Seven Nations

Celtic Rock and Roll

Seven Nations is not your father’s Celtic band. With a passionate, tender, and rollicking style that winningly veers from roots and folk to dance and fusion-rock, Seven Nations has earned a growing reputation as an adventurous band with a charismatic Stage presence.

Lead singer and guitarist Kirk McLeod says “The band officially began in 1993 in New York City with a standard line-up of drums, guitars, and bass. The name Seven Nations refers to the seven original Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Galicia, Isle of Man, and Brittany.”

It’s been over a decade and close to a million miles logged on the road for Seven Nations since their inception and they’re just getting started. With a highly anticipated return to their roots of festivals, touring and recording, this indie band is poised for another amazing decade.

www.sevennations.com

Skean Dubh

Celtic Music Group

Skean Dubh (pronounced, skeen doo) is one of the most enjoyable acoustic Celtic bands in the Rocky Mountain region. Founded by Phillip and Lauren Douglas in 1994, their diverse repertoire spans centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, Scottish ballads, Irish pub-songs, Celtic folksongs, and gorgeous slow airs. These versatile musicians make up a five to seven piece band that has received accolades for their exuberant performances. Their unique combination of driving rhythmic accompaniment, traditional and modern Celtic instrumentation, as well as musical vocals makes their performances unforgettable.

www.myspace.com/skeandubhgroup

Gobs o’ Phun

Irish Pub Songs & Merriment

Gobs o' Phun is lots of fun, with three dynamic lads influenced primarily by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. They offer entertaining antics and a smattering of a cappella renditions with powerful voices, animation and light humor. They don’t have jigs and reels, bagpipes or a symphonic sound. The Gobs incite laughter, sing-alongs, clapping, good-natured heckling and camaraderie. They sing the century-old folksongs from primarily Ireland and Scotland, as well as Newfoundland, Australia and England - drinking songs, ballads, historical accounts, love songs, humorous tunes, sea chanteys and more.

www.gobsophun.com

Wild Mountain Celts

Celtic Music Trio

The Wild Mountain Celts are a Celtic folk band hailing from Colorado with Damien McCarron on guitar and vocals, Renee Fine on violin, and Mike Nile on guitar, mandolin, whistle, accordion, and vocals. They are all members of the Irish/Celtic/western/rock band The Indulgers.

Damien hails from Dublin and released his solo CD "Damien Promise - A Matter of Indulgence" in the early 90's, produced by Mike. Renee Fine performed with the Boulder Symphony and "mountain rock bands" around the Boulder area since the mid 80's. Mike Nile played bass with the legendary rock band "Spirit" for 13 years prior to relocating from Malibu, California to Colorado.

The Wild Mountain Celts were formed to focus on more of the stripped down "acoustic - folk - traditional style" Celtic music. They drive home a good-time pub sound mixing a bit of that "wild tornado rhythm" with a Celtic melody.

www.shamrocker.com

Ron Tomocik

Music of Brittany, Wales, and the Other Celtic Nations

There are few musicians in the world with more experience and knowledge of Celtic music than Ron Tomocik. Ron is an internationally known accordionist, who plays for dancers around the world. He has performed for international festivals and dance camps across America and Europe. Every year, Ron teaches folk dances from around the world at the state Foreign Language Festival. He has also won numerous national music competitions. Ron will be playing dance tunes like Andros and Gavottes from Brittany, along with music from all the other Celtic nations.

Molly Bennett

Irish Ceili Dancing

Molly Bennett started her career in Irish dance and music as a member of St James’s Gate, a band which went to Ireland in 1986 and won the All-Ireland Championship for Group Ceol. Molly started the Denver Ceili Club for informal Irish group dancing and is a founding member of the City of Denver Pipe Band's Irish Dance Section. With the "I can do that!" spirit she always had, Molly made embroidered dresses for her daughters and turned it into a business. Her company, It's Knotwork to Me, Inc., produces school costumes and solo dresses for a nationwide clientele. Molly earned her “TCRG" accreditation as an Irish dance teacher, built the Friendship Irish Dance Center, and formed the Bennett School. Molly teaches classes and workshops at Swallow Hill Music Assn, the California Traditional Music Assn, Colorado Free University, and more.

www.knotworkme.com

Dirk Mewes

Irish Uilleann piper and Pipe Maker

Dirk Mewes lives in Colorado, and plays Irish music on the uilleann pipes and whistle. He enjoys playing in sessions along the Front Range, and performs with Down the Back Lane, and Maggie's Favourite. Dirk grew up listening to many kinds of music, including Irish, jazz, classical, and popular music, and playing clarinet and saxophone. In 1998, Dirk changed his focus from playing jazz saxophone to learning the uilleann pipes, long considered one of the more difficult instruments in the Irish tradition. He has found many opportunities to learn from helpful Irish musicians as they visit Colorado, and he has traveled abroad to take the learning to a deeper level. In the last five years, he has built a workshop where he makes uilleann pipes reeds, and has started the process of learning to make the rest of the instrument. Since 2002, he has participated in co-leading an Irish tune-learning session held at Cafe Luna, in Longmont Colorado.

www.slowplayers.org/SCTLS/index.html

Down the Back Lane

Irish Music Group

Down the Back Lane is the name of a well-known Irish jig, and seems an appropriate title for a group of musicians who enjoy playing tunes together. Our group is officially "Not a Band." That is, we don't record CDs, rehearse in private together, or have a set list. What we do enjoy is playing Irish music together at a local session, and occasionally sharing session music and fun at other venues, such as this one. We play the music much the way they do in Ireland, as a social activity, enjoyed in a relaxed setting by listeners and players alike. The next time you hear music like this, it might be down the back lane, at your local session in an Irish pub.

