CHECK OUT THE BANDS BELOW
In the course of their thirty-year career, the seminal London-Irish band The Pogues inspired a generation of Celtic Punk Bands. James Fearnley, a co-founder and the accordion player for The Pogues has teamed up with Flogging Molly co-founder and Grammy Award-winning producer, Ted Hutt, and with Dropkick Murphys's multi-instrumentalist, Marc Orrell, to form The Walker Roaders whose music music splices the anthems of Celtic-Punk to the poetry of The Pogues. Completing the outfit: Kieran Mulroney (Low and Sweet Orchestra) on fiddle, Brad Wood (storied producer of Liz Phair, Touche Amore, Pete Yorn, Smashing Pumpkins) on bass, and Bryan Head (Dick Dale, Roger Hodgson) on drums.
\\ JACKDAW
Jackdaw is a Celtic rock band from Buffalo, NY. After a night of "hanging and drinking" with Tim and George the idea of the band was formed and they started the idea to create a "Brick Throwing" Celtic Rock band, that was "Factory Born" and based on their Irish heritage and industrial South Buffalo area roots. The songs "Maggie" and "Raise a Glass" were penned during these first rehearsals. As the core members rehearsed, wrote and performed more, they decided they needed to search for additional players, in order to balance the "raw style" with the traditional "celtic sound." In 2006, a compilation of their first three albums and EPs entitled Brilliant, Sad & Guilty was released. The two-disc album included interviews, live tracks, and studio outtakes.Jackdaw won Buffalo's Best Rock Band (and on one occasion beating fellow nominee the Goo Goo Dolls), presented by the free publication Artvoice, in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. The band toured the eastern states extensively and Ireland, opened for Dropkick Murphys at Thursday at the Square. In July 2007, the band opened for Pete Best and his band at Club Infinity in Williamsville, NY.
\\ BARLEYJUICE
With eight albums and a double CD collection in their sporrans to date, these five spirited yanks have made themselves one of the most beloved Celtic rock bands in the US. They’ve been heard in popular television shows, films, and tons of Celtic radio programs worldwide.
Besides rocking up Irish traditionals with gravelly authenticity, Kyf Brewer pens the majority of the group’s originals and covers lead vocals, guitar, accordion, harmonica, mandolin, bouzouki, piano and bagpipes. He originally piped in the Loch Rannoch Pipe Band, and performed in Edinburgh’s Millennium March for Prince Charles.
The ayes have it - Barleyjuice is a grand group of talented tunesmiths and prodigious performers, and the absolute best time you can have at a concert without removing your kilt!
\\ CRIKWATER
Rooted in the rustbelt Irish American neighborhood of South Buffalo, NY, Crikwater have become one of the leading Irish American Traditional Folk Bands in Western New York. Boasting four multi-instrumentalists and an energetic live show, The pub-scene veterans offer up a mix of fiery fiddle tunes, rowdy pub sing-a-longs, elegant ballads & original songs, and their music conjures scenes of gritty smoke filled Irish pubs, whiskey, pints of stout, and good craic.
\\ MCCARTHYIZM
Born in the days before alternative was a marketing term, McCarthyizm soon became a band known for blending 60’s garage and 80’s underground rock with strong melodies and intelligent lyrics. Add some raucous rhythm and a tasty measure of Celtic flavoring and you’ve got a cocktail with a punch that delivers one helluva good time, all the time.
Johnny Hart and the Mess celebrate the history of rock n roll while paving the way for a new era. With influences from across the board, the band has its roots soaked in rock, but wanders off the beaten bath and delves into various veins of music and sound. Most fittingly is the "Alt Rock" nomenclature because it is so broadly defined. At any given point, the band can sound like a pop band, a blues band, a country band, a jam band or a funk band. Suppose it depends on the day, the night and the crowd.
Having shared the stage with acts like Fitz and the Tantrums, Shaed, Grace Potter, The Sheepdogs, Andy Frasco, Neil Francis, Joey Harkum and many more, Johnny Hart and the Mess have solidified themselves as a " Soulfully urgent Alt Rock Powerhouse".
\\ JOHN DADY
Originally from Rochester, NY, John and his brother, Joe Dady, have shared their unique variety of Celtic and American folk music in diverse venues around the country and abroad for more than forty years.
Self-styled singers, multi-instrumentalist musicians and composers, John and Joe possessed a solid command of many folk instruments including, but not limited to guitar, pennywhistle, fiddle, banjo, octave mandolin, harmonica, uilleann pipes, bodhran and ukulele. Their wide repertoire ranges from Irish Traditional and Irish and American Folk to original and contemporary Folk, Bluegrass, and Acoustic Blues. Always at ease with their audiences, they had a knack for finding humor in the moment and sharing it spontaneously.
In May of 2019, Joe lost his battle with leukemia. John continues to carry on the music, performing solo or with a number of close friends. In 2020, the Dady brothers were inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
\\ YELLOW JACK
Fiddle tunes, Appalachian murder ballads, bluegrass standards, folk revival anthems, union songs, ballads and spirituals can be found shoulder-to-shoulder in our eclectic live sets with more modern fare like the Grateful Dead, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Avett Brothers, Michelle Shocked, Old Crow Medicine Show, the Carter Family, Bright Eyes, Violent Femmes, Pete Seeger and really too many more. Yellow Jack loves sharing their appreciation for local history through music. They seek out old songs about the area, and have also written many of their own!
For nearly four decades, The Blarney Bunch has been entertaining throughout Western New York. Specializing in Traditional Irish music and throwing in some rock and country just to mix it up. With their love and ability to play all types of music they are sure to show everyone of all ages a great time.
\\ GREATER BUFFALO FIREFIGHTERS PIPES AND DRUMS
The Greater Buffalo Firefighters Pipes and Drums are a group of career and volunteer firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS providers and civilian friends of first responders representing WNY's great firefighting family. They are here to honor their fallen brothers and sisters. They also appear at many of the parades, dedications, memorials, funerals, weddings, fund raisers across WNY.
