The 2026 Who’s Who/Here/There

Andrew Waite

Andrew is an accordion player and composer from the Scottish borders. He plays in bands such as Dallahan, Fourth Moon and Eliza Carthy’s Wayward Band. His music is rooted in Scottish, Irish and English Trad Music but he takes influences from many genres such as Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Bluegrass, Funk and Classical Music.

Eamonn Flynn & Dublinesque

Eamonn Flynn forges his own brand of Irish soul. The Dublin-born singer-songwriter/pianist got his start with The Commitments, a hit film about an Irish soul band, and has since worked with American blues and R&B stars Elvin Bishop, Maria Muldaur,  Evelyn Champagne King, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters), The Ray Charles Project, and many more. Flynn's new quartet DUBLINESQUE brings his deep soul and gospel roots together with the Irish music traditions he was raised on. The band brings together three talented Bay Area Irish traditional musicians: fellow Irishman Félim Egan (The Black Brothers) on accordion, local favorite Darcy Noonan on fiddle, and from the Basque Country, Spain, Hector Bragado on banjo. They are also sometimes joined by special guests. Previous guests have included Glide Memorial Choir, Maria Muldaur, Mary Black, Róisín O, Michael Black, Shay Black, Autumn Rhodes, Margaret Graham, and dancers from the Kennelly, Dillon, and Whelan Schools of Irish Dance and the Cooley-Keegan Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí.

Johnny Connolly & Cary Novotny Duo

Johnny Connolly was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland and mastered the button accordion at an early age. His first solo recording with Green Linnet records released in 2001 was entitled "Bridgetown" named after his adopted hometown, Portland, Oregon. Over the last two decades, Johnny has toured extensively nationally and internationally, performing with many high-profile acts in the Irish music world, including Kevin Burke, Lisa Ornstein, Bridgetown, The Chieftains, Casey Neill, Nuala Kennedy, and the “Celtic Legends” touring music and dance show. Most recently, Johnny was a touring member of the internationally acclaimed and legendary Irish band Solas and is featured on their last CD “All These Years.”

Cary Novotny, originally from South Dakota, began his musical career in Bowling Green, Kentucky, studying classical guitar and learning the music of the region, namely country, folk, and bluegrass music. After moving to Portland, Oregon, Novotny discovered a passion for Irish music and cofounded “Cul an Ti,” which became a household name over the next 20 years in the Northwest with its hundreds of performances of lively traditional Irish tunes. Novotny maintains a busy schedule as a guitarist, having recorded and performed with many other notable Irish musicians, including Kevin Burke, The Bridies, Hanz Araki, Laurence Nugent, Winifred Horan, Colin Farrell and the touring Irish dance show “Celtic Legends.” Novotny also writes songs in the country and popular music genres and is a frequent performer in Nashville.

Together, Connolly and Novotny promise to deliver an exciting and powerful mix of raw energy, heart, soul and passion in this live concert performance of traditional Irish music melodies in modern and compelling harmonic and rhythmic arrangements

Alicia Guinn

Alicia Guinn is a leading American expert on old-style Irish dance traditions, including sean-nós dancing, set dancing, old-style step dancing, céilí dancing, and two-hand dances. For more than 25 years, Alicia has worked throughout the U.S. and Canada, performing, teaching, and consulting for both local and national events. With expertise rooted directly in the sean-nós dance tradition of Co. Galway and the set dancing communities of Co. Clare, Alicia helps students develop joy, fluency, flow, musicality, and personal style in their dancing. Alicia’s teaching style is strongly influenced by her professional experience in early childhood education and play-based learning. Her teaching background inspires her to create new, innovative approaches for teaching traditional dance. Alicia creates welcoming, inclusive learning communities that empower students to develop courage and creativity. Alicia believes in using traditional dance to create community and generate life-affirming joy. She promotes the many mental and physical benefits of dance and believes that dance should be accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, body types, skill levels, and socio-economic conditions.

Colby Avenue

Sometimes a great Irish music session is one in which the whole group plays together for hours, forming a joyous wall of sound that raises the rafters and knocks the socks off of unsuspecting pub patrons. Other times, the moments that stand out have only two or three musicians playing, and different styles and settings join to make a simple tune nearly luminous. Colby Avenue brings fiddles, flutes, concertinas, whistle, and piano to the stage for both the large and the intimate moments, all of them magical. Angeline LeLeux, fiddle and piano, Becky Deryckx, flute, whistle, and concertina, Colin Lindsay, fiddle and concertina, William Bajzek, flute.

Sølvstål

Lennart Jansson (viola d’amore) and Mira Dickey (hardanger fiddle) explore the novel musical territory at the intersection of Norwegian fiddling and Irish traditional music. Their duet playing combines Mira’s expertise in the hardanger fiddle tradition with Lennart’s knowledge and creativity in Irish fiddling. The 9-string hardanger fiddle and 12-string baroque viola d’amore are a natural match for each other, both with a range of unusual tunings and otherworldly resonance thanks to sympathetic strings. Their sound ranges from delicate and tender to brilliant and symphonic, with a repertoire spanning traditional dance tunes both popular and obscure, as well as recently-composed pieces. This is Irish and Norwegian music like you’ve never heard it before!

