Albannach

I’d like to introduce you to the Scottish band, Albannach….

Albannach, (Scots-Gaelic for “Scottish” or “Scotsman”) is not just another Scottish Pipes & Drums band and they will bring a new and exciting form of music to your event.  The band consists of champion piper Donnie, main percussionist, Nick, Jamesie & Jacquie,  bass drummers and vocalists and DidriDrew.  Together, they bring  a brand new approach to percussion and Celtic music.  Their music is exciting, energetic, enchanting and tribal, and they promise to leave you begging for more….. and your audience demanding MORE ALBANNACH!

View Albannach’s Video

Gaelic Mishap

Gaelic Mishap is Maryland’s premier Celtic Rock Band.

Formed in 2010, this group blends unmatched vocals and iconic fiddling into Celtic rock, shanties, and traditional Irish tunes. Whether young or old, at a festival or in the pub, Gaelic Mishap will “wow” you with their original music while throwing surprises, or “mishaps”, into the hits and covers you know and love.

Gaelic Mishap has performed at a variety of venues across several states, including: the Annapolis Irish Festival, The Hamilton Theater, the Philadelphia Fleadh, the Martinsburg Irish Festival, Washington DC’s Shamrockfest, and many more.  They’ve played alongside or opened for some of the largest national/international acts in the Celtic Scene, including Carbon Leaf, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys and Gaelic Storm.

Gaelic Mishap Video

The Diddley Idols

The Diddley Idols are THE New York based dynamic duo with the full band sound. Dave Barckow (Queens, NY) and Louise Barry (Dublin, Ireland).  After a chance encounter in 2012, Dave and Louise’s undeniable chemistry made them inseparable and together they formed The World Record holding “The Diddley Idols” in 2013.  As two lead vocalists, they added Dave’s foot operated drum kit and guitar and Louise’s ukulele and percussion to finish out their sound. A live “tour de force” and “proof that great things do come in small packages!

Poehemia

Shaped by the rocking traditions of Baltimore and the thriving music scene in Glasgow, Poehemia delivers the absolute best in Traditional, Celtic Rock and countless hits from many other of your favorite artists!Since 2012, Poehemia has performed hundreds of high-energy electric and acoustic shows at pubs, wineries, weddings, breweries, festivals, and special events throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  Band Members: Ted Koch, Michael Kerr, Andy Anderson, Greg Giannetti.  Sláinte Mhath!

The ShamRogues

The ShamRogues have been entertaining crowds all over the East Coast since 2009 with their unique brand of Irish music and dance. From Washington D.C. to Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the famous Irish venues of New York City, the band has attracted fans of all ages and walks of life wherever they travel with their show. Having performed a series of sell out shows in Ireland over the past several years, the band has blasted onto the International scene in a blaze of electric fiddles and banjos.

Formed by banjo player and County Laois native Jim Phelan, the band features Adam Wyatt on Vocals and Bodhran, Billy Jack Mast on Guitar and Vocals, Sarah Stepanik on Fiddle, Jeff Havens on Bass, Evan Phillips on Drums and the World Class Irish Dancing Duo Katie Fox and Katie Whitman.

Not a band to stand around on stage blasting out song after song, The ShamRogues like to involve their audience in a fun, lively evening of songs and stories of Ireland, and God help anyone who forgets to clap along !!!

Teelin Irish Dance Company is known for performances that accentuate the energy of Irish dance with cutting edge choreography. From the graceful beauty of jigs and reels to the thundering beat of percussive dance, a performance by this company leaves audience members at the edge of their seats, wishing for more!

Based in Columbia, Maryland, the Teelin Irish Dance Company has graced stages locally, nationally, and internationally since 2001. Some of these stages include The Kennedy Center, Lyric Opera House, Meyerhoff, Weinberg, Carrol County Arts Center, Turning Stone Resort and Casino in New York, and Jacobs Pillow. They have also performed alongside many other artists including The Young Irelanders, Cherish the Ladies, Gaelic Storm, and Eileen Ivers. In addition to numerous performances at public, private and corporate events, Teelin Irish Dance Company is also well known for its original productions of feature-length stage shows: Portraits of Ireland (2006-2011), StepDance (2012-2013), Sláinte (2014), and Celtic Storm (2016-2019).

