40th Festival Lineup

3 Pints Gone performs traditional Celtic folk songs with a distinctive harmony-rich sound. The band has a passion for patriotic and rebel songs of Ireland and Scotland. Led by Bill's powerful tenor voice, 3 Pints Gone is rounded out with the vocal and penny Whistle talents of Kathleen.

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The mission of the Academy of Irish Music is to create a community of young musicians dedicated to playing and sharing Irish music. The school, founded by Noel Rice under the original name of Scoil Baal Tinne goes back to 1982.

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A happy group of traditional Irish musicians focusing on audience participation and group dancing!

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Originally from County Armagh in Adam Burke has been performing comedy in Chicago and throughout the U.S. for over 15 years. He is a fixture on showcases and clubs throughout the Midwest and beyond. He is a regular panelist on NPR's popular comedy quiz show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" and was a writer for WGN's "Man of the People with Pat Tomasulo." Voted Best Standup by readers of The Chicago Reader in 2014, he was also the winner of Second City's Up Next Comedy Competition. He has appeared at numerous festivals including the High Plains Comedy Festival (Denver, CO), Bridgetown Comedy (Portland OR), Just for Laughs (Chicago, IL; four years running), and the local stage of Funny Or Die's Oddball Comedy Festival. Burke released his debut album Universal Squirrel Theory on A Special Thing Records in 2012.

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The musical partnership between consummate performer Alasdair Fraser, "the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling", and brilliant Californian cellist Natalie Haas spans the full spectrum between intimate chamber music and ecstatic dance energy. Over the last 20 years of creating a buzz at festivals and concert halls across the world, they have truly set the standard for fiddle and cello in traditional music. They continue to thrill audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.

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Gray and Gosa (founding members of the accomplished group Cé) team up with Noyes and Langby to play straight ahead Irish traditional music on flute, fiddle, uilleann pipes, accordion, concertina and bouzouki.

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Think Joni Mitchell meets contemporary Celtic and you’ll get something like the creative force of Ashley Davis, an American singer-songwriter whose voice drifts over the Great Plains, north to New York City, and across the Atlantic. While this mash-up may classify her work, Davis’s unique ability to capture and cross musical traditions ultimately transcends comparison. Ashley's soft-spoken music conjures a genre and world all of its own. The Ashley Davis Band comprises of Dave Curley (Guitars/Banjo/Mandolin/Vocals), Colin Farrell (Fiddle/Whistles), and Will MacMorran (Guitars/Bouzouki/Pipes).

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Milwaukee Irish band Áthas lights the dance floor on fire with a combination of traditional and newly composed Irish dance tunes. Fierce fiddle, driving bodhrán, and funky guitar riffs come together to lift listeners' feet, drinks, and spirits. The band found each other and their voice as an ensemble while playing in Irish sessions around Milwaukee throughout 2005. Spending their time between tunes laughing and joking inspired them to make music together and their name, which is the Irish word for joy and happiness.

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Formed in Milwaukee in 2004, Atlantic Wave plays music of Celtic nations that touch the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. A highly respected regional band, Atlantic Wave's performances pay special attention to Cape Breton music along with Irish and Scottish tunes featuring a duo of fiddles.

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Born in Dublin, Ireland, Barry Dodd is a local favorite. Barry will tug at your heart with a ballad and then lift your spirits with an old-fashioned sing-along. An Irish Fest crowd-pleaser, Dodd is a perennial performer at Irish Fest.

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Beglan Academy of Irish Dance was founded in 2007 by former Riverdance lead dancer, Sean Beglan, TCRG, and his wife, Jillian. Both Irish dance world medalists who chose to set up their school in Milwaukee, WI. Beglan Academy has gained a reputation for being a tight knit school with a family-like atmosphere, all while still achieving regional and international success in the competitive world. Beglan Academy is about more than just Irish dance- where each student learns hard work but also to cheer on their friends!

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Blackthorn Folly is a five piece traditionally inspired band performing in the Milwaukee area. We play traditional Celtic and American folk music with high energy and a ground stomping tempo.

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Sit back and listen while two old Boys of Belfast talk, sing and laugh about life during the Troubles in the city of their birth. Seamus Kennedy and Ian Gould will have a light hearted discussion about living through some very difficult times in Northern Ireland in their misspent youth. Songs and general banter will lift your spirits and you might even learn a thing or two.

