2023 ARTIST LINEUP
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. The Narrowbacks have brought their Irish American Odyssey from the stages of the Bowery Ballroom and the Stone Pony to the Kansas City Irish Festival and everywhere in between. They built their following in the barrooms of New York City with modern covers of old classic Irish songs but have grown to performing their own original canon of Irish American stories to the rock clubs and festivals of the North East and Mid-West. Make sure to follow them @thenarrowbacks on Instagram, Facebook and Spotify!
” Their music is literally and figuratively electric, and it sounds best live. ” – Colleen Taylor, Irish Echo
“Like Dropkick Murphy’s songs with less aggression, better vocals and more of a singer-songwriter air about them.” – Matt Inman, Relix Magazine.
Screaming Orphans are a chart-topping all-sister Celtic folk and pop band from Donegal. They are known worldwide for their award-winning sound combining original pop songs with a unique take on traditional Irish music. From an early age, the Diver sisters entertained international audiences around Ireland accompanying their mother, legendary céilí singer Kathleen Fitzgerald. 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 15 albums, encompassing both original pop and folk/Irish music, as well as one Christmas album. Their albums Taproom, Life in a Carnival, and Sunshine and Moss have topped Billboard, iTunes and World Music charts.
Andy Cooney has nine Carnegie Hall sellouts under his belt and also filled The David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center with The New York Tenors. His outstanding voice and dynamic stage presence have long been a favorite among young and old alike. His talent and versatility provide the ability to deliver a song directly to the hearts of his audience; Andy is surely one of the greatest singing sensations on the Irish Music scene today. Christened Irish America’s Favorite Son by The New York Times, it is a title he richly deserves.
Andy Cooney is one of The New York Tenors, along with New York Italian Tenor Christopher Macchio and New York Puerto Rican Tenor Daniel Rodriquez, a trio which has been receiving high critical acclaim for a number of years. Andy has recorded 19 albums to date, including Bright Brand New Day with Phil Coulter and his Orchestra. Andy and Phil frequently tour together and in March 2017, completed a three week tour of the US. Cooney’s latest CD, Irish Country Skyline, was released in the summer of 2016 as a journey back to his Country music roots. This release has been getting huge airplay all over Ireland and the UK with his hit singles On The Eighth Day and My Rose of Ballinrobe, both his own compositions.
2020 turned out to be an unusual year where the Coronavirus shut down the music industry. During 2020, Andy managed to release 4 new singles during the Coronaviruses pandemic, “Take Me Back To Dublin”, “We’re All In This Together” with his son Ryan, “Come Tennessee Me Tonight” with Country Music legend Larry Gatlin and his latest single release in November 2020, “The Waltz of the Angels”. Andy Cooney is also known for his Cruise of Irish Stars which annually draws over 1,000 Irish and Irish Americans on a Caribbean Cruise enriched with the finest Irish entertainment including the great Ronan Tynan.
Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones are known throughout the world for their quality musical presentation of Irish patriotic songs and traditional music featuring top class fiery introductions from their lead singer, songwriter and storyteller, Derek Warfield.
An outstanding singer, stage personality, composer and historian of the music and song tradition, Derek Warfield is a legend wherever Irish roots have been put down. He enjoyed phenomenal success for some 40 years with the Wolfe Tones, including best-selling albums, number one hits, television appearances and shows in Carnegie Hall, New York and the Royal Albert Hall, London. Added to that, Derek has been prolific as a solo artist, with an astonishing twelve albums in just over a decade.
Ten years on from the begining of his solo career, the man often described as ‘Ireland’s greatest ballad singer’ is bringing an old tradition with a young sound to his legion of fans across the world.
The Young Wolfe Tones feature some of the finest Irish musicians and singers from a younger generation and bring guaranteed excitement, fun and passion to every performance.
Ronan Tynan is truly a modern day “Renaissance Man.” Faced with numerous challenges throughout his well documented life, he has persevered with enormous passion and determination. He attributes his success to his faith and the knowledge that the Man Above guides him through every door he opens. Introduced to international audiences as a member of the Irish Tenors, Tynan quickly became known for his unique voice and irresistible appeal. Following his mother’s advice to always follow your dreams, Tynan decided to launch a solo career, and has achieved the fame and adoration that could have existed only in the farthest reaches of his dreams.