Whether interested in tradition or innovation, the high energy of a performance by the Teelin Irish Dance Company is sure to capture any audience.

Baltimore Irish Music Dance

At The Baltimore Irish Music School, we are led by our three core values: Community, Tradition, and Craic. We strive to instill all these values in our curriculum and inspire our students to live these out every day.

Our students are part of a larger musical community. Irish traditional music is, at its heart, a social style of music. BIMS students will be provided with opportunities to be a part of that community.

Tradition lies at the heart of Irish traditional music. The music tradition is something that is passed down through generations and is independent of race, religion, or creed. Our students will have opportunities to connect with experienced Irish musicians and to learn the value of continuing the tradition.

Craic is all about having fun and engaging with other musicians in a positive environment. BIMS students will be provided opportunities to have fun with their peers and will learn the value of the music beyond the competition stage or recording studio.

The Baltimore Irish Music School believes that all young students who desire to learn Irish music should be able to do so in a supportive environment at an affordable cost. We aim to create a gateway to growth opportunities from festival classes to Fleadh competitions and beyond. Our instrument library allows students to try any instrument they are interested in without the financial burden of buying every instrument they are inspired to try.

It is the duty of the community around us to help these children access these opportunities. BIMS acts as a conduit to bring funds from the community and turn them into classes, scholarships, and instrument access for the students.

Jamison

The Irish music scene in Philadelphia is bursting with bands and musicians who perform all over the area to keep the roots of Ireland alive in their songs. None of these performers are quite like Jamison though- a high-energy six-piece that can take traditional Irish tunes and turn them upside down, blending in rock, reggae, modern pop, and hip-hop along the way. Crowds can’t help but get to their feet as Jamison takes Irish music to the next level with original songs and eccentric versions of covers or festival favorites.  Each Jamison show is different from the last. Whether it’s a large festival stage in front of thousands or a favorite pub crowd ready to unwind from a long week, you’ll be drawn into a unique experience with the band’s contagious good vibes. Their sets mold to fit their audiences, making Jamison one of the most versatile bands in the business. Fans will leave a Jamison show reenergized, out of breath and asking, “when’s the next one?”  Frank Daly – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Tin Whistle, Mandolin; John O’Callaghan – Vocals, Electric Guitar, Tin Whistle, Mandolin; Sean Hicks – Electric Guitar, Vocals; Alice Marie – Fiddle, Viola, Vocals; Ant Lusi – Bass; Jason Massey – Drummer

Kavanagh Porter Academy

At Kavanagh Porter Academy, we pride ourselves on creating an environment where every dancer—whether aspiring world champion or recreational student—can grow, succeed, and celebrate the art of Irish dance. Our academy provides world-class instruction while fostering a supportive and inclusive community.

At Kavanagh Porter Academy, we believe that excellence comes from a combination of expert instruction, dedication, and a supportive community. Our school offers a unique transatlantic education experience that draws from the rich Irish dance traditions of Ireland while incorporating modern techniques and opportunities from the USA.

What makes us truly stand out is our commitment to individualized attention. Every dancer, from beginner to competitive champion, receives personalized guidance and support. Our teachers are not only seasoned professionals but also mentors who nurture both the technical and emotional growth of each student.

McHale School of Irish Dance

The McHale School of Irish Dance has been teaching Traditional Irish Dancing in Baltimore for over 25 years. The school started with adult Ceili and set classes, later classes grew to adult step dancing and children’s step dancing. About twelve years ago in an effort to cut back and make less more, it was decided to only teach the children’s step classes. Today classes are stronger than ever. Traditional steps, group dances and specialty choreographies are the school’s focus.

Our School is certified by An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha (Irish Dancing Commission) Dublin, Ireland.