Speyside Peat

Celtic Music Group

Speyside Peat is an acoustic band mixing acoustic Celtic rock and traditional music with a jam band attitude. Andrew Manion (vocals and percussion), Michael Gillman (vocals and octave mandolin), Deb Switzer (fiddle), and Larry Switzer (vocals, bass, mandocello) meld their rock, jazz, classical, and (of course) traditional backgrounds into a unique tapestry, blurring the boundary between Celtic music and folk rock.

Blayne Chastaine

Irish Flute, Tin Whistles, and Irish Bodhrán Drum

Blayne Chastain discovered traditional Irish music through the band, Siucra. Inspired by flute and whistle player, Shannon Heaton, Blayne devoted himself to mastering the whistle and later, the flute. This new found passion led him to found WhistleAndDrum.com, an online shop specializing in tin whistles and bodhrán drums. In 2005 he moved to Ireland to study at the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy of Music & Dance. There he studied with some of the best Irish flute players in the world and played in loads of sessions. He graduated with honors with a Master of Arts in Traditional Irish Flute Performance.

Blayne currently teaches privately and online at http://blaynechastain.com/i-teach. He also leads a local session at Patrick’s Irish Pub. His love of Irish music deeply influences his “day job” as Music and Arts Director at Saint Patrick Presbyterian Church. Blayne lives with his wife, Deborah, their 3 year old daughter, Erin and 1 year old son, Grady, in the loft of their historic storefront in downtown Greeley, Colorado.

Nick Kelly

Celtic Folksong Balladeer

Nick Kelly has been singing Irish and Scottish folk songs for close to 20 years, having apprenticed in Dublin ballad bars such as Mother Redcap's, Bo Derrol's, and O’Donoghues of Merrion Row. He has had the pleasure of opening for Alex Beaton, Seamus Kennedy and the New Barleycorn, among others. His repertoire includes songs from Scottish favorites such as the Corries, Matt McGinn, and Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor, as well as lesser-known songs from the Scottish Folk Revival by artists such as Nigel Denver and Josh MacRae. Nick also runs the website www.TheBalladeers.com, dedicated to singers of Irish and Scottish Folk Songs...and he loves performing at the Colorado Scottish Festival!

Step in Style

Breton Dancers

This group performs traditional dances of Brittany, which is one of the seven Celtic nations. These dances are quite unique and certainly not seen in many other places, except, of course, in Brittany itself. Step in Style is led and taught by dance instructor, Stephanie Parker.

Dawnswyr y Ddraig
(The Dancers of the Dragon)

The Welsh Folk Dance Society, in Cardiff, Wales was formed in 1949 with the aim of promoting and resurrecting the old dances in Wales, and providing information on Welsh dancing throughout the world. Like the Welsh language, Welsh folk dancing is alive and well, with an ever increasing number of devotees throughout the world wide community of Welsh descendants.

The Colorado Welsh Society has a small but dedicated group of dancers known as Dawnswyr y Ddraig or The Dancers of the Dragon. It is pronounced roughly as "dawnsoor a thraig". Call (303) 830-7675 for information.

http://home.att.net/~coloradowelsh

Maroon Bells Morris Dancers

Morris dancing dates back hundreds of years in England. Its origins are unknown, and possibly related to seasonal observances intended to wake up the earth in spring and to ensure good crops and healthy animals.

Morris dances are usually performed by a set of six dancers. The dancers clash sticks or wave handkerchiefs as they perform the figures of the dance. Bells on their legs jingle as they move. The dances are often accompanied by traditional folk characters. The Fool romps around the set, harassing the dancers and amusing the audience. The Hobby Horse prances about, sometimes carrying a hat used to solicit money from the observers. The Betty, a man in women's clothing, is an ancient fertility symbol.

Music is an integral part of Morris dancing and is always performed live. The traditional Morris instrument is the pipe and tabor: a single musician simultaneously plays a three-holed pipe with the left hand and a small drum with the right hand. During the twentieth century other instruments have come into use, including (but certainly not limited to, the accordion, the melodeon and the concertina.

www.maroonbellsmorris.org

The DUBLIN DANCE STAGE features traditional Celtic dance troups

Performing dance groups are listed in alphabetical order: Bennett School of Irish Dance, Celtic Steps, Colorado Scottish Country Dancers, Dawnswyr y Ddraig Welsh dancers, Heritage Irish Step Dancers, Maroon Bells Morris Dancers, McTeggart Irish Step Dancers, Step in Style Breton Dancers, and Wick School of Irish Dance. Also included is Family Folk Dances for all ages, and music of the Other Celtic Nations with Ron Tomocik. There are opportunities to learn Scottish ceilidh dances and Irish ceili dances. Come and join in the fun!

The STIRLING MUSIC TENT offers hands-on workshops

Numerous shows will be offered at the Stirling Music Tent. Bring your instruments and join in the workshops! Learn about playing the Irish Uilleann pipes from piper and maker Dirk Mewes. Join Blayne Chastaine and learn to play the Irish bodhrán drum. Some instruments will be available! Blayne also specializes in teaching the Irish wood flute and tin whistles. Loretta Thompson and Don Hilsberg will be presenting Highland Fiddle and Harp music of Niel Gow, Robert Burns, and Irish O’Carolan tunes. The schedule is posted at the Stirling Music Tent.