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Brian Conway is an American born Irish Fiddler. Born in 1961 to parents from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, Brian Conway first studied with Limerick born fiddle player Martin Mulvihill. Brian soon also studied with Sligo born fiddle master Martin Wynne with whom Brian became lifelong friends. A little over a year after starting the fiddle, Brian won the under 12 All Ireland Fiddle championship. The adjudicator was Sean Keane of the Chieftains. Brian went on to win several additional All-Ireland medals including the senior All -Ireland fiddle championship in 1986. Brian also established a reputation for teaching students who went on to win All-Ireland fiddle awards including Patrick Mangan, Maeve Flanagan and Haley Richardson http://www.brianconway.com/about.html

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Milwaukee's Cashel Dennehy School of Irish Dance has been entertaining Irish Fest with their traditional, yet innovative, dancing since 1983. Cashel Dennehy continues to excel in regional, national and world competition. The school offers a balanced program for dancers seeking performance or competitive opportunities, and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere.

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Ceol Cairde has its roots in the 1988 Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School. Band members enjoy sharing the energy and spirit of traditional Irish music at weddings, festivals, parties, and ceili and set dances. The irresistible blending of their instruments provides the unique sound that is the Music of Friends.

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“It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do,” says the Boston Globe speaking of Cherish the Ladies, the long-running, Grammy-nominated, Irish-American super group that formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene and has since toured the world, played the White House and the Olympics, recorded 17 outstanding albums including a live recording, “An Irish Homecoming,” which was simultaneously videotaped for a Public Television Special that aired across America and won an Emmy. Under the leadership of National Heritage Award winner and All-Ireland flute and whistle champion Joanie Madden, named by The Irish Voice Newspaper as one of the Top 25 most influential Irish Americans of the past quarter century, these ladies create an evening that includes a spectacular blend of virtuoso instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements, and stunning step dancing.

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Milwaukee's longest performing improv team. ComedySportz provides all ages improv based off suggestions from viewers like you!

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Cream City Ceili Band, based in Milwaukee, consists of Maria Terres on fiddle, Brett Lipshutz on flute and whistle, Randy Gosa on guitar and tenor banjo, and Amy McFarland on piano. All four members are seasoned traditional musicians with a deep devotion to Celtic music, particularly for Irish Set and Ceili dancing. Their driving rhythms and lyrical harmonies regularly delight Irish social dancers in Wisconsin and beyond. Along with playing for dancing, Maria, Brett, Randy, and Amy are all versatile and prodigious musicians who perform at concerts and festivals, and who are dedicated teachers as well. They have a unique musical chemistry and an exquisite sensibility that enthrall dancers time after time.

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A Milwaukee favorite, The Curtis Crossroads Bands plays traditional Irish jigs, reels and vocal tunes. Dual fiddles give the group its distinctive and lively sound along with a rollicking bodhran and and the full sound of a twelve string guitar. Curtis Crossroads has played at Irish Fest for 23 years.

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Dancer, musician, enthochoreologist, and founder of The Step Collective, Danielle Enblom grew up steeped in Irish music and dance. Danielle brings other dance practices to her teaching, performance, and research but her dancing is largely informed by her early years at Irish sessions and ceilis in the Twin Cities, time dancing in Ireland, her fiddle playing, and more recently, her own French Canadian and Métis heritage.

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Raised in a family of working musicians, Burns spent his childhood in the Irish county of Donegal. He grew up surrounded by singers and instrumentalists, receiving a first-class education in Irish folk music along the way. It was a communal experience, filled with folksongs that had been passed down from one generation to the next. “It was never about one specific musician,” he remembers. “It was about listening and learning. It was about playing a song, then passing the guitar to the person beside you, and hearing them play a song, too. There was no ego involved.” ​ Burns burst onto the national scene with the release of his early 2019 debut album North Country. Two decades before releasing the project, Burns kicked off his career as a traveling Folk singer, logging shows on both sides of the Atlantic. He’s been on the road ever since, sharpening a sound that mixes the folk traditions of his native Ireland with diverse American influences.