We take great pride in the fact that we stand out from other high pressure dancing schools. We want our students to enjoy their journey into Irish Dancing which is much deeper then competitions, wigs and flashy costumes.  Competition is not for everyone, but Irish Dancing is!

Dancing can be fun without added pressure.  We believe in a positive learning environment which we hope will help students develop self-confidence and discipline while learning the fundamentals of Irish Dance, along with life lessons that we hope will be with them long after the classes have ended and the stage is dark.

Brendan Pelan

Brendan Pelan, Singer and Guitarist, born in Belfast Ireland. Seven years ago, he began playing as a solo performer in the Washington, DC and Baltimore area. This is truly where he is the most comfortable and enjoys bringing both Irish traditional and popular acoustic music to my audience. His musical interests span from the Wolfe Tones, Clancy Brothers, Christy Moore, and Furey Brothers to The Beatles, Jimmy Buffett, The Drifters, Van Morrison, Billy Joel, Paul Simon and Roy Orbison.
My goal of playing Irish music full time has been realized and I have the privilege of performing for some of the best Irish organizations and restaurants in the area. Over the past three years, I’ve been invited to perform at the Maryland Irish Festival, and in 2006 and 2007, I played several venues in Derry, Belfast and Dublin, Ireland.
To close, it is a privilege to be able to play my music and to meet such marvelous people and friends along the way. I receive instant gratification when the audience sings along with me or I receive feedback for a song that I played having special meaning for someone.

Seamus Kennedy

Video of Seamus Kennedy

Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been entertaining audiences all over the United States for almost four decades. An accomplished guitarist with a ready wit and a vast store of songs, he travels the country performing for thousands of people each year.

With a thorough knowledge of the traditional and contemporary songs of Ireland and Scotland, he is equally proficient with American music, whether it be folk, country, bluegrass or a little Western Swing. For more than four decades on the Irish/Celtic festival circuit, he was first influenced by the legendary Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, and from them he learned the importance of not only being a solid musician and singer, but also of being an all-round entertainer.

Seamus is at home in venues ranging from intimate house-concerts and folk-clubs to concert halls and festivals; from Alaska to Florida, from Maryland to California, he makes folks laugh, sing and forget their cares for a while.

Kennedy’s ability to combine a total command of the music with humor makes him unique in the industry. His strong interactive entertainment skills and his participation with his audiences have helped him create an exceptionally loyal fan base everywhere he goes.

Dublin 5

Dublin 5 has taken the Celtic music scene by storm thanks to an eclectic mix of traditional roots and blazing instrumentals with an amped up rock twist. Their musicianship and show is nothing short of high octane. Their fan base is continually expanding and covers people of all ages from all walks of life. The name Dublin 5 is the region in Ireland where Ray Murphy, lead singer in the band, grew up as a child.

Dublin 5 has performed at The Milwaukee Irish Festival, The Syracuse Irish Festival, The Oshkosh Irish Festival, The Maryland Irish Festival, The Celtic Classic, The Celtic Fling, The Dayton Ohio Irish Festival, The Annapolis Irish Festival, The Maryland Renaissance Festival, FEDEX Field, Southern Maryland Celtic Festival, Raven’s Stadium, USNA Stadium and Shamrock Fest Washington, D.C.

Dublin 5 are fronted by Ray Murphy (lead guitar) from Dublin, Ireland and backed by Jenn Belle (fiddle), Gary Hewitt (bass), Jim Martin, (percussion), and drummer Kevin Shook. They are sure to keep you on edge until the final track has been played!

Kate Spanos, Irish Dance

Video of Kate Spanos

Kate Spanos Irish Dance presents exciting choreographies that combine modern and traditional Irish dance styles. Performances especially showcase festival style Irish dance technique from the Belfast area, with an emphasis on strength, control, musicality, and stage presence. Festival style is known for its slow and elegant slip jigs and set dances.

