ABOUT
THE BAND
Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated, Eileen Ivers continues to push traditional fiddling boundaries from a folk music staple to a fiercely fresh, powerfully beautiful, intensely driving world stage experience. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Ivers has performed and/or toured with such diverse artists as Sting, Patti Smith, Al Di Meola, Hall and Oates and The Chieftains.
She's been called a "sensation" by Billboard magazine, "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin," by The New York Times, “the future of the Celtic fiddle” by The Washington Post, and “a virtuoso” by The Irish Times.
The daughter of Irish immigrants, Eileen was born and raised in the culturally diverse neighborhood of The Bronx, NYC. She is a 9-time All-Ireland fiddle champion, and one of the most awarded All-Ireland Fiddle and Banjo champions ever. Proclaimed “a national treasure” by the NCTA chair, she celebrates her renowned career as a performer, composer, producer, songwriter, band leader, educator, multi-instrumentalist and revered pioneer in connecting her American, Irish traditional, jazz, blues, and world roots.
Eileen Ivers is one of America’s preeminent Irish fiddlers. Noted Irish American writer Frank McCourt sums up Ivers’s genius eloquently: “Eileen is to Irish music as Michael Flatley is to Irish dance—a pioneer, an innovator, a universalist. She grew up in boom-box Bronx and she carries sounds from childhood that are surely embedded in her musical soul…. Like Whitman she contains multitudes, and cannot be contained by Irish music itself.”
ABOUT THE BAND
a multi-award-winning trio from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland—the mecca of Irish traditional music—was formed in 2014. Forged together by a fire of pure joy and passion for their art, the band comprises Shane Hayes on accordion, Calum Bell on fiddle and David McKindley-Ward on guitar.
Their ‘Socks Sound’ combines virtuosic musicianship with a burning passion for the music and tradition, pitch-perfect harmonies, and a big splash of quick wit and banter. Their electrifying performances and on-stage charm have established them as the kingpins on the Irish Traditional Music scene today.
They have toured extensively, capturing hearts in 48 US states, dozens of countries, and every continent, showcasing at renowned festivals such as the Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas, Electric Picnic in Ireland, Tønder Festival in Denmark, and the world-famous New Orleans Jazz Festival.
To date, Socks in the Frying Pan have released four studio albums, each adding to their list of accolades including ‘Best New Band‘, ‘Best Live Band‘, ‘Album of the Year‘, and ‘Best Live Performance of the Year‘. Their latest release, Waiting for Inspiration, was submitted for a Grammy award while also featuring in LadBible’s Top 25 To Add to your Playlist.
ABOUT THE BAND
Screaming Orphans are a chart-topping all-sister Celtic folk and pop band from Donegal, Ireland. They
are known worldwide for their award-winning sound combining their original songs with a unique take on
traditional Irish music. The band has always defied being pigeonholed, having masterfully developed their
own unique fusion of folk and pop. The sisters’ trademark spine-tingling four-part harmony and mastery
of their instruments combined with their highly energized performances take audiences of all ages on an
exhilarating and emotional musical journey.
Screaming Orphans’ pitch perfect harmonies have led them to many collaborations on recordings and
stage with artists such as Sinéad O’Connor, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell, Baaba Maal, and Afro Celt Sound
System. The band continues to tour and play extensively across America, Canada and Europe.
As of this year, the band has released 16 albums, encompassing both original pop and folk/Irish music, as
well as two Christmas album. Their albums Taproom, Life in a Carnival, Sunshine and Moss, and Paper
Daisies have topped Billboard, iTunes and World Music charts.
Irish singer-songwriter Colm Keegan and his talented wife, Scottish Cellist Laura Durrant, have made an indelible mark on the global music scene as principal performers in the esteemed group Celtic Thunder. Since joining the ensemble in 2011, their dynamic collaboration has been a driving force behind the success of three Celtic Thunder DVDs and four chart-topping CDs, consistently reaching the #1 spot on the Billboard World Music Chart.
Their captivating performances have graced stages across the United States, Canada, and Australia, solidifying their international acclaim. Colm and Laura’s musical journey with Celtic Thunder includes memorable moments such as opening the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade and delivering a private performance at the Pentagon, personally invited by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In August 2014, Colm Keegan, while still an integral part of Celtic Thunder, embarked on his first solo tour alongside Laura Durrant. The tour spanned the east coast of the United States, showcasing Colm’s exceptional talents. Notably, he was honoured with the 2014 Irish Music Association’s “Best New Irish Artist” award. Later, in 2016, Colm released his debut solo CD, “I’ll Never Be Alone,” a musical triumph that soared to the top of both the Amazon and iTunes World Music Charts.