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Derek Byrne came to America after touring with Riverdance. His band Paddygrass has been playing together over 12 years. Their live shows mix upbeat Irish Ballads and Bluegrass sing alongs with Irish Dancing. Paddygrass will move you to sing, dance, drink and forget all else. . This year they are launching a new CD at the festival. Apart from playing local Wisconsin venues and festivals, they also livestream regularly on patreon.com/paddygrass

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The Drowsy Lads thundered onto the Irish music scene in the US over 15 years ago and their fire and comradery has won over both casual music-lovers and those steeped in hardcore Trad. 2018 brought the release of their 4th album, Everyone In, and the distinction of “Best Irish American Band of 2018”. With an undeniable genuineness that flows from their live performances, the future continues to look bright for these Lads. Boasting 5 multi-instrumentalists, Ohio brothers John and Daniel McKewen, father and son Phil and Josh Franck, and lifelong friend Bryan Brookes bring to the stage a concoction of “we dare you to hold still” Irish dance tunes and songs that have packed festivals, theaters, pubs, and halls everywhere they’ve played.

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Dublin O'Shea is a high energy Celtic folk music group from Waukesha, Wisconsin formed in 2002. Focusing on pub tunes from Ireland, Scotland, and the Nautical Tradition, their music stretches from 300 year old sea shanties to contemporary songs. This lively group takes a free wheeling and fun loving approach to their shows.

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Grammy awarded, Emmy nominated, London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, guest starred with over 50 orchestras, original Musical Star of Riverdance, Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Sting, Hall and Oates, The Chieftains, 'Fiddlers 3' with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Regina Carter, Patti Smith, Al Di Meola, Steve Gadd, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, movie soundtracks including “Gangs of New York”, performed for Presidents and Royalty worldwide…this is a short list of accomplishments, headliners, tours, and affiliations. Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.

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Eira (pronounced "era" in North America) performs music from Scotland, Ireland, Newfoundland, Canada, Wales, China, Scandinavia and the U.S. Repertoire includes traditional, contemporary, and original songs and tunes sung in English, Gaelic, Irish, Welsh, Chinese, and more, played on fiddle, erhu, guitars, bodhrán, bouzouki, mandolin, button accordion, and whistles. The band performs in the US most often as a trio. Mary MacGillivray and/or Bridget Spencer join the group when they are available. Eira has played throughout Canada and the U.S., and is set to play in Scotland when the pandemic dissipates!

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Enda Reilly is a folk singer, songwriter and guitarist from Dublin, Ireland, who can be compared to the likes of Christy Moore, John Martyn, Paul Brady and Dick Gaughan. Firmly rooted in the Irish tradition with songs that strive for a better future, Enda Reilly’s work invites you to see the world from his varied and unique perspective through each new song and project. From busking on Grafton Street to the National Concert Hall, Enda has performed on countless stages in his hometown of Dublin and beyond. Having collaborated and performed with Kila, John Spillane, Lisa Ó Neill, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Glen Hansard, Stephen James Smith, InniK, The Lazy Band, Gabriel Rosenstoack and Aoife Scott amongst others Enda lives for songwriting and performing.

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Evan and Tom Leahy are an offshoot of Leahys Luck, a Milwaukee Irish Fest staple for over 29 years. Evan and Tom have been expanding their musical range as a father-son duo over the past thirteen years, demonstrating their full range of musical talents as they combine Irish folk and modern folk-rock songs in an eclectic and exciting mix.

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Finbar MacCarthy is an authentic Irish balladeer with a focus on pub songs, ballads and humor. Finbar moved with his family from their home in Dublin, Ireland in 1992 and describes his musical talent as being a jack of all instruments, master of none. An Irish Fest favorite, MacCarthy is making his 26th appearance at the festival accompanied by Eoin MacCarthy on bass, Franco Rupcich on keyboards and accordion, Dave Clark on banjo and guitar and Dave "Bones" Boyles on percussion.

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For over two decades, Dave Fox and Will Branch have energized audiences in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Ireland. Their dynamic mix of old-time music, original songs, and family folk music has appealed to children and adults, giving everyone a chance to actively participate. Fox and Branch recordings have won five Parent’s Choice recommended awards. The duo has appeared at festivals such as the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival. They have been featured at venues like the National Theater in Washington D.C., Symphony Space in New York City, Club Passim in Boston, and the Overture Center in Madison, WI. Whether it’s at a theater, a school performance, a community event, or a library show, Fox and Branch entertain, educate, and actively engage people. Their aim is to create a communal atmosphere of fun and high spirits shared by all those present.

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Frogwater is the acoustic musical pairing of John "Jack" & Susan Nicholson. Renowned for their virtuosity and exuberant live performances, they are truly excited to be returning to Irish Fest IN PERSON!!! Their repertoire spans from Celtic to Delta blues, from classical to pop with a healthy dose of unique original material filling out the mix.

