Pat Byrne

Named Ireland’s Folk Band of the Year, The High Kings all grew up in households soaked in the Irish musical tradition, and each member of the band witnessed firsthand the power of well-crafted Irish music on an audience. They have sold out hundreds of shows, in Ireland and the U.S., made numerous TV appearances, and achieved platinum status twice. The High Kings showcase their incredible versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, playing 13 instruments between them bringing a rousing acoustic flavor to brand-new songs as well as some old favorites. The High Kings are continuing to live up to their reputation as a phenomenal live band, serving up laughter, good times, and even the odd sing-along. They are, quite simply, one of the great bands in Celtic music.

Rose Baldino and Brian Buchanan met ten years ago, late one night backstage at a theater in rural Pennsylvania. Brian’s band Enter The Haggis and Rose’s group Burning Bridget Cleary were sharing a stage that evening, and the two bonded over a love of Irish fiddle tunes, Radiohead, and 4 a.m. whiskey. Their paths crossed a dozen times over the next decade on the road, but it wasn’t until a 2014 conference that they finally became musical collaborators. Burning Bridget Cleary’s guitarist and drummer had their flights canceled at the last minute, and Rose (in desperation) asked Brian to grab a guitar and join her onstage. The two performed with virtually no rehearsal for over an hour, and their connection was powerful and immediate. A few months later Brian moved from Canada to Philadelphia, and as a tribute to the first tune Rose ever taught Brian, House of Hamill was born. Brian and Rose are both accomplished traditional fiddle players and classical violinists, and despite being young, have over 25 years of writing and performance experience between them. Together, they write unusual new fiddle tunes and exciting, unpredictable original songs while also breathing new life into traditional and contemporary material.

Karan Casey has long been one of the most innovative, provocative, and imitated voices in Irish folk music. Since embarking on her solo career after a stint as lead vocalist of the legendary band Solas, she has released six solo albums, a duo album, and a children’s album and has appeared on more than 50 albums in total. She has toured constantly throughout North America, Europe and Japan, performing solo, with her own band and with many other artists, often from outside the realm of Irish music. Her adventurous spirit results from the varied influences–classical music, jazz, and American pop–that Casey has made her own since growing up amid Irish traditional music in Ballyduff Lower, County Waterford. Karan Casey, says the Associated Press, has “a voice so beautiful, it’s almost impossible to avoid falling under her spell.” This tour features Niamh Dunne on fiddle and vocals and Seán Óg Graham on guitar.

Altan, named for Loch Altan in Ireland’s County Donegal, has arguably had a wider impact on audiences over the last 30 years than any other traditional Irish band. Their dynamic and warm live performances mix the most touching old Irish songs with hard-hitting reels and jigs, and the band members’ interest in and sheer enjoyment of each other musically is apparent even to audience members new to the Irish tradition.

Securely ranked among Scotland’s most skilled and imaginative contemporary folk acts, Breabach unite deep roots in Highland and Island tradition with the innovative musical ferment of their Glasgow base.

Groundbreaking, chart-topping, genre-bending, globetrotting, instantly enthralling… it’s little wonder that Talisk ranks highly amongst the most in-demand folk-based groups to emerge from Scotland in the last decade and more. Mohsen Amini (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Musician of the Year), Graeme Armstrong and Benedict Morris  (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year) fuse concertina, guitar, and fiddle to produce a multilayered signature that has captivated audiences around the globe. At its core, three seemingly acoustic instruments—but in the hands of three master craftsmen one unmistakable, bold sound and captivating live show. Talisk is coming to Michigan with a new album, “Dawn.”

The Ark’s annual Crossroads Ceili is a great way to mark the turning of the year. It’s a gathering of local Celtic-oriented singers, instrumentalists, and dancers, all sharing the stage to get your Celtic music year off to a good start. If you’d like to get an idea of the depth of southeastern Michigan’s Celtic music scene, the Ceili is a great place to do it. Fiddler Mick Gavin, the organizer of the Ceili and a frequent performer there, was recently inducted into the Irish Music Hall of Fame.

The Ocean Celtic Quartet will transport you to the Yuletide celebrations of yore in a program featuring traditional carols, foot-stomping Celtic fiddle tunes, 19th-century broadside songs, original seasonal compositions, and even an appearance by Father Christmas of the old mummers’ plays! Come in good voice, as you’ll be invited to sing along!