The Cathie Ryan Band
The world famous Cathie Ryan Band is, by
popular demand, returning to NTIF 2004. Former Cherish the Ladies lead singer, Cathie Ryan has always possessed a
voice that was truly a thing of beauty, infusing songs with warmth
and class that were missing before she sang them.
"Irish Female Vocalist of the Decade."
- Irish American News, Chicago
"One of the leading voices in Celtic Music"
-Los Angeles Times
...Cathie Ryan certainly knows
how to communicate with her audience. And what she communicated
through song were the enduring values of home, family, memory, and
spirit ..." - The Irish Echo
Aoife Clancy
Aoife Clancy (pronounced
"Eefa") brings a refreshing new voice to
folk music, one that ranges from traditional Irish
songs to ballads and contemporary folk. Aoife
comes from the small town of Carrick-on-Suir, in
Co Tipperary, Ireland, where her musical career
began at an early age. Her father Bobby Clancy of
the legendary Clancy Brothers, placed a guitar in
her hands at age ten, and by age fourteen was
playing with her father in nearby pubs. In 1995
Aoife was asked to join the acclaimed group
"Cherish the Ladies", which is one of
the most sought-after Irish American groups in
history. Now with seven recordings under her belt
in the last decade, Aoife has clearly established
herself as one of the Divas of Irish and
contemporary Folk Music.
Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman
The celebrated virtuoso partnership of Máire Ní Chathasaigh
(pronounced Moira Nee Ha-ha-sig), the most influential, interesting
& original player of the Irish harp today and Chris Newman, one
of the UK's more extraordinary & revered acoustic guitarists,
made its debut at the 1987 Cambridge Folk Festival. They've played
in twenty-one countries - from the Shetland Islands to New Zealand,
from San Francisco to Calabria.
In 2001 Máire Ni Chathasaigh was the recipient
of the TG4 National Traditional Music Award for
Musician of the Year (the highest possible honor
for a traditional Irish musician). The award was
presented at a live televised awards ceremony in
the Cork Opera House. The citation says: "For
the excellence and pioneering force of her music,
the remarkable growth she has brought to the music
of the harp & for the positive influence she
has had on the young generation of harpers".
The Patty Furlong Band
Ever since she received her first
bright red Paolo Soprani, Patty Furlong has been
lighting up the traditional music scene with her
driving, full-bodied button-accordion. A winner of
three All-Ireland titles and founding member of the
world famous Cherish the Ladies, she has shared the
stage with luminaries such as the Chieftains, Mick
Moloney and many others.
In both her solo performances and as
a member of the new band, Coolmagort, she
demonstrates brilliant improvisation with sound
traditional roots.
(Editorial Note. Do
you see a "Cherish the Ladies" theme
here?)
Liz Carroll & John Doyle
Since she was 18, when she astounded the Celtic music
world by winning the Senior All-Ireland
Championship, Liz and her fiddle have been amazing
audiences around the globe.
Her recordings and
appearances on concert stages, television and
radio, have established Liz as one of traditional
music's most sought after performers. "lost
in the loop," released in 2000, won Liz new
fans around the world, as it garnered an Indie
Award and Liz being named Traditional Performer of
the Year for 2000.
John Doyle is undeniably an
Irish guitar phenomenon! Known primarily as an
incredibly powerful rhythm player, John is talented beyond
his years. Compiler and arranger of traditional songs and tunes, composer,
solo and harmony singer, producer, and finger-style player, John has made a
name for himself as one of the finest examples of tradition and innovation
combined in Irish music today.
The Black Brothers
Shay, Michael and Martin Black are members of
Ireland's foremost family of song.
Their work has been described by critics as
"exquisite", "exhilarating" and
"nothing short of stunning".
The brothers are regarded amongst the finest and
most popular singers in Ireland.
They are noted for their strong voices: Shay's is
robust and hearty, Michael's a thrilling tenor, and
Martin is known for his deep-chested counter
harmonies. Their solos and close harmonies display
an unalloyed joy in singing.
Brendan Nolan
Born in the city of Dublin, Brendan's early
influences included Luke Kelly, the Dubliners, and
the Clancy Brothers. Although he started his musical
life as a drummer, he embraced the guitar during the
singer-writer boom of the early to mid-seventies and
found his real love in folk and acoustic music.
"Nolan has used his knowledge
of traditional Irish songs, as well as other kinds
of music, to develop into a very fine songwriter
whose work is steeped in the traditions that he's
mastered." Sing Out! Magazine
He returns to the North Texas Irish
Festival where he last performed in 1999.
The Willow Band
Fresh & engaging Celtic music, beautifully played
by some of the top musicians on the scene... Here are
three musicians who encompass a great variety of music
in the Celtic genre: E.J. Jones (previously with the
very popular local band, Clandestine), a
competition piper, Rosie Shipley, a top-notch fiddle
player (in the Irish and Cape Breton traditions),
and a virtuoso guitar player Gerry O'Beirne who has also written some
of the best-loved songs in the contemporary Irish
scene. Great music, engaging personalities, and an
entirely fun show.
Men of Worth
In 1986, Scotsman Donnie Macdonald
and Irishman James Keigher came together to perform
Irish and Scottish folk music, combining traditional
and contemporary styles. The name "Men of
Worth" was chosen from the title of a folk song
written by the Scottish singer/songwriter Archie
Fisher.
Together Men of Worth blend
their voices with harmony and support their
collection of songs with their varied selection of
instruments. They have a very simple approach
to their presentation, and in keeping with
tradition, remain true to the music and story.
Their show is a unique combination of humor,
exciting tunes, and soulful, heartfelt ballads.
Ed Miller
Ed Miller is one of the finest singers to emerge from the Scottish folk
revival, a guitar-wielding folkie who wins his audiences over with a
sweet but powerful voice, a great ear for material, and equal doses
of populist politics and wry humor. He learned his craft in the
sessions, clubs, and festivals of the folk revival, both in Scotland
and the United States. Ed is the host of a folk music program on
Austin's NPR station, KUT-FM. He is a performer who has learned his
craft in musical venues on both sides of the Atlantic, and a
folklorist who brings his love of Scotland to every performance.
Ed is well known in the Dallas area, and has earned a well deserved reputation as the
"Token Scot" at the NTIF
The Elders
It's a far cry from Avoca, Co. Wicklow, Ireland,
better known to PBS viewers as Ballykissangel, to
Kansas City, but that is the journey made by The
Elders lead singer, Ian Byrne.
The Elders are the number one Celtic rock band in
America at the moment, packing them in at gigs all
over the country. The six musicians who make up The
Elders originate from Kansas City. Founded in 1997,
the group established themselves playing at US
festivals alongside acts such as the Doobie
Brothers, Lynard Skynard, and Cherish the Ladies. It
is good Celtic rock n'roll in the style of the
Oyster Band for example, but with small touches of
bluegrass and country at the same time. Their lyrics
tell us stories of Irish history, tales of exile,
oppression but also of friendship.
"One of the best, if not THE best Irish rock band in
America" Joe Farrell on "Celtic Crossings" Hot
Talk 1510 AM.
Brothers 3
Brothers 3 perform traditional Celtic songs and
dance music in wide variety of musical settings from
jazz and World Beat to country-western, pop, and
rock. Using over two dozen instruments, and drawing
on the collective experience of seven friends and
family members, they put on a fun, high-energy show
that simply has to be experienced!
Brothers 3 are well known in the local Celtic community and
are deservedly this years Regional Headliners.
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