The sounds of Celtic harps, fiddles, Irish balladeers, pipe bands, step dancers and Celtic rockers abound during the summer festival season. And you won’t have to shell out much green to attend most of the festivals, featuring traditional and contemporary music from and inspired by the Emerald Isle, that are mentioned here. The Colorado Irish Festival, Cleveland’s Irish Cultural Festival, the Adams County Irish Festival in Gettysburg (PA), and Utica, NY’s Great American Irish Festival are slated in July. Milwaukee’s nationally acclaimed Irish Fest takes place in August, as do two festivals in upstate New York, while the fifth annual Kansas City Irish Festival is set for Labor Day Weekend. Short descriptions and performer listings for each of these festivals appear below, along with websites to visit for further information.
Pictured above is Seamus Kennedy, who will perform at three festivals in NY (photo by Richard Dorbin).
Colorado Irish Festival
July 14-15, 2007
Clement Park in Littleton, CO
www.coloradoirishfestival.org
Presented by the Colorado United Irish Societies and now in its 13th year, this festival will feature several stages of virtually non-stop music from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days, as well as an Irish cultural village. Among the confirmed entertainers are Colorado’s own Colcannon, as well as Enter the Haggis, nine-time All-Ireland fiddle champion and former Riverdance star Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul, Makem and Spain Brothers, David Munnelly Band (fronted by a former button accordionist for The Chieftains), The Prodigals (the New York jig-rockers led by singer-songwriter and accordionist Gregory Grene), The Town Pants, and Canadian fiddler April Verch. Tickets are $12 daily at the gate or $20 for both days.
Cleveland’s Irish Cultural Festival
July 20-22, 2007
Berea Fairgrounds in Berea, Ohio
www.clevelandirish.org
Now marking its 25th year, this annual festival outside Cleveland, will feature some two-dozen performers on nine indoor and outdoor stages, four award-winning Irish plays daily, an Irish coffee house, native Irish dog show and exhibits galore. Performing artists include family trio Brigid’s Cross, fiddle & guitar/bouzouki duo Liz Carroll and John Doyle, New York’s talented female ensemble Cherish the Ladies, Celtic harpist, singer & storyteller Dennis Doyle, The Dublin City Ramblers, tenor Tommy Fleming (formerly of DeDanaan), Gaelic Storm, Irish singer-songwriter Johnny McEvoy, Michael O’Brien & Philomena McGovern (also from Ireland), Cleveland’s own The New Barleycorn, Florida-based Celtic rockers Seven Nations, and Irish balladeer and accordionist Brendan Shine, and several pipe bands. Also slated to perform is Tommy Makem, one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in Irish folk music. The festival also features workshops, lectures, exhibits, displays and a free Tir Na nOg Children’s area, petting zoo and pony rides. Festival admission is $10. Children under 10 admitted free.
Adams County Irish Festival
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Gettysburg Moose Park in Gettysburg, PA
www.adamscountyirishfestival.com
Irish balladeer Danny Doyle headlines this day-long festival that benefits The Children’s Friendship Project for Northern Ireland and The Irish Heritage Foundation of Gettysburg. Also slated to perform are Barleyjuice, Cormorant’s Fancy, Irishtown Road, Maidens IV, Piper Rod Owens, Spalpeens, and more. Music workshops, Irish dancers and Civil War re-enactors also are on tap. Admission to the rain or shine festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., is $10. Children under 12 will be admitted free. Bring lawn chairs.
Great American Irish Festival
July 27-29, 2007
Frankfort Fairgrounds near Utica, NY
www.gaif.us
The weekend’s musical lineup includes The Blarney Rebel Band, Ciudan, Vince Colgan, The Elders, Enter the Haggis, Fieldstone, John Gilligan, Glengarry Bhoys, Greenwich Meantime, Hair of the Dog, The Irish Sopranos, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Pat Kane and West O’Clare, Seamus Kennedy, Millish, Paddy Noonan, The Prodigals, Rathkeltair, Rattlin’ Bog, Gerry Dixon and Seanache, and Searson. Full weekend tickets are available in advance for $20, while daily tickets are available at the gate. Children 12 and under will be admitted free.