Currently residing in Glasgow, Scotland, Colm and Laura gracefully navigate the delicate balance of family life and thriving careers in music, culture, and education, raising three young children.
Beyond his musical prowess, Colm Keegan is a multifaceted entrepreneur, passionately promoting Celtic Culture in various capacities. He spearheads an online teaching enterprise, where he imparts knowledge of Irish Language and History to a diverse global audience. Colm also orchestrates immersive Bus Tours throughout the year, guiding participants through the rich landscapes of Ireland and Scotland. Additionally, he has ventured into the realm of broadcasting, hosting a weekly radio show on Glasgow’s Celtic Music Radio, showcasing his vibrant personality and deep connection to Celtic music.
Colm Keegan’s remarkable journey encapsulates a harmonious blend of musical brilliance, cultural advocacy, and entrepreneurial spirit, making him a revered figure in the world of Celtic music and beyond.
Reverie Road is a genre-defying Celtic powerhouse ensemble, uniting founding Solas members Winifred Horan (fiddle) and John Williams (accordion) with former Gaelic Storm fiddler Katie Grennan and Steinway Artist Jazz and Raga pianist Utsav Lal. Together, these four exceptional musicians are celebrated as some of today’s most accomplished traditional and virtuosic folk artists, captivating audiences worldwide from stages to studios for over three decades.
Reverie Road takes the rich tapestry of Irish music and weaves it into a cinematic experience, full of expressivity and sophistication. Their performances push the boundaries of tradition, offering stunningly innovative interpretations that retain the heart of the genre while embracing a modern twist.
With a sound that masterfully blends Irish roots with fresh departures, their repertoire includes distilled airs, continental waltzes, and high-energy reels and jigs. The band chemistry of two accomplished classically-trained fiddlers who share a common history as award winning Irish dancers along with two instrumentalists who have sought to redefine traditional accompaniment and rhythm sections amount to a compelling concert experience.
Reverie Road released their much anticipated debut, self-titled album in early 2024, which immediately made waves in the Irish Traditional music genre. Even before they completed their 25-city album national launch tour across the United States, the album was awarded the coveted "Debut Album of the Year" title by Ireland Tonight.
Whether you're a lover of traditional music or curious about its modern evolution, Reverie Road delivers an exhilarating, boundary-pushing performance that will leave your heart soaring and your toes tapping.
With more than a decade of making records and touring around the world behind them—as members of the award-winning Cape Breton Celtic supergroup Còig—Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen now have their sights set on something new—Home.
A virtuoso on the fiddle, Rachel Davis and multi-instrumentalist Darren McMullen are well-established and respected in the world of traditional music, each attracting attention with their own recordings and headlining stages across Canada, the U.S, the U.K., Belgium, and Australia.
The new duo album Home, co-produced by Dave Gunning, captures the pair’s outstanding musicianship and vocals offering a refreshing mix of traditional tunes and songs with original co-writes and signature classics. They take turns on lead vocals and harmonies, shifting effortlessly from haunting ancient melodies to contemporary folk classics to songs written with some of this generation’s most notable songwriters.
Listening to Rachel and Darren, it’s obvious that they’ve been playing together for a while—there’s an easy way about them, a sense of comfort that comes through in the music, in the mix of their instruments, the blending of their voices, and how the arrangements leave room for each other. Explore the music and experience the journey—Home.
Home was released May 3rd 2024, and has received the 2024 Music Nova Scotia Award for Traditional Recording of the Year. It has also been nominated for two 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards - Ensemble of the Year + New/Emerging Artist of the Year.
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Fiddler Andrew Finn Magill is a North Carolina Arts Council Fellow and has been featured on MTV, TEDx, PBS and NPR. Alan Murray is one of the most-sought after accompanists on the Irish scene, touring the world with the foremost names in the biz: Lúnasa, The Four Winds, The Battlefield Band, and many more. Piper and flute-player Ivan Goff has performed with Riverdance and collaborated with Sting. Ivan is currently a member of Irish supergroup Danú.
Andrew Finn Magill is a Fulbright fellow, North Carolina Arts Council Fellow, and award-winning composer. He has been featured on MTV, TEDx, Avianca in-flight entertainment, and multiple times on NPR's The Thistle & Shamrock. His 2016 album Roots (featuring Cillian Vallely of Lúnasa and John Doyle) debuted at number #46 on the folk DJ charts, and since then he has toured internationally and headlined several Irish festivals.
