Music! (2009 Entertainers)

Aberdeen Fire & Rescue Pipe & Drum Corps

The Aberdeen Fire & Rescue Pipe & Drum Corps has 10 marching members that are all current, or prior, full-time firefighters. The hand-made, custom kilts chosen for these initial performances were made of Nomex,
the material used in a firefighter's protective bunker gear.

The Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band

The Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band is one of the oldest existing pipe bands in the Upper Midwest. Some of the music performed by the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band comes out of the fierce historic eras of Ireland's past. Other pieces are more modern, and many are much, much older -- ancient reels and airs, timeless ballads and war marches, and lively, lighthearted jigs.

40 Shades of Green

Forty Shades of Green is a 4-piece Irish and Celtic music ensemble based in St. Paul Minnesota. With flute, fiddle, and vocals, accompanied by guitar, bodhran, and bass, the group provides a strong set of Irish tunes and songs sure to leave you with your toes tapping and a smile on your face.

Debi Rogers

Debi Rogers of Mandan, North Dakota will also be a featured performing artist. Debi sings traditional Irish songs in the original Gaelic language and also in Manx. She plays tradtional wire strung har (clairsearch), guitar, violin, pennywhistle and more. Debi will lead a workshop in beginning pennywhistle, and a session in traditional storytelling. Be sure to join her for the sing-along of traditional Celtic songs!

Storytelling!

Listen to the enthralling storytelling about Fairie Hills, Lochs, and Braes! Take a magical trip with Debi Rogers as she passes along the oral tradition of the Celtic peoples and learn about legendary and mythical figures of the Celtic culture!

Scotty Roberts, author and illustrator of The Rollicking Adventures of Tam O'Hare, will return and read excerpts from his newest book, Tam O'Hare and the Banshee of Ballyglenbarrow. Mr. Roberts will have prints of his original illustrations from the books available for purchase, along with copies of his books. Be sure to stop by to say hello, and get your book or print autographed!

Dance!

Guthrie School of Dance

The Guthrie school of Dance will return to present traditional Scottish Dance and to lead a workshop fo rbeginners who would like to give Scottish dancing a try.

Scoil na dTri Dancers

Scoil na dTri Irish Dance Academy of the Twin Cities area is one of the premier Irish dance academies. It began in 1994 with 25 students and has grown to teach traditional Irish dance to ages 3 and up of all abilities. Their dancers perform throughout the region, attending feiseanna (competitions) in the region, nation, and overseas. The Gaelic name Scoil na dTri litterally means "school of three", originally signifying the three founding teachers, Betty Buckley, Joe Richter, and Gillian Osborn.

ARCC Cloggers

Connecting the continents will be Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center's Cloggers, with their Celtic descendent American dancing style to historical American traditional music.

Ceili!

Saturday evening's festivities will end with a ceili or ceileigh dance that will begin at 7pm. Ceilis (or in Scotland, ceileighs) include traditiona music played by a Celtic dance band, traditional Celtic social dancing (preceeded by instruction for everyone), storytelling and general socialization. Ceilis were the neighborhood social events, simila to an American square dance, that everyone - young and old - attended and participated in. Join us for the fun! No previous dancing experience is needed - we teach you everything you need to know.

Times and stage venues are subject to change. Please check the schedule for most recent up-to- date information.