251 Eastside Hwy Hamilton, MT
Potcheen (pronounced Poishin), Colorado’s Premiere Celtic Pirate Folk-Punk Rock Band, will be Saturday evening’s featured concert. Potcheen is the Irish word for illegal moonshine, the raw whiskey that comes from an illicit still, and this music is as raw and real as it gets. The band plays pub standards, favored by every Irish band to hoist a pint, but they play them with energy, enthusiasm, and expertise. Formed in 2003, Potcheen has been touring nationally, fusing Irish music with bluegrass, rock and punk into pirate and drinking songs. They have been listed in the Denver Post underground music poll “Top 100 Bands in Colorado” from 2005 – 2011. Members Christian Blochinger on drums, Manuel Nuñez on bouzouki, Laura Quam on fiddle, Melissa Ivey on guitar, and Ryan Waller on bass deliver some of the finest Celtic rock you’re ever likely to encounter.
Just like the moonshine whiskey they are named after, with its impurities and occasional dangerous levels of toxic alcohols, these Colorado Celtic pirates have scorched the throats of crowds from New York to San Francisco with one helluva’ kick. Since 2003 their success has continued unabated, even surviving a near fatal bus crash in 2009. They have produced five albums and performed over two thousand shows.
Potcheen delivers rapid high energy shows mixing Celtic Traditional with flavors of Bluegrass, Zydeco, Punk, Jam, Blues, and Rock all rolled up with a Pirate Sensibility. What doesn't
kill em just makes em stronger!
with a Saturday night concert!
(additional cost, Saturday only.. available at the gate)
Red McWilliams ~ America's Celt
Red McWilliams, of Puyallup, Washington is a top Celtic music performer and entertainer. He travels far and wide to sing, play and share his love of Scottish and Irish culture and history, keeping his calendar full. Always ready to play at the drop of a hat (with some loose change in it) Red moves from ballads to bawdy, from patriotic to parody, historical to hysterical — punctuating his performance with off-the-wall comments, jokes, ribald humor and snide remarks caused by something in his nature that drives him to entertain his audiences. Red strongly encourages participation and has been known to get people from the crowd to sing a song, tell a story, dance, or just sing along. Basically, whatever entertains them.
We are delighted to have Red back as Master of Ceremonies for our second annual Bitterroot Scottish Irish Festival. His breadth and depth of knowledge simply cannot be matched. He has become a wonderful friend to all involved in the festival as his affable nature and laid-back demeanor are a natural fit in the Bitterroot Valley.
Tra Le Gael
Western Montana fans of Celtic music will recognize the sounds of Tra le Gael from the Flathead Valley. The group members met through a Celtic music class at North Valley Music School in Whitefish, Montana. They’ve been busy ever since, performing at folk and Irish music festivals, private parties and weddings and giving local shows. Each member plays a number of instruments and share vocal duties to make the Celtic genre their own. Their harmonies carry through traditional and contemporary Irish tunes, as well as some original music
Order of Epona
Come ye lords and ladies, knights and knaves, witches and warlocks to a place where imagination comes alive. See fair damsels rescued by brave heroes. Listen to the enchanting music while being enthralled by fairies. Perhaps if one believes you may even find a dragon or unicorn around the bend.
The
Bisceglia Family sings a delightful mix of Scottish songs and patriotic
ballads, Irish melodies, country music favorites, contemporary American
folk, and, of course, the title piece of their debut album, Journey
Through the Highlands, an award-winning instrumental written by Krista
Bisceglia. Sisters Sarah, Janna, Krista, and Kathrina (known as the
Whispering Roses) form the core of the band with a beautiful fusion of
piano, harp, recorders, violin, and voice. The rest of the family rounds
out the sound with added voices, guitar and even a limberjack!The Shamrockers
The ShamRockers of Polson have become more than just a vocally driven Irish quintet. Their particular brand of high-spirited entertainment has made them renowned goodwill ambassadors for Montana. The band includes Liam O’Leary -vocals, guitar, bouzouki; Robby Flynn – vocals, guitar; Mick Houlihan- vocals, whistle, guitar, harmonica; Nels O’Connell – vocals, guitar, banjo; and Paddy Doyle – vocals, fiddle, mandolin, bodhran. These men lend rich vocal harmonies to a varied repertoire of ballads, sea shanties, rebel anthems and comic songs accompanied by a wide range of traditional instruments. Their shows have been called “too much fun!”
