2010 Entertainer Biographies
The band of brothers who were once considered the new kids on the block, have honed their craft over 15 years of international performances and are now one of the truly stalwart, road-tested Irish vocal groups available. They have played before millions of people from Canada to Texas, from California to the Caribbean and over to Ireland, highlighting national PBS specials and popular Irish talk shows along the way. The Makem Brothers, Shane, Conor and Rory, were born in Drogheda, County Louth, about an hour north of Dublin. They continue the lineage of one of Irish music's dynasties, begun by their grandmother Sarah Makem, who was sought after by song collectors for her store of traditional Irish songs. Their father is Tommy Makem, the modern day Bard of Armagh. Now considered an icon, he helped to bring Irish music out of the corner and into the international spotlight, where it has remained ever since.
Seamus Kennedy is an Irish singer, songwriter, musician, comedian, all-around entertainer, and author. He has a huge repertoire that includes traditional Irish music, classic Country & Western, American standards, Scottish ballads, and kids' shows: entertainment for "the wee ones." Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been entertaining audiences all over the United States for almost four decades. An accomplished guitarist with a ready wit and a vast store of songs, he travels the country performing for thousands of people each year. Kennedy’s ability to combine a total command of the music with humor makes him unique in the industry. His strong interactive entertainment skills and his participation with his audiences have helped him create an exceptionally loyal fan base everywhere he goes. He's incredibly talented and fun!
For nearly twenty-five years, Tom Sweeney has travelled the highways and byways of Ireland, Europe and North America with his seemingly endless rattle bag of songs, stories, poetry and tunes. His one man show is replete with the very essence of Irish culture which comes as no surprise when you consider that he has been immersed in the great tradition of ballad singing since he could speak. Tom’s maternal grandmother, Sarah Makem, is generally considered to be one of the greatest sources of songs in the entire history of Irish music and as a boy he learned many of them around his granny’s kitchen in County Armagh. Having played every state in the USA and every province and territory in Canada for many years, Tom was honoured in 1998 to receive a personal invitation from President Clinton and the First Lady to perform his classic peace song “Anthem for the Children” at the White house on St Patrick’s Night. This was a short time before the signing of the Good Friday agreement in Ireland, and all those engaged in the talks were at the performance.
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. She later moved to Dublin, where she studied drama at the Gaiety School of Acting. After a season at the Gaiety, Aoife was invited to do a tour of Australia. There she performed at festivals and concerts sharing the stage with some of Ireland's greatest performers, including Christy Moore and the Furey Brothers. Her performances also include a Caribbean cruises with the Clancy Brothers, the Milwaukee Irish Festival and a seven week tour of the United States with the renowned Paddy Noonan Show. 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. For the past four years Aoife has toured extensively doing no less than two hundred dates a year throughout the United States and Europe. She has been a featured soloist with orchestras such as the Boston Pops and Cincinnati Pops and, while performing with Cherish the Ladies, collaborated with the Boston Pops on their Grammy nominated Celtic album. Robbie O'Connell was born in Waterford, Ireland and grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, where his parents had a small hotel. He began to play guitar and sing at age thirteen and soon became a regular performer at the hotel's weekly folk concerts. He spent a year touring the folk clubs in England before enrolling at University College Dublin where he studied Literature and Philosophy. During school vacations Robbie worked as an Irish entertainer in the U.S.A. A nephew of the Clancy Brothers, he began touring with his uncles in 1977 and recorded 3 albums with them. In 1979 he moved to Franklin, Massachusetts. With the release, in 1982, of his first solo album, "Close to the Bone," Robbie emerged as an artist of major stature. Soon after, he began touring extensively with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane, and also with Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan in the Green Fields of America. In 1985, the trio's first album, "There were Roses," was released. In 1987, the trio followed up their very successful first release with the album, "Kilkelly," the title track of which was voted "Best Album Track of the Year" in Ireland.