Kate Spanos is a dancer and dance scholar from the DC area with a Ph.D. in dance and performance studies from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in traditional Irish dance performance from the University of Limerick (UL). She started dancing at the CCÉ céilís in Fairfax in 1990 and the O’Neill-James School of Irish Dance in 1992, going on to dance at the World Championships in 2000. She has studied a wide variety of Irish dance styles, including competition/feis style, sean nós, old-style step dance, Molyneaux style from North Kerry, and festival style from Northern Ireland. She currently studies festival style with Lauren Smyth of County Down and teaches weekly classes in Rockville, MD.For more information, visit www.thekatespanos.com

Celtic Corridor

Video of Celtic Corridor

Celtic Corridor is a traditional Irish band out of Baltimore, MD. Laura Byrne, Joanna Clare, Eileen Estes, Donna Long, and Billy McComiskey play a large roll in riling up any crowd.

Laura Byrne is highly regarded on both sides of the Atlantic for her mastery of the Irish traditional flute and whistle. Laura studied at Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore where she earned Bachelor’s degrees in both flute performance and music education. Though classically trained, she chose to devote her musical career to Irish traditional music, committing herself to the playing of the older generation of musicians through her many trips to Ireland and from close study of the emigrees to the United States.

Joanna Clare is an acclaimed Irish fiddler and violinist having won numerous awards for her talents as a fiddler and as a composer. Like Laura, she began with a classical style, and committed to Irish fiddling as a student of Brian Conway. As well as performing with her other musical groups The Good Folk and The Mount Clare Connection, she teaches Suzuki Violin and Irish fiddle to people of all ages at her home and through The Baltimore Irish Music School and the Baltimore Music Company. In 2022, Joanna released her debut album, To Keep the Candle Burning, which has received accolades from both sides of the Atlantic.

Whether performing at home or touring, Eileen Estes has thrilled audiences for years with her extraordinary voice, which effortlessly combines vocal power with subtle emotional expressiveness. She also works as a studio musician and a vocal coach. Eileen is a former faculty member at Blue Ridge Irish Music School, where she is still a visiting instructor, and travels to teach Master Classes in the United States and abroad.

When she was five years old, Donna Long began taking piano lessons with her father, Byron Long, a jazz/classical pianist who instilled in Donna a love for music. As a child, Donna was exposed to many different genres of music, including players from the old and new Jazz eras, Classical, Scottish, Indian, and African. In 1978, she moved to the Baltimore/Washington, DC area and heard fiddler, Brendan Mulvihill playing Irish music. He inspired her to pick up the fiddle and gave her a solid foundation in style and playing. She then began to accompany him on the piano and now Donna is considered one of the finest pianists playing Irish music and toured with the acclaimed female group Cherish the Ladies.

Billy McComiskey holds four All Ireland Championship titles, two (gold and silver) with Brendan Mulvihill for their superb duet playing, and two (gold and silver) for his work as a soloist. Billy won the coveted All Ireland Championship for the Button Accordion in 1986. He is the recipient of the 2011 Irish Echoes Traditional artist of the year award, and has received one of the highest honors a traditional musician can be awarded: the 2016 NEA National Heritage Fellowship. He’s made quite a few recordings and has performed around the globe with some of the mightiest musicians playing Irish Music today, including the Irish Tradition, Trian, Green Fields of America, and the Pride of New York.

Kilmaine Saints

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Kilmaine Saints is a band formed on good whiskey and bad intentions. The brainchild of two members of a Harrisburg Pipe & Drum band, this side project was originally created with the sole intent of getting them free beer at St Patrick’s Day shows in the Central PA area (and might I add – mission accomplished). After incorporating the help of fellow members from the pipe band and other notable musicians from the area, they soon realized they were in for one hell of a ride. Since 2009 they have continued to pound through blistering, high-energy live sets that keep people singing along, stomping their feet, lifting their pints and shouting for more. With several hundred shows at venues and festivals up and down the East Coast, 5 critically acclaimed releases under their belts, national and international airplay, and an ever-expanding and extremely loyal fan base, it’s no wonder the world is starting to stand up and take notice. In short, the Kilmaine Saints are equal parts Irish swagger, Scottish pride, and whiskey. This explosive Celtic rock band from central PA will steal your heart, your spirit, and your pint when you’re not looking.