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When they first came to festival in 1998, the group was a bar band just coming off an appearance in the movie Titanic. Today they are internationally-known performers who have traveled the world and had multiple albums debut at #1 on the Billboard World Albums chart. They combine traditional Irish music with Scottish music and even offer up original compositions.

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Fiddles flutes guitars percussion and rich harmonies define the soulful Celtic rock that is The Gleasons. Their energetic performance will take you on a musical journey that will leave you singing smiling and stomping your feet! Since 2002 they have been making music together and loved very minute of it! Most of the songs The Gleasons perform are their own compositions. Many different influences have blended together to create the "Gleason Sound." They cite Clannad Tom Petty U2 The Chieftans and Johnny Cash as among the many artists that have made their inspirational mark on them. The Gleasons believe that music brings people together, and they bring that belief, along with the pure joy of playing, to every single performance. They hope you enjoy the show!

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Glencastle Irish Dancers, Inc. has been providing Irish dance lessons since 2000. We provide classes for children 3.5 years of age and older as well as adult classes. There are opportunities for dancers to partake in performances, competitions, and a range of group and solo classes. We motivate our dancers who wish to test their skills by participating in solo or team competitions to do their personal best. Year-round performances are an opportunity for dancers to share their talents with the public. Weekly classes provide time for dancers to get one-on-one technical feedback while engaging with classmates in a fun and supportive setting. Each family is encouraged to choose the participation level that is right for them without pressure or judgement. Regardless of the direction you choose, the ultimate goal of Glencastle is to provide a learning atmosphere that is both healthy and fun and allows each student to strive to be the best they can be. The mission and vision of Glencastle Irish Dancers, Inc. is to apply the tradition of Irish dance as a vehicle for personal growth by building self-esteem, practicing teamwork, and facilitating self discipline to ultimately encourage great dancers to grow into great people. Glencastle Irish Dancers Inc. is a welcoming family for dancers of every skill level to encourage one another in personal growth on and off the dance floor.

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Milwaukee's entertaining Irish music trio, Green Sails, consists of fiddler Amy Otis-Wilborn, guitarist/lead vocalist Sandy Weisto, and Bonnee Beth playing bodhran, whistle and a variety of percussion. Our performances offer luscious melodies and rousing dance tunes as well as delightful songs, intriguing stories, and engaging opportunities for audience participation. The band's name, Green Sails, represents "Green" for Irish music as well as ecological sustainability and "Sails" for sailing on Lake Michigan. We are musicians and we are sailors.

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We're a Wisconsin based band that plays a mixture of traditional, contemporary and original Celtic rock music.

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Ian, an immigrant from Belfast, Northern Ireland, began his musical career as a kid playing in bands throughout Ireland, the UK & Europe. Ian is currently a solo artist and a singer/songwriter. He has been performing internationally for more than 20 years but is now Milwaukee's Irish son. Ian's captures his audiences through his voice as well as through his musicianship. He performs a wide variety of instruments including the bodhran, ukulele, mandolin, harmonica, and guitar.

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Joe Cullen has been performing in the Midwest for over thirty years and hails from the Fanad gaeltacht in County Donegal. Joe sings in English and Irish and plays piano accordion. Many of the stories he tells are of his own experiences growing up in Ireland and how tunes have changed since then.

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As one of the pioneers of the Celtic harp in America, Kim Robertson’s style and approach to the instrument is uniquely personal and original. Trained classically on piano and orchestral harp, she brings a contemporary touch to both her original compositions and her arrangements of Celtic music. Her skill and stage presence as a performer has brought her a loyal following and she is a popular teacher as well. She has many CDs, among them Highland Heart, Shady Grove and Shall We Gather as well as numerous volumes of harp arrangements and several instructional videos. Though she makes her home in Wisconsin, she spends a good deal of the year touring both as a solo artist and with other performers.. www.kimrobertson.net

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A Milwaukee tradition in Irish folk music, Leahy's Luck has performed its brand of traditional and popular Irish songs throughout the Midwest and at Irish Fest for 29 consecutive years. A past winner of the Wisconsin Area Music Industry's World/Ethnic Group of the Year, this family band conveys the essence of Ireland with passionate vocals and rousing music.

