Music

We are currently finalizing our entertainment lineup for 2025. Participating musicians will be listed here once the schedule is released. Feel free to listen to Irish Fest performers past and present in our music player. Note that several of the musicians featured in the player will not be performing at the 2025 festival.

The High Kings
The High Kings are Finbarr Clancy, Darren Holden, Brian Dunphy and newest member Paul O’ Brien. The High Kings formed in June 2007 when Brian, Darren, Finbarr and former member Martin Furey were asked to join a brand-new Irish ballad group by David Kavanagh after he had noticed a gap in the market for a band specializing in traditional Irish music. It didn’t take long[...] Read More »

The High Kings

Ally the Piper
Ally is a multi-instrumentalist out of New York. She specializes in celtic instrumentation, such as the Highland Bagpipe, Scottish Smallpipe, Irish whistles, and vocals. At age 16 Ally became a world champion performing on the Highland Bagpipe, and holds several domestic and international titles. She performs professionally, and virtually through her various social media platforms where she has amassed nearly three million followers, making her[...] Read More »

Ally the Piper

Scythian
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. Nashville’s Music City Roots says Scythian is ‘what happens when rock star charisma meets Celtic dervish fiddling’, and the Washington Post claims “Scythian’s enthusiasm is contagious, and shows seem to end with everyone[...] Read More »

Scythian

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES OF MUSIC MAKING For four decades, Cherish the Ladies has captivated audiences worldwide as one of the most celebrated Irish music ensembles in history. Renowned for their exhilarating mix of traditional Irish music, stunning vocals, and propulsive step dancing, they have won the hearts of audiences and critics alike. As the Boston Globe aptly puts it: “It is simply impossible to imagine[...] Read More »

Cherish the Ladies

Trasna
Trasna, the Irish folk duo comprised of Ger O’Donnell from County Clare and Trevor Sexton from County Limerick, has been captivating audiences for six years with their rich and diverse musical offerings. Both singers and multi-instrumentalists, O’Donnell and Sexton are known for their exceptional skill with a range of instruments including guitars, piano, double bass, banjo, whistle, flute, and several unique, less conventional instruments. Their[...] Read More »

Trasna

The Narrowbacks
nar·row·back /ˈnĂŠroʊˌbĂŠk/ [nar-oh-bak] –noun Slang. 1. Disparaging. an Irish-American. 2. a person of slight build who is unfit for hard labor. ‹ The brain child of a future banker and a drop out bartender, The Narrowbacks are a fresh voice for songs and stories old and new. After some late night sing songs, a couple whiskeys and a few lost jobs we came up with[...] Read More »

The Narrowbacks

The Prodigals
The Prodigals are considered to be one of the most successful bands to emerge from the east coast Irish scene. While the band members largely grew up in Ireland, their current roots are in Manhattan. The Prodigals’ sound retains authentic Irish traditional melodic roots, while embracing eclectic world rhythms infused with NYC energy. They have released ten albums—the most recent in 2022—and have headlined major[...] Read More »

The Prodigals

The Drowsy Lads
Playing Irish music with a “dare you to sit still” fervor for 20 years now, The Drowsy Lads’ connection actually goes back much farther. The lineup includes two brothers, a father and son, and a web of lifelong friendships, and you can hear those bonds in every sizzling reel and joyous singalong. Headlining festivals and packing out theaters with high-energy performances that earned them honors[...] Read More »

The Drowsy Lads

Gould and Jaeger
Ian Gould and Lukas Jaeger, the dynamic new duo to the music scene, mesmerize audiences with their mastery of guitar, violin, ukulele, mandolin, banjo, harmonicas, and vocals. Their performances are infused with an electrifying energy that captivates listeners from the first chord to the final note, delivering a sound that is both vibrant and unforgettable. With their diverse instrumental skills and infectious enthusiasm, Gould and[...] Read More »

Gould & Jaeger

Reverie Road
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[...] Read More »

Reverie Road

The East Coasters, made up of Calum Bell, Madeline Dierauf, and Richard Osban, are from the East Coast of the U.S. They released their debut album in October 2024, and have toured across the American south, midwest, and northeast. Calum Bell is a multi-instrumentalist who has been performing on New England stages since the age of seven, when he started touring with the Bell Family Band,[...] Read More »

The East Coasters

Seamus Kennedy
A four-decade veteran of the Irish/Celtic festival circuit, Seamus Kennedy was first influenced by the legendary Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. From them he learned the importance of not only being a solid musician, but also of being an all-round entertainer. With a thorough knowledge of the traditional and contemporary songs of Ireland and Scotland, he is equally proficient with American music, be it folk,[...] Read More »

Seamus Kennedy

Eamonn de CĂłgĂĄin
Éamonn de CĂłgĂĄin is widely regarded as Ireland’s most energetic MC. Descended from a long line of storytellers and entertainers Éamonn is as comfortable threading the boards as an actor as he is spinning yarns down the back of the bus. Having travelled every backroad and boreen from Malin Head to Mizen Head he has an intimate knowledge of the hidden gems of the Emerald[...] Read More »

Éamonn de Cógáin

Michael Crawley and Matt Sofranko have been playing music together for 13 years, starting as bandmates in Cleveland’s Celtic Rock band “Marys Lane” from 2010-2019 (where Matt is still a member). In 2020, Michael and Matt began playing as the duet “Crawley & Sofranko,” and currently perform between 80-100 performances regionally each year. A staple in Cleveland’s most popular local Irish pubs, Crawley & Sofranko[...] Read More »

Crawley & Sofranko

Brigid's Cross
The next act is a taste of homegrown. Debuting at Price’s Public House on May 18, 1996, this group has since traveled all across the country and throughout Ireland. They’ve performed as a duo and trio at festivals and pubs too numerous to name, and on many Iirsh cruises, and are about to embark on their own (3rd) Beach’n Cruise in January of ’24. For[...] Read More »

Brigid’s Cross

The New Barleycorn
‘The New Barleycorn’ — present their live Irish show with vitality, passion and a touch of humor, singing and playing both contemporary folk and traditional Celtic songs and music, which they have woven into their own musical tapestry of intricate rhythms and melodies. Both Alec and John were born and raised in Ireland where they learned to play music at an early age. They have[...] Read More »

The New Barleycorn

Custy & McNamara
Nikki Custy and Samantha McNamara are based in Cleveland Ohio. They play an exciting blend of music from old traditional ballads to original songs and modern covers and their driving tunes will make you want to get up and dance. They currently perform all around the Northeast Ohio region and are looking forward to visiting new cities and broadening their audiences in 2025!

Custy & McNamara