Ireland the Band

Video of Ireland the Band

Ireland the band is a lively and entertaining trio of rebels who live to promote and preserve everything irish.  The lads, David McGrath, Anthony Crossey, and Sean Conners hail from Dublin, Armagh, and County Mayo, respectively, and always leave the crowd wanting more!  Their sound and their show embodies the spirit of Ireland and is definitely not to be missed!  Some people have remarked that bring at an Ireland the band show is like watching the Chieftains and the Wolfe tones on stage at the same time.      Look out for these boys…

Brian Gaffney

Video of Brian Gaffney

Brian Gaffney singer/songwriter was born in Tralee, County Kerry.  Youngest of 4 kids, Brian didn’t take long to pick up a love of music from his older brothers.

By age 13, Brian was playing in pubs around Kerry with accordion player Kevin Cronin.  They formed a band in Christian Brothers School and won the all Ireland “Slogadh” in 1974.

Brian played all kinds of music, to include traditional Irish music and rock ‘n roll and found his nitch as a solo performer.

During the late 70’s, Brian was the resident Saturday night opener at Horan’s Hotel in Tralee where he stayed for 5 years.  Playing at Horan’s gave Brian an opportunity to play with renowned Irish groups such as The Furey’s, Moving Hearts and the Dubliners, just to name a few.

Brian continued to play all over Ireland until 1985 when he immigrated to America.  Brian’s first port of call was Boston, Mass. where he was immediately snatched up to fill in with the band “Dublin Sound” with Dessie Higgins and Sean Garvey.  In 1986, Brian partnered up with Alan Loughnane and toured all over America with the group “Claddagh” for 3 1/2 years.

Brian then joined Fergus Kennedy, then Steve Morris in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia areas in the band “Brendan’s Voyage”.  They toured all over America as well and released 2 very successful albums “In Full Sail” and “Close to the Wind”.

Brian became the proud father of Kelly Gaffney in 1992.  In April of the following, he opened Nanny O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Washington, DC along with the Lyons family.  Nanny O’Brien’s quickly became known as a local landmark for Irish music.  Many Irish musicians passing through Washington, DC played Nanny’s stage.  The Monday night trad sessiun that Brian started in 1993, still goes on in the backroom today and is the longest running sessiun in the Washington metro area.

Since Nanny O’Brien’s opened in 1993, it gave Brian an opportunity to pursue his passion by playing traditional music.  Brian teamed up with all star fiddle player, Brendan Mulvihill with whom he performed every Wednesday night at Nanny O’Brien’s.  Brian has also had the opportunity to play with such traditional greats as: Finbar Furey, Paddy Keenan, Billy McComiskey, James Kelly, Andy Irvine, Andy M. Stewart in concert and others during is weekly Monday night fireside seisun’s.  Past artists included:  Eileen Ivers, Matt Molloy (Chieftains), Martin Hayes and many others.

Chris Marsheck

Chris Marsheck delivers an energetic and eclectic mix of everything from traditional Irish music, to contemporary acoustic rock, with a few original songs thrown in “for good measure”.

Chris is available for solo performances, and session work.

In addition to being a consummate guitarist and vocalist: Chris is also proficient at the Mandolin, Bodhran, Tin Whistle, Harmonica, and Ukulele.

Bastard Bearded Irishmen

Music of Bastard Bearded Irishmen

Pittsburgh-based Bastard Bearded Irishmen is one of the most entertaining and energetic live shows today.  Their sound is an original, ferocious blend of traditional and contemporary Celtic music, mixed with punk, gypsy and high-energy rock n’ roll.

Bastard Bearded Irishmen, or BBI, was originally intended to be a one-night-only tribute for a dear, departed friend. Jimmy Bastard and Ben Jaber shared a passion for Irish music and enlisted Dan Stocker on drums and Danny Rectenwald on mandolin to form the nucleus of the band.

