Featuring
Performances By:
Cassie and Maggie
Blaggards (Friday Night Headliner)
Ockham's Razor
Stout Pounders
Whiskey and Brine
Seattle Irish Dance Company
Rabbits' Rebellion
Raising Slane
The Surly Goats
A Fiddle in the Forest
An Daire Academy of Irish Dance
The Stewart Sisters
DTG Irish Dance
Brent Murty and JUKE
Cavort Celtic Music
Erin McNamee
Katie Jane Band
Peter Daldry
Rowan Fae Irish Dance Company
Stark Raving Plaid
That Irish Guy
The Long Dark
Ceo
Learn more about our event performers below
photo credit: Jack Rowell
Mary Frances Leahy
Mary Frances Leahy is a fiddler, pianist, dancer, and composer from Ontario. Since age five, she has been performing shows throughout Canada and the U.S. with her parents, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy with an estimated 600 live performances under her belt. The oldest of seven siblings, Mary Frances has been developing her own style which is rooted in her Celtic heritage but also heavily influenced by jazz and Latin genres. This new fusion will be displayed on her new debut recording featuring all original material. For such a young lady, she has many accomplishments including a piano performance with Yo-Yo Ma for “So You Love” featured on her parents’ new release, CANVAS, two of her own compositions—“Choo Choo” and “Colour Theory”—featured on that CD as well, a performance on Little Big Shots with Steve Harvey, the Carmen Nebel TV Show in Germany, A Celtic Family Christmas special, and many unique cultural performances in her mother’s home land, Cape Breton Island. Her upbringing has nurtured a love for this traditional music as evident by her recent win in a Cape Breton Tourism music contest, for her submission, “First Light”, which was composed, arranged and performed by Mary Frances.
Performances by:
In the heart of Nova Scotia, where the salt of the sea mingles with the depth of the soul, JUNO nominated sisters, Cassie and Maggie, unite as a powerful and commanding folk duo. Rooted in their deep Celtic heritage, their melodies sing of truths that resonate through time while bridging the gap between tradition and innovation. With spellbinding harmonies and virtuosic instrumental prowess these sisters infuse the rich traditions of their region with a contemporary vitality, resulting in a sound that's both timeless and fresh. Their accolades include a JUNO nomination and numerous Canadian Folk Music Awards and East Coast Music Awards, underscoring their exceptional musical talents and their ability to connect with audiences across the globe. Cassie and Maggie's achievements resonate as a testament to their dedication and passion for preserving and evolving the folk traditions of Nova Scotia.
From the deepest roots of Canada and its very earliest musical traditions come Nova Scotian sisters Cassie and Maggie, putting their own 21st Century stamp on the Celtic soundtrack of this nation. Exciting and innovative, their talent is surpassed only by the sheer joy they exude in performance. Alternating between Gaelic and English, traditional and contemporary, haunting and electrifying, the duo is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Born to a family of deep Nova Scotia roots and a rich musical history, the two have been enchanting audiences around the world with their unparalleled unity of strings, voices and fabulous percussive step dance. Theirs is the perfect balance between musical integrity and sheer entertainment as they seamlessly blend tunes passed down through generations of musicians with their own songwriting, borrowing from other writers, other genres and other eras.
They’re turning heads wherever they go – 2018 JUNO award nominees, Galaxie Radio Rising Star award winners, 17 Canadian Folk Music, East Coast Music and Music Nova Scotia awards and nominations, Female Singers of the Year by Live Ireland Radio, Female Vocal Album of the Year by Chicago Irish American News, and Album of the Year by NPR’s Celtic Connection – the list goes on."
Friday night headliner
Blaggards (pronounced BLA-GUARDS or BLA-GHERDS, depending on where you’re from) formed July 2004 in Houston, Texas. We play what we call Stout Irish Rock, traditional Irish music mixed with rock n’ roll, informed by everything from Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley to Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath. We are most frequently compared to bands like Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, and the Pogues. We released our new album BLAGMATIC in July 2021, and our latest single release “Come Out Ye Black & Tans” hit streaming services on March 13, 2022. Blaggards are lead vocalist/guitarist Patrick Devlin, bassist/vocalist Chad Smalley, and drummer Kevin “Turbo” Newton.