Tynan’s singing offered the gentlest consolation at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in the summer of 2004, when an international TV audience of more than 35 million heard him sing “Amazing Grace” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” at the personal invitation of Nancy Reagan. Ronan is also famous for his performances of “God Bless America” at Yankee Stadium during the seventh-inning stretch, which he says have been nothing short of unforgettable. In 2006 he started an affiliation with the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and has performed “God Bless America” at many of their games.
Ronan’s ability to simultaneously console and inspire is well-documented. In the wake of 9/11, the men and women of the New York Police Department and New York Fire Department and their families have been able to count on Ronan Tynan’s abiding concern and beautiful voice. Ronan has performed at benefits and memorial services for New York’s Finest and Bravest, and his singing softened the sorrow of many in the wake of the tragedy.
Hailing from a little town in Co. Cork, Ireland – Darren Kiely has positioned himself as one of the most exciting singer-songwriters of his generation. Inheriting a love of traditional Irish music and Classic Rock from his parents (the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan) and combining it with a love of current alternative bands and singer-songwriters (most notably The Lumineers and Dermot Kennedy) Darren has quickly gained the attention of over 100k monthly listeners on Spotify. Darren’s career started at only 5 years old when he learned tin whistle, eventually picking up the fiddle at age 8. He is also a self-taught guitarist and didn’t have his first vocal performance until 2019. Fast forward to 2022, Darren moved to New York to pursue his music career closer to his producer. Since then he has entered Ireland’s top 50 Viral Charts on three separate occasions with his debut single ‘How Could You Love Me’, and his second single ‘Ella”. Darren has recently headlined Rockwood Musichall in New York and he is set to play other renowned venues in 2023, notably, Mercury Lounge on February 24th. Darren is currently promoting his third single ‘Time To Leave’ ,already surpassing one million Spotify streams, and will continue to work on the release of new music in 2023.
Tom Comerford was a founder member of The Whole Shabang, one of the most successful, hard-working and respected Irish bands on the North American scene through the 1990’s. Since 1999 he has continued to work as a full-time entertainer, albeit in a solo capacity, and this allows him a certain amount of flexibility. Whether entertaining a group of visitors to Ireland, performing at a corporate event, or flying high at a festival, you’re going to experience Tom in his natural habitat.
No stranger to touring, Tom still takes to the road with enthusiasm, entertaining not just in Ireland, but through the UK, Europe, and America. You’ll also find him appearing with Andy Cooney, Ronan Tynan and more, on the annual Cruise of Irish Stars, and as a matter of fact – in 2022 these three guys are appearing at the East Durham Irish festival, AND they’re on the same bill at Carnegie Hall in New York City on December 12th.
Characterized by high energy and strong vocal harmonies, The 19th Street Band bridges the musical traditions of country and roots from Ireland to the Appalachia with their eclectic gypsy-rock spirit leaping from the stage. The charismatic vibe that Caolaidhe Davis (guitar player/vocalist) blends with fiddle/mandolin player/vocalist/partner-in-crime, Meghan Davis, creates a joy-filled chemistry that no crowd can resist. Add to the mix the highly talented
rhythm section, Greg Hardin (bass) & Patty Dougherty (drums), and this band will have everyone addicted..
The 19th Street Band has entertained crowds at festivals such as DelFest, Charm City Bluegrass Festival, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Iowa Irish Festival and the Maryland Irish Festival. Overseas, the band has been featured as a regular artist at the Open House Festival in Bangor, Northern Ireland and the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival as they tour annually to Ireland and the UK. Their lively shows have packed the house at venues such as the 9:30 Club, The Hamilton, The Birchmere, State Theatre (DC), The Avalon Theatre, The Empire Music Hall in Belfast, and Hill Country BBQ in NYC & DC. They have had the honor of opening for Asleep at the Wheel, Rodney Atkins, Chuck Mead, Frank Solivan, Dirty Kitchen, Kitchen Dwellers, Town Mountain and many more.
The band’s newest album, Diamond in the Rough, was chosen as ‘Album of the Month’ on West Norfolk Radio, selected as a finalist for the DC Wammie Awards and has received air play on numerous radio stations throughout the UK. It includes three songs that were co-written by the late, great Philip Donnelly and John Prine. Donnelly invited the band to record these songs with him in Tipperary, Ireland.
Sheridan Rúitín was born in The Spring of 2020 in a Congers, NY detached garage converted “Sheridan’s Pub.” In the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, as more pubs and restaurants were shutting their doors, Billy Houlihan became more and more of a regular at his next door neighbor’s (Sheridan’s) pub. Sheridan’s pub was complete with a speaker system, Guinness on tap (ran through G-mix), and portraits of the 1916 rising Irish rebel leaders. It was everything you’d imagine a suburban New York garage would look like if it was owned by a man from Kildare.