What began as a tribute in local pubs, turned into three records, constant touring, and sharing the stage with everyone from The Rumjacks to Gogol Bordello. They have one of the best St. Patrick’s Day shows in the country.  They’re hard-partying and always in good spirit. The group’s lineup is rounded out by Paul Dvorchak on fiddle, Ryan Warmbrodt on rhythm guitar, and Sean-Paul Williams on bass.

Bastard Bearded Irishmen concerts are a non-stop barrage of party anthems, dancing tunes and maybe even the occasional whiskey-fueled ballad.  The experience is always organic, and sometimes, unpredictable.  Jimmy climbs the rafters and Danny jumps into the crowd.  Maybe you get to do a solo. Who knows?  Quite simply, the guys want you to have as much fun as they’re having.

The band’s third album, “Drinkin’ to the Dead,” will be released wide May 2018.  It’s a tribute to fallen friends and family, one of the reasons Bastard Bearded Irishmen formed in the first place; a respectful remembrance of those who have passed with an acceptance to go on and live your best life. Standout tracks include “Green Side of the Hill”, “Drunken Drinkin’”, the cover of “Dirty Old Town” by Ewan MacColl and the epic ending and album-titled “Drinkin’ to the Dead.”

“Drinkin’ to the Dead” is full of surprises and new stretches for the band. The album further demonstrates that Bastard Bearded Irishmen is not just a St. Patrick’s Day band.

Poor Man’s Gambit

Video of Poor Man’s Gambit

Poor Man’s Gambit was formed in 2015 and hails from the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania, USA. The trio has released 3 albums, completed two international tours, and has been noted as an increasingly popular Irish-American group.

Featuring Fiddle, Button Accordion, Guitar, Bodhran, Whistle, Cittern, Flute, Vocals, and Dance, this trio brings together diverse musical backgrounds which complement the other’s musical styles both on stage and in the studio. With two multi-instrumentalists in the line-up, PMG has been noted for their ability to change instrumentation many times over the space of a performance, and offer several levels of musical depth to listening ears. The addition of Corey’s flashy footwork on the occasional reel adds an extra punch of energy for audiences already enraptured by the music. 

The trio’s latest album ‘Land of Sunshine’ showcases a carefully selected offering of spirited tunes balanced with an equal number of expressively performed songs. Most of the repertoire is rooted in Irish traditions, but some pulls from other provincial influences including England, Brittany, and Scotland, in addition to several original compositions also included in the collection.

Brendon Kennedy

Video of Brendon Kennedy

Hi, my name is Brandon. Thanks for taking a moment to learn about me. I’m a life-long student and practitioner of music and travel. I spent several years studying at the Washington, D.C. Conservatory of Music at Glen Echo Park. I hold degree’s in songwriting at both the BA and MA level from Berklee College of Music. I have studied music abroad in Ireland several times and am an adamant believer in the power of music and community to impact change and its importance relevant to “the human condition”.

There are few times I find myself to be more at peace then when I am playing music. Playing a haunting slow air as the snow falls in winter, or a set of reels as a crowded audience claps together in a pub, these are the moments I feel most alive and connected to my fellow man and the world around me. Nothing exists outside those present moments, the creation of something meaningful is all that matters.

Having traveled to Ireland and Scotland, I was fortunate enough to experience the music of those countries, and to see how it is such a communal event, it was different then everything I had seen until then. Before my travels, there had always been an “us” and “them”, the audience and the performers. There was a sincerity and honesty about the sessions of these countries that I would love to see manifested in my own culture. My greatest lesson from these experiences is that the performers should not be separated from the audience even if they happen to be on a stage, we are all performers and audiences together, at the same time, whether we happen to be making the music or just tapping our foot to the beat of it while we drink a pint, we are bonded in these moments and whatever is manifested, we built it together.