Ockham's Razor
Ockham's Razor is a Seattle-based Celtic fusion band that has carved out a unique niche in the Celtic folk genre. The band blends influences of Celtic and Irish tradition with rock, pop, gypsy, punk, jazz, bluegrass, and folk elements. They have been described as "Turbo-Celtic" and "Ethno-Punk," and have performed with notable bands like Young Dubliners, Enter the Haggis, and Paperboys. Ockham's Razor has been featured on radio and podcasts in various countries, including India and Australia, as well as the US, Canada, and the rest of North America, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Europe. They have also been featured on the Portland OR-based PDXPosed and Alaska Airline’s In Flight Entertainment Channel, Next Stop. The band's live performances have been praised for their energy and the dynamic connection they have with their audience.
Stout Pounders is a Seattle based Irish Folk / Celtic Rock band. Since 2007, the band has brought new energy to time tested Scottish and Irish Folk music while mixing in originals with influences ranging from ska to metal. Stout Pounders are great for pub atmospheres or large festivals. The band plays regularly around Seattle and has been the house band of the Seattle St. Patrick's Day Dash since 2009. Stout Pounders is a Seattle-based Irish Folk and Celtic Rock band that infuses fresh energy into traditional Scottish and Irish Folk music while incorporating original songs influenced by genres ranging from Ska to Metal.
Known for their versatility, Stout Pounders can scale their lineup to suit any venue, from an intimate three-piece ensemble to a full seven-piece band for larger venues and festivals. No matter the occasion, they excel at engaging audiences of all sizes.
For years, the band has been a driving force in the PNW Celtic Rock scene, sharing the stage with renowned acts like Young Dubliners, Seven Nations, Screaming Orphans and The Wellermen. Their high-energy performances and infectious sound have earned them repeat invitations to KZOK’s Bob Rivers Morning Show, where they had the honor of playing live on-air for two St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Since 2009, their music has become a staple of Seattle’s biggest and most established fun run, the St. Patrick’s Day Dash, where they serve as the house band, fueling the city's festive spirit with their electrifying tunes.
What happens when Irish mermaids and fishermen get together to sing and play their favorite tunes? Whiskey and Brine will transport you to a seaside pub full of Celtic harp airs, toe-tapping dance tunes, drinking songs, sea shanties, and songs of love and longing. Founded in Seattle in 2019, they have performed at the Music at the Falls concert series, Galway Bay Irish Pub and Restaurant, McMenamins Anderson School, Folklife Festival, Spokane Renaissance Faire, and the Port Angeles Maritime Festival. Raise a glass and sing along!
The Seattle Irish Dance Company is a local group composed of many different ages, backgrounds, and experiences, but we are all connected by our love of Irish dance. Our mission is to spread the joy of Irish dance to our community and promote Irish dance as an art form across the Pacific Northwest, while also exploring innovative movement patterns, ideas, and choreography. We hope that the audience will gain an appreciation for traditional Irish dance while also being inspired by the possibilities for the future of this dance style
"Rabbits’ Rebellion was born from the desire to bring the Seattle’s Irish session scene to those who may not be familiar with how lively and welcoming it can be, resonant with people from all walks of life and from a variety of backgrounds. With a deep respect for the Irish tradition, a woven tapestry of other Celtic influences, as well as the energy and inventiveness of contemporary performance, Rabbits will have you stomping along and lift your spirits with rousing songs and tune sets! The name Rabbits Rebellion is an homage to the Easter Rebellion, an armed insurrection of the Irish republicans against British colonial rule during Easter Week in 1916. The Rising marks the start of the period of Irish War of Independence and has been immortalized in the song Foggy Dew. In this, we join the Irish people in music and in spirit!"