Billy would bring his banjo over to the pub every day after working his construction job, and him and Sheridan would drink beer and have a laugh playing all sorts of Irish ballads, rebel songs, and jigs & reels. They eventually invited over Billy’s cousin, Shannon Cokeley, to sing and play guitar and soon enough she found herself a regular in the pub after working as a school teacher during the days.
Billy’s brother, Johnny Houlihan, was sent home from college in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, only to become jealous of the fun Billy, Shannon, and Sheridan would have in the garage pub every night playing music. This led Billy to purchase a used accordion on the internet, hand it to Johnny and say “learn it.” As Johnny became well accustomed to the buttons on his (new to him) accordion, Shannon’s husband, Tommy, had begun learning how to play a bodhran. This led to many fantastic jam sessions and 3 part harmonies of old traditional Irish songs.
One quiet evening in May of 2020, Billy brought his guitar over to the pub and he and Sheridan sat at the bar, sang rebel songs, and drank beer. Sheridan got quite into the moment while singing “The Kerry Recruit,” leading him to tumble off his barstool ultimately breaking his ankle (Irish: Rúitín) in 2 places.
Sheridan Rúitín now had an official band name and began recording songs and videos to release on YouTube. As pubs and restaurants were slowly opening back up, the family band began playing many gigs and were joined by old musician friends, John Damiano and Michael Zayas. Towards the end of 2021, the group began creating their own arrangements of traditional songs and writing a few originals to eventually become their debut album, “Rebels in the Night.” The album saw much success in pre-orders from all over the world. “Rebels in the Night” was released on March 6, 2022, and Sheridan Rúitín went on tour the whole month in support of their debut album.
The band has since been added to the bills of major Irish festivals in the USA, and is currently working on new music and another album. Sheridan Rúitín takes over the New York suburbia Irish music scene by filling the gap between Celtic rock and traditional Irish folk ballads.
In the words of Sheridan: “Me feckin leg is in bits.”
Kitty Kelly is a second generation Irish American whose grandparents hailed from Donegal and Galway. Her love for all things Irish and in particular Irish music, song and dance was nurtured from her time spent growing up at her grandparents’ respective Irish resorts (The Shamrock House , Kelly’s Brookside) in East Durham, NY, the small hamlet affectionately known as the “33 rd County”.
Kitty is noted for her charismatic personality on stage, high energy and her ability to deliver songs from both Irish and American traditions. She released her first CD “Catskill Fever” to critical acclaim. The CD featured well-known Irish musicians Joanie Madden, John Nolan, Buddy Connolly, Jerry O’Sullivan and many others including her father Ralph Kelly, brothers Ralph and Colin and her Uncle Jimmy Kelly and has garnered favorable reviews from all who have heard it. A much-anticipated second CD will be released later this year.
The talents of her band members along with Kitty’s outstanding ability to connect with her audiences always make for a memorable performance. Kitty
Kelly’s Catskill Fever perform throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Ohio at Festivals, Concerts, Dances, Weddings, Private
Parties and Pubs.
Deirdre Reilly beautifully personifies the dramatic influence that Irish music has had on today’s American Country scene. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts to a mother from County Cork and a father from County Mayo, Ireland, Deirdre began performing at age five. As a teenager she sang with her step-father’s show band and traveled around New England and parts of New York with her own band. Deirdre’s talents were revealed on a national level at age eighteen when she toured the United States with Paddy Noonan’s Irish Variety Show. In 1989 Deirdre auditioned at the Berkeley School Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts for talent scouts from the Opryland Show Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
After hearing Deirdre sing, there was little deliberation among the scouts about offering her a contract to perform in their most popular show “COUNTRY MUSIC USA” for the coming summer season. Deirdre eagerly accepted that contract and was well on her way to exploring a world of music that she innately was destined to pursue. That summer led to three consecutive seasons at Opryland Show Park where she quickly began to open many doors in the music industry.
Ninemile House is a high-energy Celtic Rock band, created by cousins – Michael, Brendan, Joe and Steve Hall. The band gets its name from the Ninemilehouse Pub, County Tipperary, Ireland, where the cousins’ fathers (Milo and Brendan Hall) played music back in the day before making there way to the US.
