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Festival Line-Up
Cead Mile Failte
One Hundred Thousand Welcomes… Join us on March 21-22, 2025 for performances by…
Headline Performers
Daimh
FRIDAY MARCH 21st
8:00 pm - Headline Concert, Roundhouse
Best Western Dunmar Inn Headline Stage
Daimh – Gaelic Supergroup and un-challenged champions of straight in the eye Highland music are based around West Lochaber and the Isle of Skye.
Formed around the turn of the century and taking the name from the Gaelic word for “kinship” Daimh (pronounced Dive) have taken their contemporary take of Highland and Gaelic music to over 20 countries, setting audiences alight from Moscow to San Francisco.
With a reputation as giants of the Bagpipes and Fiddle, Angus Mackenzie and Gabe McVarish lead the melodic powerhouse with fellow founder member Ross Martin underpinning the groove on the Guitar. The Band are joined by “new guy” Murdo “Yogi” Cameron on Mandola and Accordion to complete the instrumental line up.
Daimh have always had the renown and notoriety of working with some of the finest Gaelic singers in Scotland and the current line up only serves to cement that distinction with the addition of the Gaelic firmament’s most rapidly rising star, Ellen MacDonald on vocals.
Recent accolades include last year’s award for the “Best Folk Band in Europe” at the prestigious Folkherbst competition in Germany and most recently winner of “Folk Band of the Year” at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards.
Heron Valley
SATURDAY MARCH 22nd
6:00 pm - Headline Concert, Roundhouse
Best Western Dunmar Inn Headline Stage
In the quiet, farthest reaching parts of Scotland; authentic, skillful, energetic Celtic music has been passed down from generation to generation. Heron Valley capture the iconic sounds of the bothies, village halls and kitchen ceilidhs. Inspired by their previous three tours of the USA, the band have been developing their sound, shaped by the people they have met and the beautiful lands they have encountered. With a mixture of traditional Scots and original songs, Abigail Pryde tells stories from the places we were born. From the rugged Atlantic islands of the Outer Hebrides, to the mystical hills of Argyll. These musicians are passionate about their heritage and showcase the culture, language, sounds and stories of their homeland in their music.
Heron Valley are an energy fuelled, traditional band from Scotland. Their roots lie in Scottish and Irish traditional music, including traditional Scots song and Scottish piping tunes. The four-piece group comprises Abigail Pryde on Fiddle, Guitar and Vocals, Ben Muir on Keys, Kenneth Macfarlane on Bagpipes and Whistles and Callum Cronin on Bass and Guitar.
Coming from vastly different areas of Scotland you are sure to hear an excellent story or two from Heron Valley, and maybe even some Scots language lessons! Heron Valley brings together an eclectic sound of traditional music, formed through the musicians broad musical and family backgrounds.
Building on the success of well received singles, Pressed for Time and Home, and a MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2017 Up and Coming Artist of the Year nomination, the band set off to the USA and EU and continue to release more music including their debut album Roam, singles Take You There, Springburn, just shy of Ireland, and EP Erie Storm.
Old Blind Dogs
SATURDAY MARCH 22nd
8:00 pm - Headline Concert, Roundhouse
Best Western Dunmar Inn Headline Stage
The musical evolution of Old Blind Dogs began in Aberdeen in 1992 with roots that grew from the eclectic music scene that flourished in the Granite City during the early 90’s. Four musicians from very different musical backgrounds came together to create a full-time professional touring band with the aim of showcasing the rich tradition of songs and tunes of the North East of Scotland on an international stage.
Like many of the early flag bearing Scottish folk bands, the Old Blind Dogs line up has faced inevitable changes over the years but the core values at the band’s musical heart continue to beat strong. The current band line up has been settled for several years now and consists of four of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians at the top of their game. Original member Jonny Hardie (fiddle/vocals) is joined by Aaron Jones (cittern/guitar/vocals), Ali Hutton (pipes/whistles) and Donald Hay (percussion/vocals) and collectively they comprise one of the hottest live tickets on the traditional Scottish music scene today.
As recent inductees to the BBC ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards ‘Trad Music Hall of Fame’ the ‘Dugs’ will celebrate thirty years on the road in 2022 by launching their fourteenth studio album ‘Knucklehead Circus’ in Winter 2021. A joyous, uplifting and fun album full of compelling energy and intoxicating rhythm on which ‘OBD’ continue to innovate within their tradition while faithfully revealing its essence. Here’s to many more years of Old Blind Dogs!
2024 Regional Performers
Check back in January to see who will join us for our 2025 event!