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The Máirtín de Cógáin Project is a group lead by Cork Renaissance man Máirtín de Cógáin, who is an entertainer of unending talent. A crowned All-Ireland Storytelling Champion twice over, a noted singer, a dancer and a heart-beating bodhrán (Irish drum) player, and actor, Máirtín has gathered a stable of the finest Irish-Yank musicians around him to bring the story of Cork to the States.

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Celtic harpist Mary Ann Miller has appeared at Milwaukee Irish Fest since our first year in 1981. This local artist has traveled the world honing her craft and has become a true legend. We are honored to invite her back year after year.

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Although their sound is rooted in traditional bluegrass, Mile Twelve surveys a broader landscape on their newest album, City on a Hill. All five band members bring their own influences and observations into the music, resulting in a project that feels contemporary, thoughtfully crafted, and relevant. “Original bluegrass music, written and played by young people, is very much alive,” says band member Evan Murphy. “I hope people take away that songwriting and arranging really matter. It’s about the material and playing it in a way that feels honest. This album isn’t political in the sense that we’re beating people over the head with anything, we just tried to tell stories that feel authentic.”

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The Milwaukee Academy of Irish dance is based in Shorewood, WI.

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Your source for funny! We are Milwaukee’s premier live comedy production company, presenting dozens of unique and original events every year in intimate and exciting venues across Milwaukee. Milwaukee Comedy is a local, independent business. Our current line up of regular monthly comedy events include Milwaukee’s #1 comedy show Keg Stand Up at Lakefront Brewery, the cities longest running monthly show, Subjective at Var Gallery, and many more. Shows always feature the best in regional and national acts at some of the best venues in the city!

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The Milwaukee Irish Dance Company was founded in 2014 by Elyse Transon as an outlet for adult Irish dancers in the Milwaukee area to continue Irish dancing in an exciting, non-competitive environment. MIDC strives to create fusion choreography and push the boundaries of traditional Irish dance while creating an inclusive and fun atmosphere. Run by Elyse Transon, TCRG and Mary Youssi, TCRG, the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company rehearses on Wednesday nights and welcomes any and all Irish dancers who are over 18 years old.

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In keeping with our mission to promote Irish music and culture, Milwaukee Irish Fest is proud to sponsor The Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music. Opened in the fall of 2002 at the beautiful Milwaukee Irish Fest center, a dedicated faculty of musicians has come together to offer instruction in instrumental Irish traditional dance music to students of all ages. The Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music is part of CelticMKE.

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A virtuosic, award-winning guitarist with a gift for insightful songwriting, Molly Tuttle established herself as a new artist to watch with her boundary-breaking debut album, WHEN YOU’RE READY. What followed were dates at Telluride, Newport Folk Fest, an appearance on CBS Saturday Morning, and an enthusiastic reception both by critics and her fellow musicians.

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Equipped with degrees in classical music, The Moxie Strings compose the majority of their pieces and arrange melodies from many traditions, resulting in a genre-blurring blend of ear-catching melodies and foot-stomping, rock-influenced rhythms. Alison performs on a newly-invented, electric cello, and Diana on a contemporary 5-string violin, both through a variety of audio effects pedals. The band’s polished, high-energy show continues to redefine strings’ role in contemporary music, and grow their reputation for musical excellence.

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We play traditional music from the Celtic diaspora: Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Galicia, Asturias, Brittany, and the Canadian Maritimes.

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Pay the Devil got together in the winter of 2011 and has been playing around the Milwaukee area ever since. Playing original tunes in a variety of styles alongside an assortment of bluegrass and old-time standards, sea shanties, folk, Irish traditional, and country music, this five-piece made up of a guitar, mandolin, banjo, upright bass, and washboard (spoons and assorted other hillbilly percussive instruments) puts on a fun live show filled with foot-stomping, thigh-slapping music, and enough hollering to go around. Our favorite descriptions we have heard are “Shantygrass” and "Riotgrass".

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A seasoned performer with over 32 years on the road, Rory has toured extensively with The Makem Brothers, and the Makem and Spain Brothers and for 17 years played guitar with his father, Tommy Makem. He has played sold-out venues, festivals, and theaters throughout the United States, Canada, England, Scotland and Ireland. At his best on stage, Rory captivates his audiences with charisma, passion for the songs, poetry, history, humor and skilled musicianship.