Since 2015, Ninemile House has played hundreds of events – festivals, pubs and private events – in the NY/NJ area. The band takes traditional irish tunes and adds its own flare to create an upbeat, foot-stomping experience that will leave you wanting more.
The full band members consist of:
Michael Hall – Vocals, guitar, bodhrán, harmonica and banjo.
Joseph Hall – Vocals mandolin, guitar, harmonica.
Brendan Hall – Vocals, tambourine.
Steven Samone (he’s basically a Hall) – Vocals, keyboard.
Conor McKeown – Drums.
Patrick Heaney – Bass.
James Sattler – Fiddle.
The Diddley Idols are Queens NYC Native, Dave Barckow (Eileen Ivers) and Dubliner, Louise Barry (Celtic Angels). The New York based duo with the full band sound. After a chance encounter in 2012, Dave and Louise’s undeniable chemistry made them inseparable and together they formed the World Record holding “The Diddley Idols” in 2013, dropping the “American” from Dave’s previous title. As two lead vocalists, they added Dave’s foot operated drum kit and guitar and mandolin and Louise’s ukulele and percussion to finish out their sound.
Their high octane mix of pop and Irish traditional tunes and all the party rock you can handle will having you singing and dancing all night long. Dave’s energy and ability to chat to anyone make him a crowd favorite while you can often find professional dancer Louise doing a step anywhere there’s space. Preferably on top of a bar. A live “tour de force” and “proof that great things really do come in small packages!”
Dublin city’s Peadar Hickey began his career in entertainment singing ballads in the renown musical pubs of Temple Bar. Peadar has a vast repertoire of old Irish traditional songs, songs in the Irish language, songs of resistance and remembrance as well as some more contemporary popular hits.
Peadar is an accomplished guitar player and singer with a long history of performing throughout Ireland, Europe and across the US and Canada. He is a former member of Derek’s Warfield’s Young Wolfe Tones, The Prodigals and Basket House Band, touring the Irish festival circuit in the US for over a decade.
With past and present music residencies in some of the biggest Irish pubs in Dublin, New York and even Las Vegas, Peadar brings his knowledge of Ireland and Irish music to his audiences in a lively and highly entertaining package. On any night of the week, you can find Peadar performing at pubs, restaurants and breweries all over New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
McLean Avenue Band are an Irish American band, based in Hudson Valley and Westchester County, New York. They have taken the Irish American music and entertainment scene by storm with their wonderful arrangements of pop, rock and folk songs, intertwined with Traditional Irish tunes and upbeat melodies, played on fiddles, banjos, bodhrans (Irish Drum) button accordions and acoustic guitars. These song arrangements are ideal for celebration events like weddings and parties, as well as festivals and concerts.
The band formed through a regular weeknight get together (A.K.A. “session”) of local talented Irish musicians, in a bar on, yes, McLean Avenue, in the Woodlawn area of New York city. Hence the name McLean Avenue Band. That was over 10 years ago.
It didn’t take long however, for word to spread about this super-group of Irish musicians and suddenly they were a sought-after group for events from weddings to festivals to party celebrations all over the tri-state area and up and down east coast.
Today, the band’s musical roots remain firmly in the Irish Music genre, however, they are constantly adding new covers to their repertoire. The addition of brass instruments and Broadway signers to the group, creates a huge song list for their client to choose from. Indeed, this band are as comfortable playing Top 40 hits as they are playing Irish ballads like Danny Boy.
Mary G. hails from a little village in Co. Roscommon called
Ballincurry. She grew up in a family of traditional musicians
and has influences from both the Irish and American Canon of
Song. Franky Lees is a versatile musician, who graduated from
the Juilliard School of music, and has taught, accompanied,
musically directed, and been in various bands. He has enjoyed
working in many genres including musical theater, Irish,
Country, and more!
Together, they have performed and entertained for audiences
at festivals, parties, and other venues in America, Ireland,
England, and Canada. They have performed for such dignitaries
as Russell Crowe, the Governor of New York, and many more.
They combine a repertoire of Irish standard’s, pop hits, and good
old fashioned dance music, with a devil-may-care attitude, and
serve up the music in a festive, feast of fun.
The Little Creek Band is a Country Rock Irish Mash-up….kinda like Clancy Brothers meet Johnny Cash meet Jimmy Page. Mix soaring 4 part harmonies with rip roaring guitar, mandolin, and Irish Whistle….add a rocking Rhythm section that gets everybody on their feet and you have The Little Creek Band.