Born out of Seattle’s finest Irish pubs, Raising Slane blends the soul-stirring melodies of Celtic music with the raw, unfiltered pulse of the Pacific Northwest’s rock scene. In addition to a growing number of originals, Raising Slane offers up their own take on the music of The Pogues, The Dubliners and more.
Created by friends who wanted to enjoy each other's company while getting free drinks The Surly Goats have created a lasting impact on Irish music in their own particular way. After years working as a spy network in the Congo our heroes have settled down in the South Sound area to raise kids and spread the joy of Traditional Irish instrumentals and songs to an unsuspecting audience. And possibly sell a few T-Shirts and oven mitts on the way to pay for snacks.
We will lift your spirits with Irish dancing featuring prize-winning competitive Irish Dancer Mikaili, Scottish and Irish fiddle and arrangements of traditional Irish Tunes, old Irish Aires, and original compositions by songwriter, singer and fiddler, Tessa, and absolutely stunning Guitar and breathtaking vocals from the talented and long-time player/singer Roger. We will get you moving with our drum banters and clap-worthy jigs and reels as well as a danceable waltz here and there! Humor and energy bring our audience alive, and woven into the mix are the thought-provoking, beautiful vocals of Ireland. We hope that you find our performance will bring a bit of Ireland and Scotland to you in a refreshing and light-hearted, wee little vacation!
An Daire Academy of Irish Dance
An Daire Academy of Irish Dance was founded in 2003 by the husband & wife team of Jim Mueller and Lauren Crowe-Mueller. Like the oak tree from which the name comes, the school has branches throughout the western region. In 2005, An Daire Academy opened up the Wenatchee, WA location. In 2012, Angela Schaub joined the teaching staff in Wenatchee and received her TMRF in 2020. Our dancers learn the benefits of hard work, strong character, and deep roots in an environment focused on family, fun, and fitness. We offer opportunities for self-improvement through dance exams, performances, and competitions. Come see what we are about. We would love to meet you!
The Stewart Sisters
The Stewart Sisters are talented and dedicated dancers from the Pacific Northwest. With 10 years of experience, they have become integral to the local Irish dance community, sharing their passion through performing and teaching. They are proud to instruct the next generation of dancers at DTG Irish Dance, where they foster a love for the art form. The sisters continue to actively train and compete with their school, Cascade Irish Dance, embodying the energy and precision of Irish step dancing.
DTG Irish Dance
DTG Irish Dance is a performance-oriented school providing Irish dance instruction for students from beginner to intermediate levels in Wenatchee, WA. While our core mission is to celebrate Irish culture through community performance, we also offer a limited number of competitive opportunities for students who wish to pursue them.
Brent Murty and JUKE
Brent Murty (guitar/ Irish bouzouki) and Ronan McCann (Irish tenor banjo)...hailing from County Tyrone, Ireland, these two lifelong friends, who make up the band JUKE, have been playing together for over a decade, gracing stages in Belfast, across Ireland, and beyond. With banjo and Irish bouzouki at the heart of their sound, they bring fresh life to old Irish traditional songs and drive the energy high with lively, upbeat tunes. Their performances are a joyful blend of tight musicianship, infectious rhythms, and the shared spirit of friendship that defines great Irish music.
CAVORT will take you on an energetic Celtic journey of perilous passages, hooch-hiding, romantic indecisiveness, and beer. Since 2015 our fiddle, whistle, guitar and bodhran have entertained audiences with hearty pub songs and vigorous instrumentals. The result will make you click your heels in musical joy.
Erin McNamee was born and raised in Sultan WA, a small Cascade Mountain town in the Skykomish River Valley. She was a true singer from the time she could speak. Her mother will tell a story about a determined 5-year-old who sang in preschool for her class, her favorite records strewn about every afternoon as she sang along with every word. Singing was Erin’s destiny set in motion. Siren Studios, Erin's vocal teaching studio has thrived from 2003 to present. She moved it throughout the years from Seattle to Leavenworth and now Snohomish, WA where it has been since 2018. Erin performs weekly as a solo acoustic artist all over Central and Western Washington. She and her musician friends can often be seen singing in local cafés, pubs, breweries and wineries.
