Festival 2009
HEADLINING BANDS FOR THE FESTIVAL
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Rising
"The Rising combines the most progressive modes of Irish Music to create a new and inspiring form of Irish Trad-Rock. The Rising have not only the traditional musicians who have helped to form the scene, but the new blood that drives the music to it's unique potential. The heart of Ireland lives in the music of the Rising in a new and thrilling way."
The members of The Rising found each other the old fashioned way - out on the road. The Rising plays upwards of two hundred shows every year nationally, internationally, and in the New England area. The band's chemistry and new take on Irish traditionals is both rousing and refreshing. The band is most at home on stage, and their performances are as fun for the band as they are for their audiences.
2U
Performing in THE PREMIER U2 TRIBUTE show is a full time occupation for all of 2U's band members. U2 Music from Boy, October, War, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Pop, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, and the soon to be released "No Line On The Horizon" is duplicated as only U2 impersonators can. U2 songs, from "Pride" to "Vertigo", "With or Without You" to "New Years Day", "One" to "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Elevation" to "Miracle Drug", are faithfully recreated live. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. IMPERSONATORS make up this U2 Tribute Band. There are many U2 cover bands and U2 Tribute Bands available. 2U's full touring schedule and precise emulation of a U2 concert proves that this show is, besides hiring U2 themselves, The World's 2nd BEST U2 SHOW available.
Young Dubliner's
Seamlessly blending their rock and Celtic influences into a high energy, anthemic and lyrically poignant mix, the band whose lineup since 2002 includes co-founder Keith Roberts (vocals, guitar), fellow Dubliner Brendan Holmes (bass, vocals), American-born members Bob Boulding (guitar, vocals), Chas Waltz (violin, keyboards, harp, mandolin, vocals) and Dave Ingraham (drums, percussion)--jumps energetically from ballad to barn burner, documenting as they go the vibrant yet chaotic world they find themselves in. From edgy political tunes to the travails of life in an internationally touring band, Saints and Sinners chronicles and tackles it all with joy, wit, enthusiasm and a profound belief that things can get better. They're joined once again by Uillean pipe and pennywhistle master Eric Rigler, famed for his film work on the Titanic and Braveheart soundtracks, who has appeared on the bands last three albums and is a regular touring member.
Catch them both Friday and Saturday night!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Celtic Cross
Celtic Cross is pop/folk with a strong Celtic traditional influence from the heart of New York City. Growing up with immigrant parents, the band was immersed in Irish music, dance, and tradition. But like all kids, also heavily influenced by music on the radio, playing Irish tunes with a pop flare.
The seven-piece band is lead by lead vocalist Kathleen Fee, a talented singer-songwriter. The lively band features a solid bass-drums-guitar rhythm section, and a talented Irish accordion, fiddle, banjo/mandolin traditional section. Like many successful acts, the heart of Celtic Cross is family; singer Kathleen’s brothers John and Kenny are also in the band.
Jameson's Revenge
We are a loosely connected group of Trad-Irish musicians from in and around the Bronx/Westchester area who share two common goals:
(1) is to play really "spirited" Irish music and
(2) is to have as much fun as possible doing it.
Highland Rovers
Over the years, the band paid its dues playing Irish pubs throughout the New York Metropolitan area and along the eastern seaboard.
Today, the HRB’s resume includes performances across the United States at venues ranging from well-known Irish pubs to larger arenas such as Shea Stadium. The band has performed with top Irish artists including the Saw Doctors, the Young Dubliners, and The Prodigals. HRB has also performed numerous shows with their longtime friends and mentors, the Marshall Tucker Band.
The band has produced five albums to date. The current CD, “Live... From County Fairfield”, was released in March of 2007.
Flynn529
Formed in February 2006, Flynn529 evolved from some of the musicians at the legendary Eamonn’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in Loudonville, NY. Gaining new fans each time they crank it up, Flynn529 has performed in a variety of venues around the "Great Northeast" from small intimate pub settings to festival stages with the likes of Greenwhich Meantime, Rathkeltair, BarleyJuice and Hair-Of-The-Dog (how's THAT for some shameless name-dropping?!).
Their music is a stew--- with healthy proportions of Celtic and American folk tradition, a teaspoon of the blues, and a few dashes of those 60s and 70s AM/FM radio chestnuts you find yourself humming on the way to work. Expect to hear original compositions and covers of anything from the Clancy Brothers to Johnny Cash to John Hiatt. These guys love to play any song they get their hands on and wouldn’t mind you hooligans coming out to party, drink, sing, and laugh all night with them.
Young Dubliner's
Back again for a second performance.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Colm O'Brien with Rud Eile
Colm O'Brien was born, bred & buttered in Dublin. As a child he was surrounded by music. His father, grandfather, grand uncles and great granddad were all members of the famed Fintan Lalor Pipe Band. His grandmother, May Keogh "Mayday" O'Brien was a legendary fiddler in Irish music circles and played at the All-Ireland dancing championships for 50 consecutive years and at most of the world dancing championships in that period. Colm cut his teeth playing with numerous Dublin bands and at sessions from Dublin to Achill and everywhere in between.
He first moved to the US in 1999 as a member of "Fatal Flower". After the group disbanded he played with the ballad group "Uncle Arthur" and then with "Hiring Fair". Colm was recruited by the famed celtic rockers "The Prodigals" and spent a year and a half as their front-man touring the states, playing at some of the country's largest festivals and recording the group's fourth album produced by Howie Beno of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame.
Enter the Haggis
ETH's live show is a musical feast- viscerally dynamic, emotionally uplifting and intellectually stimulating. The band's oeuvre darts effortlessly from the trad strains of, say, The Chieftains and the Pogues to the frenetic pop of early Elvis Costello and even to the Latin-tinged spirit of the Buena Vista Social Club and beyond, complete with Lewington's deft guitar playing, the reeling of Brian Buchanan's flawless fiddle, the diverse rhythmic machinations of bassist Mark Abraham and drummer James Campbell, and Downie's transporting pipes, not to mention the near-perfect vocal harmonies. In fact, if you're game, the group's undeniable power is documented in Live at Lanigan's Ball, a film chronicling an Enter The Haggis performance at Plattsburgh, New York's Hartman Theatre in December of 2003, originally taped for a PBS special, and now available on DVD.
New York Show Band
Carnival Information
There will be children’s and adult rides as well as games of chance, day passes.
Hours of operation Fri: 6-11, Sat. 2-11, Sun 1-8
Aamusement provided by Imperial Shows of Old Saybrook, CT
Greater Hartford Irish Music Festival by the Irish American Home Society
132 Commerce Street Glastonbury, CT 860.633.9691