The band’s lead singer is Dennis Nesel who also plays Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Irish Whistle and Trumpet. Yup. Trumpet. It works! Don Bell rocks the electric guitar and synth and sings, Kevin Jeffreys plays bass guitar and sings and Bobby Legg plays drums and sings. Did we mention these guys ALL SING?
Last year the band got their Irish on and recorded The Little Creek Band Green Album featuring unique covers of songs like Rocky Road to Dublin, Star of the County Down and a bunch more.
The Little Creek Band has entertained many a pint holder in countless bars, pubs and festivals over the years and they are sure to get you fired up for fun when they play the stage at the East Durham Irish Festival this Memorial Day weekend.
Described as Celtic/Americana, GET UP JACK takes the great Irish folk music of yesterday and merges it with the energy of American roots music, forming an incredible combination of outstanding vocals and
musicianship.
GET UP JACK has released three albums that have been critically acclaimed and award-winning. Their 2nd CD, “Alive And Well, Volume I” was named “2015 Album of The Year” by Celtic Radio, and their version of “The Spanish Lady” was voted “Traditional Song of The Year”.
Folk singer Raymond Coleman was born in his native Ardboe, County Tyrone. Along with his unique vocals and love of ballads, he is quickly making a name for himself in the Irish/American music world. Raymond has played festivals all over America and in Ireland. He recently appeared on the Joanie Madden folk n’ Irish Cruise and the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival in Ohio.
Raymond’s love of music is evident in his performances. He captivates his audience with his contagious charm and witty sense of humor. He can tell a story as he sings with a robust yet often gentle timber.
Not only is Raymond an excellent singer, but he is also an all-around performer who accompanies all his songs with his guitar.
Raymond’s love of music was largely influenced by his favorite musicians, Finbar Furey, Christy Moore & Christy Hennessy.
Raymond now lives in the Philadelphia area so that you can catch one of his magical music journeys in many different Irish/American pubs or clubs along the east coast.
Truly diverse and dynamic entertainers, today their repertoire consists of hundreds of songs ranging from Irish, Big Band, Country, Rock & Roll and Motown to Oldies, International, Holiday, Spiritual and Contemporary. Their comedic banter and stylish charm quickly enable them to get an audience actively involved with each and every performance! Whether the audience is singing along, dancing away, clapping their hands, tapping their feet or just listening and reminiscing, ‘Susan & Gerard’ have the uncanny ability to always leave them wanting more
What started out as a twelve person community choir under the leadership of Mr. Ronnie Allen in 1980 has grown and developed into a almost 90 person, four part choral ensemble. The Hibernian Festival Singers have performed extensively both nationally and internationally. Their tours have included the 150th commemoration of the Great Hunger in Ireland, Solemn Mass at the Vatican in Rome, Notre Dame, Le Mont-St. Michel, Lourdes, the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres, La Madeleine Church in Paris, Normandy’s American Cemetery and Beaches as well as concerts throughout the United States. Some performances of particular acclaim have been Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan, Westbury and Valley Forge Music Fairs, St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, St. Ignatius Basilica in Rome, the Stonehill College Irish Festival, the Hofstra University Irish Festival, the St. James Irish Festival, the Nassau Coliseum, Trump Plaza and Shea Stadium. The Hibernian Festival Singers have had the privilege of sharing the stage with such exceptional artists as the late Frank Patterson, Eily Patterson, Ronan Tynan, Anthony Kearns, Kathryn Smith, Ciarán Sheehan, Gay Willis, John McDermott, Hal Roach, Andy Cooney, Phil Coulter, and so many more.
In 2015, The Hibernian Festival Singers were thrilled to perform in an Off-Broadway production called “The Events” which received glowing reviews from the New York Times.
Beyond these notable achievements, the group has donated their time to sing for many community, civic, church and Ancient Order of Hibernian functions. They look forward to providing both their local and their larger global community with many more years of quality Irish entertainment.
Sean Feeney is an Irish American musician based out of the New York State Capital Region. Growing up near East Durham NY, Sean spent his childhood listening to Irish music. He learned traditional Irish music on the tin whistle from Irish music legend Mike McHale. He later learned guitar, and began playing solo gigs around East Durham. He can now be seen playing all over the greater New York City area and around his home in the NY Capital Region.
Sean performs as a solo artist, singing and using his looper pedal, guitar, and whistle. He also plays in a duo, trio, and full band as The Wooden Nickels.
Sean enjoys playing all sorts of music, from classic Irish to seventies folk to nineties rock hits, and is constantly adding new songs to his repertoire.