Simon Lace Trio

Video of Simon Lace

Simon Lace is a traditional Irish musician based in Boston, MA. Hailing from Northern California, he got his start in music learning rock and jazz but was exposed to Irish music from an early age through the traditional music community of his hometown, Nevada City. While studying composition and jazz at San Francisco State University, Simon honed his guitar and banjo skills in the SF Bay Area trad community. Since moving to Boston, his sophisticated banjo and guitar playing has made him a fixture in the Irish music scene, and he can be regularly heard playing at pubs such as The Burren, The Druid, Emmet’s, and more. In addition, he has taught at programs such as CCÉ Boston Music School and Lark Camp Online, and won 1st place at the 2023 and 2024 Mid Atlantic Fleadh on banjo, mandolin, and accompaniment. Simon has also toured the US and Australia as featured guitarist with A Taste of Ireland Dance Company.

Simon regularly collaborates with other musicians in the greater Boston Irish music scene, and is available to provide live Irish music for any occasion. He also provides lessons for guitar, banjo, mandolin, music theory and more out of his home in Somerville, MA

Morris Minor

Morris Minor is a division of Brendan’s Voyage minus Brian Gaffney.  Brendan’s Voyage, The Band, was formed in the early 90’s with Brian Gaffney from Tralee, and Fergus Kennedy and Steve Morris who are both from Strabane.   

Together, their style runs the gambit from classic rock and roll to country, to traditional Irish music.  Brian’s guitar and crooning vocals, Fergus’s accomplished run of the keyboards and Steve’s unsurpassed fiddle, guitar and vocals have made them a much sought after band for concerts, festivals and major events all around America for many years.  Brendan’s Voyage is sure to bring any crowd to its feet as audience members revel in their diversity and lively performances. 

Brendan’s Voyage’s Video

Robert Mouland

Join Robert as he entertains us with his many music instruments and his famous sand his Jig Puppets in the South Hall.

Robert Mouland is a multi-instrumentalist who performs a wide variety of unique presentations in both historical and Irish music. His most popular offering over the past few years has been Dancers On A String which presents a cast of different characters called marionettes a laplanchette, or jig puppets. But he still has been known to do performance lectures with 18th century instruments, background music for corporate events (which he did for years at Philadelphia’s City Tavern and Carpenters Hall), storytelling with or without his rolleaux transparent (modern people renamed it a crankie) and stage presentations such as his Legacy Of The Irish Harp. He can be found playing Irish traditional music with friends at sessions around the Philadelphia area when his full time music career doesn’t have him travelling about.

Robert Mouland’s link

Dancers on a String link

Peter Brice

Peter Brice sings old songs in a traditional style, and plays Irish Traditional music on the button accordion.​  ​A native Annapolitan and an exponent of Baltimore, Maryland’s Irish traditional music community, Peter’s work blends singing and musicianship with musicology and history, humor and colorful design, and a vision for traditional culture as a foundation for an intellectual life. His playing reflects his admiration for Galway accordionists such as Joe Cooley, Kevin Keegan, and Raymond Roland—a style into which he was initiated by Brooklyn-born accordionist and National Heritage Fellow Billy McComiskey. A lifelong singer, Peter has married a repertoire of American historical songs with a wide-ranging English-language style that he gleaned from his teachers Dónal Maguire and the late Louis Killen.​ In 2011, he became the Executive Director of the New Century American Irish-Arts Company​.  ​​Peter is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory Preparatory program, and holds a BA in Irish Traditional Music and Dance from the University of Limerick.

Peter is a steadfast teacher of traditional singing. He trains children and adults in vocal technique, traditional style, and declamation.  He also teaches the button accordion, music theory, and, as an affiliate to Irish dancing schools, supplements dance instruction with an architecture for developing proficiency in Irish traditional music.

Joanna Clare, native to Syracuse, NY, is an eight-time All-Ireland Fiddle Championship qualifier. This past summer, she was awarded runner-up for the Fleadh Fest Slow Airs competition in Sligo, Ireland. She started the Suzuki Method and folk style fiddling when she was three and began lessons with Sligo fiddle master Brian Conway at age 11.  As well as a violinist/fiddler, she is also awarded in Irish dance, Irish music composition, or “tune-smithing” as she prefers to call it. She teaches classical violin and Irish fiddle lessons virtually and in person and helps teach a children’s pick-up band at multiple events run by the Philadelphia Folk Songs Society. Joanna has performed at The Springwater Fiddlers’ Fair, The Syracuse Irish Festival, The Rochester Irish Festival, The Maryland Irish Festival, The New York Trad Fest, The Philadelphia Folk Festival, The Friendly Gathering, East Durham Irish Festival, and many churches, libraries, schools, and nursing homes in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Baltimore, MD is her home-away-from-home where she attends Johns Hopkins University. 