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Rory Modlinski has been singing and playing folk music for the last 20 years. Now in his third decade of emulating the past into a new generation, Rory has launched what he affectionally calls: The Rory Modlinski Experience. Playing songs from the folk revival of the ‘50s and ‘60s, to Appalachian music, to Irish folk music, and beyond, you never know what will happen next at a Rory Modlinski Experience show. Joining Rory this year is Christopher Chan from Blackthorn Folly, Andy Potocic from The Gleasons, Brendan Murphy a fellow founding member with Rory of Wayworn, and Riley Marinelli on fiddle. This gathering of different styles and genres always proves to entertain all ages.

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Quickly gaining recognition as one of Irish music’s new “super-groups,” RUNA has been en- chanting audiences by pushing the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats since their formation in 2008. Interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and blues, they offer a thrilling and redefining take on traditional music. ​ The group has been honored internationally, winning Top Group and Top Traditional Group in the Irish Music Awards and four Independent Music Awards including Best Live Album, Best World/Traditional Song and Best Bluegrass Song.

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The Schauer School of the Arts began offering Irish dance to Hartford in 2003 through collaborations with Cashel-Dennehy Irish Dance, Kinsella Academy of Dance, and Trinity Irish Dance. Irish became a permanent part of SSA’s dance schedule in Fall 2012, and the program has grown to include approximately 100 students and four instructors. The Schauer Irish Dance Troupe was established in Fall 2016. Operating under the direction of Hannah Voelkel, the Schauer Irish Dance Troupe allows upper level Irish students the chance to share their passion with the community and learn about dancing at a semi-professional level. They've performed at Milwaukee’s Holiday Folk Fair International, ShamRock at Washington County Fair Park, and Scoop Deville in Hartford, as well as at many schools, senior living communities, and community organizations. Schauer Irish dancers made their debut at Irish Fest MKE in 2018 and they are honored to return for a second year.

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Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian (sith-ee-yin) plays roots music from Celtic, Eastern European and Appalachian traditions with thunderous energy, technical prowess, and storytelling songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance, rock concert experience. Coming off their most prolific year in 2020 with over 1,000 hours of live streams during the COVID lockdown, releasing TWO new albums (Roots & Stones and Quaranstream: The Album) and four new music videos. Scythian gives no quarter in their quest to entertain and bring a joy to their music that gives it an irony-free, wide open feel of manic possibility. The playing is technically brilliant, but it is the energy that carries the day.

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For over twenty years, Philadelphia’s Seamus Egan blazed a new trail for Irish music in America. At the head of the supergroup Solas , he toured the world and pushed the music in new directions, incorporating complex arrangements, stunning virtuosity, and elements of global and Americana music. His work defined Irish music for multiple generations and set a benchmark that still hasn’t been matched. As a composer, Egan put his stamp on film soundtracks, symphonic collaborations, and, most famously, co-wrote Sarah McLachlan’s smash hit, “I Will Remember You.”

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A native of Belfast, Ireland, Seamus Kennedy has performed throughout the United States for over 30 years, proving he is a master showman with an unmatched repertoire. A maestro among Irish troubadours, his trademark is his ongoing interaction with his audiences. Enjoy the music and mirth of one of Ireland's most popular exports!

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The story of SEVEN NATIONS is that of a truly original and determined band that began in New York City, with members now hailing from California, to Toronto, to Florida. They have for years booked their own tours,and have had their own PBS and CNN specials. Throw away any preconceived notions you may have about Celtic music...this is a band that has invented its own sound and attracted a prodigious national and international following. 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.

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In her first 25 years alone, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sierra Hull hit more milestones than many musicians accomplish in a lifetime. After making her Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 10, the Tennessee-bred virtuoso mandolinist played Carnegie Hall at age 12, then landed a deal with Rounder Records just a year later. Now 28-years-old, Hull is set to deliver her fourth full-length for Rounder: an elegantly inventive and endlessly captivating album called 25 Trips. Revealing her profound warmth as a storyteller, 25 Trips finds Hull shedding light on the beauty and chaos and sometimes sorrow of growing up and getting older. To that end, the album’s title nods to a particularly momentous year of her life, including her marriage to fellow bluegrass musician Justin Moses and the release of her widely acclaimed album Weighted Mind—a Béla Fleck-produced effort nominated for Best Folk Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

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Tallymoore aims to breathe new life into Irish folk favorites. They are best known for their strong vocals and complex harmonic treatments of tunes, along with rich instrumentation. Their innovative arrangements of classic tunes and original folk songs have made them a favorite among festival goers. Their vocal harmony blend, distinctive arrangements, and strong musicianship have distinguished them on the Irish music scene.

