We’re excited to bring you a full day of local and regional Celtic music talent. Our list of performers is still in the works! Stay tuned for times and additional acts. View the main stage schedule.
Irish music is about family – family by blood and family by friendship. Everyone who has heard BEHAN becomes an honorary member of the family – if you singalong! BEHAN: brothers Barney, Michael, and Joe Behan, Todd Cangelose, Joe Morris, William Morris! Influences include The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, The Irish Rovers, The Wolfetones, The Flanagan Bros, The Clash
Sometimes, you want a traditional ballad; sometimes, you just need to dance. River Driver scratches both of those itches and everything in between. Playing an eclectic mix of traditional Irish Fiddle tunes, pub songs, folk, and classic rock – all with screaming fiddle solos. Get ready to clap and sing with your friends at the local pub! Aidan Flanagan has been playing classical violin and Irish fiddle since he was 9 years old. His quick licks are accompanied by Michael Logan’s dynamic acoustic guitar playing and Danny Rasailly’s masterful percussion.
One the newest and freshest pure drop Irish trad bands in the North Texas area. Peggy and Ken are 40-year veterans of Irish music. They are now joined by their children, Kevin and Katie. Kevin on flute, tin whistle, and low whistle, and Katie on tenor banjo and mandolin. Peggy, whose mainstay remains the fiddle, recently added the concertina to her wheelhouse, and Ken, having handed his banjo duties to his daughter, now holds forth on button accordion, bouzouki, and guitar. They recently added a guitar player, Sam Hatch. KinFolk’s repertoire is a lively blend of jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, and marches with waltzes, airs, and songs added for good measure.
Misty Posey is a high soprano, singer-songwriter with astonishingly pure vocals. Her songs are inspired by nature, fantasy movies, and times long ago. She released her debut album in 2018, creating her own Celtic Classical Crossover sound with her signature songs “When the Wind Blows” and “Come Along to the Enchanted Forest,” and toured festivals nationwide. Celtic festivals filled her schedule as she added more sean-nós and trad songs to her sets, and she began to be known as “Texas’ Celtic Woman.” In 2021, Misty was named the Gaelic Youth Chorus Director at The North Texas School of Irish Music. She has since, served as vocal instructor for O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp.
Uzbekistan born multi-instrumentalist KeyReel has been described as “world class as a violinist and composer.” He has performed and recorded with many musicians across North America and Europe. He is a classically trained musician with experience in classical chamber and orchestra music, fiddle music, improvisation, and music composition. While his fiddling is rooted in the Cape Breton style, he is equally versed in playing classical, Irish, Scottish, and American Folk music. He has taught and performed at prestigious festivals such as the Cape Breton Fiddler’s Association (Canada), Celtic Colours (Canada), and Summer Music Intensives (Texas), and has also toured extensively across Europe and Asia with classical chamber and fiddle music.
Eric and Laura Rothe have been playing Celtic music for almost 20 years. Their duo, Celtic or Not, performs Irish, Scottish, and many other styles of music. They sing energetic melodies and beautiful harmonies while accompanying themselves primarily on guitar and mandolin. Since traveling to Scotland and Ireland, they both have had a love of Celtic music, traditions, and spirituality. Eric and Laura have performed in pubs, restaurants, theaters, schools, and outdoor festivals. They have even played at funerals and weddings. Specializing in sing-alongs, they bring song sheets and encourage audience participation. So come prepared to sing-along, dance, clap, and stomp!
HeartStrings is a group of friends who love learning, playing and sharing music. The group began in 2008 and has grown to include a variety of delightful personalities and musical instruments. HeartStrings enjoys “exploring” a wide variety of music and can play selections from religious, seasonal, folk, classical, historic, patriotic, Celtic, country and contemporary genre. The group has performed for many functions: Bridgeport’s community events, Veterans Day, Celtic Music Event, Little Branson Gospel Show, produced two CD’s, performed in a movie, and other events.
Thistle Ridge is a group of musicians passionate about sharing traditional Celtic and American music. Since the group was formed in 2023, they’ve led audiences in song for one season of Celtic festivals, performing at the Decatur Texas Celtic Festival and the Bridgeport Texas St. Paddy’s Day Parade. They are eager to dive into the next season and share their music with more people. The member’s interest was formed over a decade of singing and playing Celtic and American folk songs. This turned into playing together every Friday. With a powerful combination of both singing and instrumentation, the band’s music leads audiences to sing along, even if they don’t know the lyrics.
In the year 2000, with generous startup funding from the Scottish Rite of Fort Worth, The Fort Worth Scottish Pipes & Drums (FWSPD) was formed and has continued a 20+ year journey of playing Scottish music for the benefit, enjoyment, and education of North Texans. FWSPD is made up of over 20 volunteer members who meet weekly for band practice and spend countless hours practicing on their own. Band members also take rigorous private instruction from world-champion musicians and engage in solo and ensemble competitions.