Irish Fest La Crosse
August 10-12, 2007
Southside Fest Grounds in La Crosse, WI
www.irishfestlax.org
Among the artists slated to perform over the weekend are Amadans, Gaelic Storm, Gan Bua (a trad. quintet, four of whose members are All-Ireland champions), David Munnelly Band, The Prodigals, Celtic harpist Kim Robertson, Scythian and local acts Athas, Barry Byrne and The Snag, among others. There also will be Irish dance shows, a cultural tent, an Irish market, a Celtic harp competition, Highland Games, Irish cricket and a Wee Folks Area. Daily tickets at the gate are $7; $5 for children under 12. Discounted tickets are available until August 10.
Milwaukee Irish Fest
August 16-19, 2007
Henry W. Maier Festival Grounds in Milwaukee, WI
www.Irishfest.com
Hailed by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Folk Life program as “the largest and best Irish cultural event in North America,” Irish Fest has been attracting throngs of Milwaukeeans and visitors for a quarter of a century. Entertaining audiences this year will be such performers as The Barra MacNeils, Beoga, Blackthorn, Blarney, The Celtic Tenors, Cherish the Ladies, Aiofe Clancy, Liz Carroll, Damien Dempsey, John Doyle, The Elders, Enter the Haggis, The Fuschia Band, Gaelic Storm, Ladies of Longford, Leahy, Liadan, Tommy Makem, Makem & Spain Brothers, Millish, David Munnelly Band, Eddi Reeder, Dave Rowe Trio, Cathie Ryan, Scythian, Seanchai & the Unity Squad, and Seven Nations, as well as an Irish Fest Choir comprised of more than 40 young adults. Daily admission, Friday-Sunday, is $15 and $10 for seniors, while Thursday night admission is $5 for all. Children under 12 will be admitted free. An Irish Fest summer school takes place at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee during the week preceding the fest.
International Celtic Festival
Hunter Mountain in Hunter, NY
August 18-19, 2007
www.huntermtn.com/summer_festivals_celtic.html
Artists at this annual late summer weekend festival at the popular ski resort about an hour from Albany include The Barley Boys, Black 47, Broesler Irish Dancers, Andy Cooney, Danny Doyle, The Glengarry Bhoys, Donny Golden Dancers, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Seamus Kennedy, Liz McNicholl, and the Schenectady Pipe Band. Adult tickets are $12 daily, while children under 12 will be admitted free.
Buffalo Irish Festival
August 24-26, 2007
The Grove at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, Hamburg, NY
www.shannonpub.com/irishfestival.html
Now in its 26th year, this festival will feature musical performances by Glengarry Bhoys (an alt-roots band from eastern Ontario), piper Paddy Keenan, The Dublin City Ramblers, Seamus Kennedy, Greenwich Meantime, Barleyjuice, Scythian, Seanache, The Dady Brothers, Dave North Trio, Trefoyle, Kindred, The McCruddens, Kenny & Samantha Kennedy, and Penny Whiskey. Several Irish step-dancing troupes also will perform. Daily admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and children ages 4-12.
Kansas City Irish Festival
August 31-September 2, 2007
Crown Center Square in Kansas City, MO
www.kcirishfest.com
Billed as “A Celebration of Celtic pride in Cowtown,” this festival, just south of downtown, features some two-dozen traditional music and Celtic rock acts on five stages, Irish dance competitions, stand-up comedy, heritage displays and workshops. Notable performers include Kansas City’s own The Elders, Gaelic Storm, The Glengarry Bhoys, The Prodigals, The Saw Doctors, Solas and The Young Dubliners. Admission is $10 daily; children under 12 will be admitted free. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.
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