AUG 23 2025 \\
CAZENOVIA PARK \\
BUFFALO, NY \\
FREE
FAMILY
EVENT
SOUTH BUFFALO IRISH FESTIVAL
CHECK OUT THE BANDS BELOW
\\ THE MAHONES
Canada's premier Celtic punk rock party band was fittingly born on St. Patrick's Day in 1990 in Kingston, Ontario. Founding members were singer/guitarist Finny McConnell; Andrew Brown on tin whistle, keyboards, and accordion; Ger O'Sullivan on mandolin, banjo, guitar, and bodhran; bassist Joe Chithalen; and drummer Christos Smirnois. Four years later the group celebrated St. Patrick's Day again with its debut album, Draggin' the Days. They then played to enthusiastic crowds across Canada and south of the border. Only McConnell and Brown remained when the follow-up album Rise Again was released in 1996. The album received strong radio and video play for its first two singles, "100 Bucks" and "Rise Again." The Mahones again toured heavily to support the album. For The Hellfire Club Sessions, released in 1999, they got some help from some of Kingston's most famous bands: Johnny Fay of the Tragically Hip co-produced and drummed; his bandmate Gord Sinclair played piano; and Colin Cripps of Crash Vegas (and Junkhouse) sang on "This Old Town." Sadly, that same year, bass player Joe Chithalen passed away. The band also penned the title song for the film Celtic Pride, which starred fellow Kingstonian Dan Aykroyd. Another film credit was the use of the song "100 Bucks" in Bruce McCulloch's Kids in the Hall movie Dog Park. The group released Here Comes Lucky in 2001, followed in 2003 by the concert album Live at the Horseshoe. 2006 saw the release of Take No Prisoners, followed by the band's seventh studio album, 2010's The Black Irish. Angels & Devils in 2012, the latter of which won that year's Independent Music Award for Best Punk Album
\\ 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!
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\\ AJ & THE WOODS
Founded on the sweet nostalgia of delta blues, AJ & The Woods elevates roots rock to a new height. Their sultry sound features striking female vocals and intricate guitar melodies which organically blends passionate folk, rock, and blues music. Home grown in Ohio and voted Best Folk Artist at the 2023 Cleveland Music Awards, AJ & The Woods brings you one of the most unique and articulate sounds to date.
\\ 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.
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\\ PA LINE
Hailing from Buffalo, NY, PA Line brings a unique, harmony-packed, funky, Folk-Rock sound that has been described as Mumford & Sons meets Rusted Root. Touring extensively in 28 states, 4 countries, in 2 continents. Through the U.S., Canada, & the U.K., PA Line is gathering quite the name for themselves.
The name PA Line comes from a simple catchline of the lead singer’s late father: “Peace Always.” This mantra is carried in their attitude towards the industry and their fans.
After a few incredible opportunities playing large events such as the NYC Marathon, The Great Blue Heron Music Festival, The Big "G" Jam and opening up for acts such as Rusted Root, Iron & Wine, Floodwood, & Rumpke Mountain Boys, extensive tours on the road support their full-length release "Peace Always," and performed Main Stage at Fingerlakes Grassroots Festival, Cobblestone Live!, and Borderland Music Festival
Buffalo-based folk duo Sally Schaefer (fiddle, vocals) and Tyler Bagwell (guitar, vocals) breathe fire into folk songs old and new, including a treasure trove of Americana, Celtic, and Erie Canal music. Sally is a well-known ethnomusicologist and musician around the Western New York area, appearing with numerous bands and recording for various projects representing an array of musical genres. Tyler is an award-winning historian and patchwork songwriter with a busker’s voice in search of couplets within the notion that “history rhymes.” Together, they invent and reinvent songs highlighting events, people, and places of local and national note. For larger shows, they often play with the addition of bass and drums as folk rock band The Travesties.
The Irish Lassies are a 6-piece American Celtic folk band native to the green hills of New York's Finger Lakes region.
The band started when long-time childhood friends decided to take their casual Irish sessions and grow into a professional folk group. In only a few short years, the Irish Lassies have become known as one of the premier Celtic folk bands in New York State. Songs from their debut albums are being released on all music platforms. Their self-titled album The Irish Lassies is comprised of traditional Irish music with unique Lassies’ arrangements. Immigration Stories, an all-original album, aims to take listeners back to 18th and 19th century America with heart-felt true tales of Irish settlers. The Lassies’ unique style focuses on powerful ballads using six-part harmonies and soulful songs that will invite you to raise a glass, dance, and sing along with a set list that takes you on a journey from Ireland to America. Sláinte!
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