A great favorite in the USA and Canada, this Pennsylvania based singer has enjoyed success all over the world. He was born in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, where he developed an early interest in traditional Irish music and in folk music. From the beginning, Gerry displayed a musical talent. He moved to the USA in the early seventies, and has been delighting audiences with his smooth baritone voice and his irreverent humor ever since
The Dady Brothers are skilled and versatile singers and fine multi-instrumentalists. Performing professionally for over 30 years, they have taken their talents to venues all over the Unites States, Central America, Canada, and Ireland. Their talent combines country, bluegrass, folk, and Celtic styles. John and Joe have performed more than 5,000 concerts at churches, concert halls, nightclubs, music festivals, schools and libraries. They have shared the stage with a wide array of international artists including, Tommy Makem, Rick Danko (The Band), Ani DiFranco, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Kate Wolf, Arlo Guthire, and Bill Staines. "The Dady Brothers have it all - taste, talent, and dedication." - Tommy Makem
Kevin McKrell has been working the regional, ( upstate NY), national and international music scene for many years....probably 30 but who needs to hear that. He has been a member of Donnybrook Fair, The Fabulous Newports, Hard Times, and The McKrells. His songs have been recorded and or performed by The Kingston Trio, The Fureys Brothers and Davey Arthur,North Sea Gas, Woods Tea Company, Hair of The Dog,Pat McKernan,Seamus Kennedy. He has performed at Folk, Bluegrass and Celtic Festivals around the world. The WinterHawk Bluegrass festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Irish 2000 Festival, Celtic Music Festivals in Milwaukee, Syracuse , Savannah, Chicago,Detroit,New York City, Brooklyn,Boston,East Durham,Leeds, Buffalo, Toronto,Kevin has performed on the stages of some of the worlds most prestigious venus,Carnagie Hall, Troy Music Hall, Berklee Performance Hall,Cafe Lena,Godfrey Daniels, The Towne Crier, The Night Eagle Cafe.
Emish is a fresh new sound made up of five very talented musicians coming from various musical backgrounds. Their influences include traditional Irish, classical, jazz, rock and punk. They create an incredible chemistry by rocking out traditional Irish tunes mixed with some of their own original pieces as well as classic Irish ballads. This blend has brought a new edge to the Celtic rock genre. Emish, hailing from all corners of New York State, brings their sheer energy and band chemistry to the stage, igniting every performance.
Dave North, and the Trio is a great favourite with local crowds. Dave, who hails from Slough in England (near London) has an amazing repertoire of traditional, modern, comic, and just plain obscure songs that make any evening spent listening to the "Trio" an enjoyable one. Marc plays the base and the banjo, while Dianne is a whiz on the fiddle. Fred, of often joins the Trio has a blues guitar style that won't quit, and when he brings out his slide guitar, the audiences are enthralled. Dave himself plays the guitar. The entertainment (whether Dave alone, the Duo, the Trio, or the Quartet) means an evening well spent.
'Penny Whiskey' is a brand new band with the old world sound. The brain child of Kirk McWhorter and Tim Leonard from the critically acclaimed Celtic band 'Kilbrannan' 'Penny Whiskey' promises to offer the best in acoustic music from both Ireland and Scotland along with home grown bluegrass and folk influences. The foundation of 'Penny Whiskey' is the melodic vocals of Kirk, who also plays guitar, banjo, bodhran and whistles, backed up by the solid playing of Tim on acoustic guitar and mandolin. The quartet is rounded out by Jon Carlson on bass and Paul Kneis also on guitar and mandolin - and of course, everybody sings... including the audience! With audience participation songs, rousing pub sings, comedy tunes and tearful ballads, 'Penny Whiskey' offers something for everyone.
The LeftOvers established a following throughout Western New York in 2001. With music ranging from popular drinking songs to the historical and poignant rebel songs of Irish past, the LeftOvers offer a large variety of rebel tunes and ballads. They drink a lot, they tell bad jokes, and they won’t play songs that make you think too much. The band was founded by Jerry Shea and Pat Gerken, under the philosophy that good music will always bring people together. Joined by piper Ryan Young, bassist Dave Pruski, percussionist Greg Kent, and singer Elizabeth Shea, the LeftOvers offer something for every Celtic heart.
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