Salt Lake Scots Pipe Band
Friday 3:15 pm - Machine Shop, Water of Life Main Stage
Organized in 1962, The Salt Lake Scots Pipe Band has been entertaining crowds for more than 60 years. They celebrate a rich history as the oldest bagpipe band in the state of Utah in continual existence. Over the last half century the band has appeared in the United Artist’s WWII film, The Devil’s Brigade (1968), They were the official pipe band of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games where they led the competitors of the curling events onto the ice before each round of competition. That year Scotland claimed the gold medal and gave a nod to the band as having been their “secret weapon.” The Salt Lake Scots have performed with the Chieftains, the Utah Symphony, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, among many others. It has been their honor to perform for heads of state and visiting dignitaries proudly preserving the highland traditions and keeping their cultural heritage alive in the Great Basin of the western United States.
The band is currently under the direction of Pipe Major Christopher Johnson and Drum Sergeant Jessi Frye.
Avourneen
Friday 6:15 pm - Machine Shop, Session Stage
Saturday 10:15 am - Machine Shop, Water of Life Main Stage
Avourneen, a Denver-based trio that specializes in Irish folk, doesn’t have direct geographic ties to Ireland. The band is composed of guitarist/vocalist Adam Goldstein, a Denver native; violinist CL Morden, an import from California; and Alice Alister, a longtime Colorado resident and talented bassist. Together, they play a brand of Celtic music that’s both timeless and innovative, a take on the genre the Celtic Connection calls “unique in Colorado – and perhaps in the country.”
The three members of Avourneen boast long résumés playing Irish, Scottish and Breton music. Before forming in 2014, Adam and CL were playing age-old tunes from Ireland professionally, while Kenny had built a vast repertoire of pop, jazz and folk music playing in a diverse set of bands. Goldstein (who claims the of moniker “Denver’s Favorite Irish Jew”) has long been a fixture at Denver’s Clocktower Cabaret and other local venues, where he plays Irish folk songs for the club’s popular burlesque and variety shows. Morden, a classically trained violinist who earned a bachelor’s from the prestigious Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, has experience as a member of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra and other orchestral ensembles. Alister, meanwhile, is a veteran of area rock, pop and jazz bands.
It was the music of Ireland that brought the three together, and they’ve made impressive strides in their time together.
Katie Jane Band
Friday 4:15 pm - Machine Shop, Session Stage
Saturday 11:15 am - Machine Shop, Water of Life Main Stage
The Katie Jane Band is a high-energy Celtic fiddle band from Portland, OR. Known as “Portland’s hottest fiddler,” Katie Jane’s dynamic performance features virtuosic, high-speed fiddling, her contagious smile, and unstoppable dancing feet. The Katie Jane Band performs traditional and original fiddle music spanning Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, and the USA. Their music takes listeners on a joyful journey through the folklore of Celtic music, and their engaging storytelling relates the audience to the sweetness of everyday human experience.
Dunmore Lasses
Saturday 1:15 pm - Machine Shop, Session Stage
The Dunmore Lasses is an Ogden-based group specializing in high-energy versions of traditional Irish/Scottish tunes. Sets include original material blended with custom arrangements of well-known Irish and Scottish folk tunes. The Lasses regularly perform throughout Utah at festivals and events such as the Peery’s Annual Celtic Celebration, have been featured in traditional Irish Podcasts, and have provided original music for local film projects.
The Reel Folk
Saturday 4:15 pm - Machine Shop, Water of Life Main Stage
The Reel Folk is a traditional folk ensemble based out of Salt Lake City, UT. They cover multiple genres from Irish Trad, bluegrass, and fantasy/pop covers with an emphasis on authentic instrumental performance. They adapt their performances for both small, intimate venues and larger organized events.
Wild Wing
Saturday 12:15 pm - Machine Shop, Water of Life Main Stage
Wildwing is a Celtic/World/Folk group from Northern Utah including a trio of 3 sisters: Anna Anawalt, Jessa Young and Amy Nelson and friend & “adopted” guitarist, bassist brother, Tanner Jones. They are a balance of lyrical vocals and lively instrumental selections including Celtic tunes from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Amy & Anna are known to “shred” on their dueling violins, while Anna dances & audiences go wild! “The band also performs original compositions by Anna Watkins Anawalt & Jessa Young that give the sisters a chance to display their prodigious vocal talents. Anna has a lovely crystal clear soprano voice. Her sister Jessa has a stronger, throaty voice… & in some songs like Horo Haradel, a drum chant in Gaelic, the 3 sisters break out into rich, 3 part harmonies. Each band member plays a variety of instruments and Tanner Jones also holds his own as a vocalist & songwriter; you’ll hear some of his originals in every show. And when he plays the upright bass, his fingers have been known to dance and send rhythmic rainbows around the room.
