The Brigideens ft. Eileen Ivers
The Brigideens, a brand-new powerhouse, fiery female band came together as a group of talented musicians and singers from the Celtic and Americana traditions to perform in honor of St. Brigid, the beloved patron and mother saint of Ireland. The name Brigid means “fiery arrow” and this ensemble takes inspiration from her.
Led by Grammy awarded, Emmy-nominated, 9-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Eileen Ivers, Eileen formed the group to showcase the mighty dimension of talent in today’s female artists. Native New Yorkers, Caitlin Maloney is featured on lead vocals, and Hilary Hawke on 5-string banjo, bass, clarinet, spoons and background vocals. Hilary was featured in the Tony award winning Broadway musical, “Oklahoma”. Anna Colliton, a Chicago native, is a master of the bodhran, the traditional Irish frame drum. Anna teaches nationwide and has performed with many top traditional music groups including Cherish the Ladies. Rounding out the ensemble from Maryland is guitarist and vocalist, Colin Forhan, who also plays tenor banjo and concertina. Colin performs double duty as a member of Eileen Ivers and Universal Roots.
The Bow Tides
The Bow Tides is a powerhouse Celtic ensemble led by three Irish fiddlers: Ellery Klein, Jessie Burns and champion Irish dancer Katie Grennan. These dynamic women are veterans of the stage and studio, with a collective 16 years as the fiddlers with the Irish-American supergroup Gaelic Storm. Holding down the low end in the group are Grammy-nominated bassist Eric Thorin and guitarist/singer Jeff Lindblade.
The Bow Tides is a band that celebrates community and collaboration, delivering uplifting music that evokes joy, with a feel and sound unlike anything else out there. Formed during the pandemic, the group was commissioned to produce online concerts for Spanish Peaks Irish Festival and Pittsburgh Irish Festival. Garnering rave reviews, and just one year later, they hit the main stage at Pittsburgh Irish Festival, debuting their unique collaboration of stunning original compositions rich harmonies and driving traditional tunes, song and Irish dance arranged for three fiddles, guitar and double bass.
In 2023, they released their debut album Sailing On, packed full of gorgeous original compositions as well as a breadth of uniquely arranged traditional tunes from Ireland, Scotland and Galicia. 2024 will see the Bow Tides performing on main stages at festivals across the United States, including Milwaukee Irish Festival.
Morgan Bullock
Morgan Bullock is a 24-year-old African American professional Irish dancer from Virginia USA.
She began various forms of dancing at the age of three and started Irish dancing at ten years old because she was instantly drawn to the intricate footwork and discipline it requires to masterthe steps. A champion level dancer, she went viral during the early stages of the pandemic when she posted a self-choreographed dance showcasing her Irish step dancing. Her choreography and dancing gained worldwide attention and put Irish dancing in front of people who would have never thought of seeing it performed to popular music. Professionally, she joined the cast of the long running, theatrical stage show, Riverdance, becoming the first black female touring dancer since its beginning almost 30 years ago. In 2022, Morgan was the honored recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award presented by President Michael D. Higgins, recognizing service to Ireland and its reputation abroad. Currently, she attends university in Ireland studying law and media studies. Morgan is ecstatic to be living in the country she considers her second home – Ireland.
Ally the Piper
Ally is a multi-instrumentalist out of New York. She specializes in celtic instrumentation, such as the Highland Bagpipe, Scottish Smallpipe, Irish whistles, and vocals. At age 16 Ally became a world champion performing on the Highland Bagpipe, and holds several domestic and international titles. Ally has a Bachelor’s Degree in music from Penn West, where she triple focused in Bagpipe, Vocal, and Piano performance. She performs professionally, and virtually through her various social media platforms where she has amassed over three million followers, making her the most followed bagpiper on the internet.
The Step Sisters
The Step Sisters are “American Girls with Irish Style”. Blossoming from their roots in Pittsburgh’s Irish Culture, The Step Sisters cultivate a performance full of rich, traditional dance and music. Dancers Brigid Clark, Kalin Wilson, Kylie Garver, Sheila Mary Clark, and Beth Nist showcase the strength and beauty of the art form that is Irish dance. With lively fiddle tunes by Beth and Irish dance steps choreographed by Sheila Mary, The Step Sisters are sure to make your hands clap and toes tap for the entire show!
Bell School of Irish Dance