Tess Hartis

Tess Hartis is an Irish fiddler and classical violinist originally from South Carolina. She began her musical training at the age of eight and discovered her love of Irish traditional music in college. She has performed extensively with Hup Traditional Irish Band and Istanpitta Early Music Ensemble based in Houston, TX, as well as the South Carolina Philharmonic and various regional orchestras around the Southeastern US and Texas. Having recently moved to Towson, MD, she maintains an active performing schedule with various Irish music ensembles and classical groups in the DMV area. She received her degrees in Violin Performance and Music Education from the University of South Carolina, where she also taught violin and viola at the USC String Project. A passionate teacher, Tess taught public school orchestra from 2019-2022 and has taught workshops in various styles of playing. Most recently, she taught fiddle at the 2023 O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in Midlothian, Texas. Tess now teaches multiple classes at the Baltimore Irish Music School each week and maintains a private studio of violin and fiddle students in Towson, MD.

 Eagan & Huseman

Jim (right) was born in Baltimore in 1979 and continues to reside there. He fondly recalls being enchanted by the violin even at a very young age. “My father began taking violin lessons when I was five, and soon thereafter, I started taking Suzuki classes from the Baltimore Talent Education Center.” (It should be noted that Jim’s parents, Earle and Donna Eagan, are well-known and much loved by their fellow Baltimoreans for their unstinting devotion to Irish music in general and their son’s music in particular; they can be counted on to appear at virtually any local event at which he is performing.)  Jim’s roots in Irish tradition truly sprouted from Irish step dancing, which he began studying from that same early age. Initially a student of Annette Cribben, who resided in Baltimore, and later a student of Kevin Broesler, who commuted from the New York area, Jim qualified for the World Championships in Dublin in 1991. This exposure to the jigs, reels, and hornpipes while learning his steps was instrumental in developing his desire and ability to play Irish traditional fiddle.

Jim Eagan (fiddle, banjo) and Brandt Huseman (vocals, bouzouki, bodhran) are neighbors. They are also a celtic folk duo who play trad tunes and classic songs with a modern twist.

Baltic Celtic – Kaitlyn Likas & John Bimbiras

Baltic Celtic is comprised of Kaitlyn Likas and John Bimbiras.  Their music and dancing reflects their shared Irish/Lithuanian ancestry.

Kaitlyn Likas is an award-winning fiddler and Irish/Scottish Highland dancer based in the Washington, DC area. From an early age, her mom, Peggie, ingrained in Kaitlyn and her siblings an awareness and appreciation of their cultural heritage.  Kaitlyn is a self-taught fiddler with humble beginnings as a classically trained violinist. After playing classical for over 10 years, Kaitlyn took on the new challenge of teaching herself the fiddle. Since then, she has not looked back!

John Bimbiras is a guitarist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore, MD.  He has been active as a performer since the age of twelve, playing at prestigious venues throughout the DMV, NYC, and Austin, TX.  His influences draw from a vast array of genres and styles including rock, jazz, blues, folk, Celtic, and Latin music. Currently, Bimbiras is also a Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology at the University of Texas at Austin.

Matt Ward

Matt Ward is a fan favorite who performs with various Ceili groups, and has a an Irish Ballad Sing-A-Long this year.

Video Link for Matt Ward

Estelle & Sean Handy

Estelle & Sean Handy are Tin Whistle and Irish Language Teacher with sessions in the Crossroads Tent.  Their website: Irish Language Learners

Welcome to Irish Language Learners! (Fáilte go Foghlaimeoirí na Gaeilge!)