The Katie Jane Band is a high-energy Celtic fiddle band from Portland, OR. Known as "Portland's hottest fiddler," Katie Jane's dynamic performance features virtuosic, high-speed fiddling, her contagious smile, and unstoppable dancing feet. The Katie Jane Band performs traditional and original fiddle music spanning Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, and the USA. Their music takes listeners on a joyful journey through the folklore of Celtic music, and their engaging storytelling relates the audience to the sweetness of everyday human experience.
The Katie Jane Band shares their dynamic stage performance at Celtic festivals, Scottish Highland Games, and theaters up and down the West Coast. Some notable performances include performing at the Pleasanton Scottish Gathering, headlining the Celtic Fantasy Faire in Portland, OR, headlining the Douglas County Scottish Highland Games, performing the live music for Artist Repertory Theater's production of the Scottish play, "The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart," and producing their own multi-media productions with the Celtic Light Orchestra.
Peter Daldry is a traditional singer/songwriter from Clydebank, Scotland and resident in California since 1994. With a background in teaching and education in sports and music, Daldry brought his teaching skills to Camp Kennolyn in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the summer of 1990. Brought up listening to the folk music Scotland’s 'The Corries and Ireland's 'The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in his early playing years. Graduating to his major influences of Scottish artists Dick Gaughan, Andy M. Stewart (Silly Wizard) Dougie Maclean and David Francey. Peter performs at various Scottish Games and Irish/Celtic events and festivals across the United States and Internationally. Peter is an award-winning vocalist coming in third place for his acapella rendition of 'I Wish I Was In Glasgow' by Billy Connolly. The song was entered into the International Music Awards in 2012 and online competition to promote songwriters and performers. The competition spanned six continents and eighty countries around the world.
"Folk Music… sung and played with a rock and roll heart!"
John Moen, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and creative guy started the band after years of playing with the Stout Pounders (and will still do an occasional gig with them if the timing works out). Katie Corcorran Nicolas is a spectacular fiddler with amazing hair and even more firey fiddle skills. Adam Zitzmann is holding down the low end and maintaining the groove with his bass styling. Lastly Darren Meucci keeps the beat and along with dazzling drumming with us when he's not playing with the Sounders Sound Wave band. Since their formation, Stark Raving Plaid has played to many a drunken (and even some sober) audiences, including a featured performance in Seattle for the USGAA Finals (That's Hurling for those not in the know).
Born in the town of Omagh, Co Tyrone, That Irish guy was brought up surrounded by folk music. His great grandmother, Sarah Makem was a world-famous collector of songs. Her son Tommy Makem of Clancy Brothers fame was a huge influence on his music. He currently resides in Gig Harbor, Washington and plays all over the Northwest.
The Long Dark was born out of Seattle's long established session scene. After years playing together at various Celtic music session, Christine Traxler, Cameron St. Louis, Drake Caraker, Lennart Jansson, and Kríostóir Clements came together to experiment with the session format. With influences coming from Scottish folk music as well as the ambient brooding sounds of bands like Sigur Ros and Radiohead, The Long Dark approached traditional Celtic music and tunes as text to be translated, understood, and interpreted and presented as something new and fresh, simultaneously familiar and strange.
Ceo (pronounced "kYOH") translates to fog/mist in Irish Gaelic; atmospheric conditions shared between Ireland and the Northern California coastline. Irish traditional musicians Blake Ritter and Alina Larson both grew up within walking distance of redwood forests, which thrive in foggy climates. Driving rhythms and intricate textural soundscapes are the hallmarks of Ceo's musical style. Blake & Alina are both dance musicians at heart, playing lively tunes in tight synchrony, while not shying away from spontaneous variations.
2026 Schedule of Events
TBA
2026 Event Sponsors
Thank you to all our generous sponsors
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