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American Celtic Radio Listeners voted them “Rising Stars of the Year 2021" and "Best CD Cover of 2021 for Living the Dream” The Byrne Brothers are a multi award winning family band and Irish dancers from Dublin and one of the biggest names in traditional Irish music today. They are Luca 17 on Accordion, Finn 15 on Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar, Dempsey 12 on Bodhran & Whistle and Dad, Tommy on Uilleann Pipes, Bagpipes, Fiddle and Guitar. All County Champions on their instruments and Ulster Champion Irish Dancers. Having moved to Orlando Florida in 2018 they became the youngest ever Cast Members of Walt Disney World while performing at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant. With 30 million views, half a million shares, over 50,000 followers on social media, front cover of The Irish Music Magazine , toured 44 States and 2 Caribbean Cruises, The Byrne Brothers are making a great name for themselves in America and all over the world.

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Eamon O'Leary and Jefferson Hamer (aka The Murphy Beds) present traditional and original folk songs with close harmonies and deft instrumental arrangements on bouzouki, guitar, and mandolin. They have toured extensively throughout Europe and North America, with performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.), Alaska Folk Festival (Juneau), Doolin Folk Festival (Ireland), and Unamplifire Festival (London) among many others. "their great feat turns out to be taking what’s best of the classic Irish folk revival without falling into any of its clichés. The resulting album bears repeated listening from start to finish, with ten beautiful, crystalline songs." - Huffington Post As well as playing with many friends and comrades from the "trad" music world they have also performed and collaborated with artists across the folk spectrum including Beth Orton, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Anais Mitchell, and Sam Amidon.

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Bill & Lin O'Connor have been performing in the southeast Wisconsin area since 1967. They have been a part of a number of folk style music groups and have recorded seven albums of Irish, original, folk and Christmas music. Since the mid-‘90s, they have been joined on stage by their sons, Chris and Tim, and musician friends when available. In 2021, Larry Theiss will also perform with them. They will also be joined on stage by several of their grand kids. The finger-style guitar work, their harmonies, and stories will leave you longing for the magic of Ireland. Sit back, close your eyes, and let their wistful sound transport you.

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'tis - Traditional Irish Session is a four member group of music enthusiasts that play all the favorite songs, jigs, and reels of Ireland. While distinctively traditional and always entertaining, Irish/Celtic music is mostly played, but it's not ALL that you'll experience when listening to 'tis. Our goal is to entertain our audience with high energy, hand clapping, foot stomping music that will certainly leave you with a smile! The guys love to celebrate Ireland's musical heritage (and just a wee bit of their own) with just about anyone who will sit down and share a pint at any Irish pub, festival, gathering, wedding or ANYWHERE else Irish music is enjoyed and appreciated!

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Take to the skies as comedy ventriloquist Wayne Francis and Wingnut barnstorm their way into your hearts! As the fun unfolds, you will experience lots of hilarious puppet characters, cartoon voices, original jokes and music. This one of a kind comedy troupe performs at festivals, colleges, comedy clubs, cruise ships and special events all over the country. But be careful, you might end up with voices coming out of your mouth! Wayne & Wingnut is more fun than a room full of rhinos!

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Acclaimed fiddler and composer, Winifred Horan brings her trio to Milwaukee Irish Festival for a weekend of soulful, lively and stunning music and song with Utsav Lal on piano and Cary Novotny on guitar and vocals. Horan was born in New York City to Irish parents and studied piano, Irish fiddle, Irish dance and classical violin. Her very eclectic musical upbringing in the cultural melting pot of New York City can be heard in her immediately identifiable sound and style of playing. She attended the Mannes School of Music in NYC and the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she studied classical violin. She has played with multiple orchestras and string ensembles including the Boston Pops Orchestra, before joining Cherish the Ladies in 1991 She was invited to tour and record with the Sharon Shannon band in 1993. Horan is best known as co-founder of the American/Irish band Solas with whom she recorded and toured with for 23 years. "The Memory of Magic" is her latest solo cd.

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Named for a famous Irish reel, The Wise Maids have been playing together in other Irish groups for many years and joined forces due to their love of traditional Irish music. They specialize in Irish and other traditional Celtic music and frequently play for Irish dance groups in Milwaukee.

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