Scottish guitar & bouzouki-player Alan Murray is one of the most in-demand accompanists in Irish music and has performed at Denmark’s Tønder Festival, Milwaukee Irish Fest, and Celtic Connections. Alan has shared the stage with such artists as Karan Casey, Niall and Cillian Vallely, Eileen Ivers, and Scotland’s Battlefield Band. In 2020, the two musicians released their album "Murray & Magill" exclusively on Bandcamp, which as of April 2021 has been purchased more than 150 times.
Ivan Goff plays uilleann pipes and Irish concert flute and is currently a member of Irish traditional band Danú. He has performed with Martin Hayes, Dervish, and Lúnasa among others. With credits that range from film and theater to appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Goff's music has also featured in several well-known productions such as Riverdance and Sting's The Last Ship on Broadway. Goff also holds an MA in Computer Composition and Music Technology from Queens University, Belfast and an MA in Musicology from University College Dublin.
Sorcha is a new and exciting take on the Celtic genre. The goal of Sorcha is to introduce audiences to original material that has a focus on creating an exciting live sound. We believe we achieve this by pushing the boundaries of what a reel, jig, or a hornpipe can be. By combining fresh arrangements and technical mastery of our instruments, we put on an unique and thrilling show.
Sorcha is composed of fiddler Nicole Philbrick, guitarist Joseph Carmichael, and Dan Vaughn on tin whistle and flute. We are masters of our craft and have been performing within the genre for over a decade in various groups including Blame Not the Bard and Flashpoint.
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Formed in the summer of 2014, Still Shine is a group of like-minded, seasoned musicians blending acoustic roots and progressive bluegrass. Mixing mandolin, harmonica, acoustic guitar, banjo and upright bass, and tight harmonies they’ve quickly gained a following around the local Midwest. Along with some well received original music, the band performs an upbeat, energetic show you won't want to miss! They're sure to get your toes a tappin' and your shine on!
Songs of Gaelic origin exhilarate the heart and soul like no other. Meaning trip or journey in Gaelic, Turas delivers fantastic flurries of woodwind melodies and an ample arrangement of strings, whistles and an Irish adaptation of the Greek bouzouki. Turas is answering the call to their Celtic roots, and the beat of their Irish bodhran is sure to lift your spirits up and away with the fairies.
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Despite being the smallest Irish ensemble in the Peoria area, the Roundstone Buskers really know how to fill a room—both with their sound and an audience. The acoustic power trio has been pleasing crowds with its untraditional Celtic repertoire since 2007. Named after the hometown of the great bodhran maker Malachy Kearns, the Buskers go way back, in prior groups and collaborations, and are now recognized as one of the favorite Irish groups in the region.
Better known simply as The Zukes, this group is an Irish/Folk band from right here in Peoria and they perform regularly at pubs, festivals, parties and concerts across the area. Come see what all the excitement is about and you’re sure to be clappin’ along and tappin’ your toes!
Barry Cloyd is a Midwest based full time touring singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/historian performing 200+ shows of all types per year. Backed by the Gypsies, they bring a wealth of songs, stories and skills to the stage. Come listen to this group, and you won’t be disappointed!
Formed in 2010, Skibbereen plays Celtic music, but with a nod toward many other popular styles. So, if Skibbereen sounds like a rock band on one song and a reggae band on another, it’s the band’s M.O. of borrowing, adapting, and finding new ways to arrange traditional tunes. Just as Celtic music has influenced others, Skibbereen sees themselves as an extension of where this music has traveled and evolved. And it’s a beautiful thing.
Broken Brogue is a four-piece Irish band based in Decatur, Illinois that plays a variety of Celtic music rooted in the time-honored artistic traditions of Ireland and Scotland. Noted for their relaxed and warm-hearted performing style, their performances are informed by the diverse musical backgrounds of the members, which include the Irish-born, the doctoral educated, the pipe band veteran, and the classically trained violinist. Be sure to check them out!
One night in 2018, three women walked into a pub, each wielding an instrument. They were shirttail musical kin, though never having played together until that serendipitous moment when their three-part harmonies and stringed instruments blended together beautifully. Today, ukulelist Emily Williams, guitarist Christina Eltrevoog, and Irish fiddler Sarah Arter are known as The Morning Larks, delighting audiences with original compositions, traditional Irish ballads, lively fiddle tunes, and unique interpretations of Irish songs.
Join local pub favorite, The McDowell’s, as they weave their tales of good times, love, misery and heartbreak … sometimes all in the same song! Their following is mighty, and they welcome you into their ranks.