtic Dance Ensemble

The Celtic Dance Ensemble has been performing at concerts and community events since 1996 and is directed by Julie Ann Keller. Their repertoire includes traditions from Ireland, Scotland and England including Irish step dances, Scottish Highland dances and the intricate rapper sword dances of English coal miners. The ensemble includes a wide range of ages and abilities from young children to adults, beginners to advanced performers.

Fresneaux Ramblers

Fresneaux Ramblers is Terry Barrett (fiddle and mandolin), Gary Arcemont (fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin), Dean Lloyd (harmonica, accordions, pennywhistle), Bruce Honeyman (guitar, mandolin) This quartet of experienced musicians presents a musical gumbo with a richness in its variety of instrumentation, vocals and folk styles. They will entertain you with authentic American Roots Music--from the cajuns of Louisiana, the celtic music of Ireland and Scotland, and the old-timey country string band music of the Appalachian mountain folks.

Harps of Erin

Mary Smith and Laura Olson (Harps of Erin) have been having fun with their harps together for the past 4 years. Mary works as a Nurse Practicioner often in the Central Unified School District. Laura has been playing instruments of all kinds since childhood, eventually playing cello professionally with the Stockton Philharmonic, Tulare County Symphony, and the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, and currently teaches instrumental music as a string specialist in Clovis Unified School District.

www.fresnoweddings.net/harps_at_play.html

Highlands and Lowlands

The band members of Highlands and Lowlands live in the foothills as well as on the flat Valley floor, hence the ensemble's name. The nine members of the group play Irish and Scottish tunes on an assortment of instruments including guitar, mandolin, piano, flute, dulcimer and bass. They specialize in family entertainment and involve their audiences through sing-a-longs and puppets. A handclapping good time!

highlands.comvision2000.com/index.htm

McTeggart Irish Dancers

The McTeggart School of Irish Dancing was established in 1939 in Cork, Ireland. In 1958 Maureen McTeggart Hall (T.C.R.G. and A.D.C.R.G) and her husband immigrated to the United States and established a dance academy here in the Central Valley. The McTeggart Irish Dancers of California include all ages and experience levels, from beginners to champions, and are frequent competitors at feiseanna throughout the Western United States.

Pipe on the Hob

Pipe on the Hob is the most prominent and long lasting Celtic band in Fresno. It has existed in one form or another for at least 19 years! In its present form Pipe on the Hob is: Donn Beedle on fiddle and mandola, Carl Johnsen on hammered dulcimer, whistle and flute, Kathryn Johnsen on harp and keyboard, Karana Hattersley-Drayton on guitar,keyboard and vocals, plus Sean McHenry on bodhran and vocals. They can be seen playing at Renaissance Fairs, weddings, private parties, the Scottish Games, and other Celtic events.

homepage.mac.com/carljohnsen/poh.html

Roscanna

One of the newest ensembles to emerge in Fresno's Celtic music scene is Roscanna. The group specializes in the traditional jigs, reels and hornpipes of Ireland. Larry Cusick (fiddle) and Chris Eacock (guitar) have played together for 20 years and are joined by Susan Heidebrecht (bodhran), Laura Olson (fiddle, viola and harp) and Bruce Honeyman (mandolin). Roscanna can be heard Thursday August 11th at the Celtic night on the Fulton Mall.

Songs 4 Pints

The "sleeper show of the 2005 Rogue Performance Festival," Songs 4 Pints (Russell Noland and Deric McQueen) sing Irish drinking songs, what else? The two men take no prisoners and know how to work a crowd, blurring the boundary between performer and audience. They accompany their robust vocals with pennywhistle and bodhran. Spontaneous, raucous and fun... you will know you are in an Irish pub!