Nell and Dale Russ

Dale and Nell Russ, a husband and wife fiddle duo from Seattle, play "pure drop" traditional Irish music. They have an affinity for the older, wilder side of Irish music, reflecting the deep connection of the tradition to the natural world. They encourage you to listen to the sounds of their music, rather than just the notes. They also share an uncanny ability to read each other's minds while playing - many people have commented with awe that their bows often seem to unconsciously sync with each other! Known from Japan to Ireland and across the United States, Dale has been a highly respected fiddle player, teacher, and keeper of the tradition for over fifty years. He has recorded a dozen albums, two of them solo, and worked with such luminaries as Kevin Burke, Gerry O'Beirne, and Paddy O'Brien. Nell is newer to the scene, falling in love with Irish music (and her fiddle - love at first sight!) and joining the community in the late 2010s. She was drawn to Dale's music and mentorship, sharing his deep belief in the beauty of the raw, unadorned heart of the music, and was honored to begin studying with him in 2020. Nell is a stalwart of the northwest session scene and has been performing and teaching since 2023. The duo's recent appearances include the Irish Pipers Club Tionól concert in Seattle, WA; Conor Byrne Co-Op Irish Music Mondays; Lark Camp in Mendocino; Barrington's Irish Bar and Grill on Whidbey Island; the Northwest Portland Hostel; and Irish céilís, set dances, and contras around the Pacific Northwest. They've been enjoying the Bellingham Celtic Fest for many years (shout out to the amazing Cayley Schmid!) and are honored to be a part of it.

Hanz Araki

Considered one of the most talented Irish musicians in America today, flautist, whistle player, singer, and Juno Award-winner Hanz Araki has been lauded by publications and audiences alike.  Three decades of musical exploration into Irish, Scottish, Japanese, and American traditions has yielded his distinct style described by Fatea Magazine as “achingly beautiful.” As the sixth generation of his family to bear the title Araki Kodo, Hanz (short for Hanzaburo, his great-great grandfather’s name) spent his formative years mastering the Japanese end-blown bamboo flute.  Discovering and relishing the melodic and mechanical similarities between shakuhachi and Irish whistle, Hanz applied his natural capacity and boundless curiosity to his Irish heritage.  Taking advantage of the rich Irish music scene in Seattle, where he spent his youth, Hanz quickly became known for his exquisite instrumental work on both Irish whistle and flute and a haunting singing voice that was born to tell tales.

Castlerock

A classic combination of fiddle and flute, Angeline LeLeux-Bajzek and William Bajzek formed Castlerock in 2007 in the San Francisco Bay area, where they regularly hosted sessions and played for set dances. The music camps and retreats they attended in the Pacific Northwest drew them to the Skagit Valley, and after circumstances led them on a lengthy detour to Tulsa, Oklahoma, they now reside in Anacortes. Prioritizing substance over style and chasing the sound of a small house session in Clare or Galway, Castlerock plays from the heart and with a deep respect for the Irish tradition.

The Jimmy O'Dea Dance Hall Follies with Hanz Araki

Step into a musical time machine and experience some of the most popular songs of the dance hall era of Ireland! Legendary star of stage and screen Jimmy O'Dea, who created the memorable character Biddy Mulligan, was the inspiration for this collection presented by singer Hanz Araki (reigning Skagit Valley Highland Games Lilting World Champion). Enjoy such favourites as The Darling Girl From Clare, The Sweet Forget-Me-Not, My Irish Molly-O, and many more!

Springtide

Springtide is: Willy Clemetson on fiddle and foot percussion, Elsie Gawler on cello and fiddle, and Ethan Tischler on guitar. We are musicians, songwriters, and central figures in the Mid-Coast Maine fiddling scene. We combine a love of high energy traditional Celtic and Scandinavian fiddle music, heartfelt original tunes and songs, and spacious creative improvisation to produce our unique trio: Springtide. We aim to lift audiences with the music of the landscapes we come from, drawing inspiration from the tidal rhythms and creative energies of the coastal land we’re grateful to call home.

Steeplechase

At Steeplechase, we’re revolutionizing the centuries-old Celtic music space by leveraging the synergies found at the intersection of tradition and innovation. Our dynamic approach has reduced listener pain points by implementing a best-in-class team and a nimble, iterative performance process, resulting in improved outcomes for both audience and players alike. Steeplechase: Yesterday’s Tunes for a Better Tomorrow.

Gallowglass

With a combination of emotional vocal delivery, fresh melodic arrangements, and airtight accompaniment, Gallowglass has developed a style of contemporary Celtic folk that Irish Music Magazine calls "an inspired approach to the tradition." The group, featuring Jan Peters (vocals, harmonica), Mishon Kirkland (vocals, Irish flute), Zach Bauman (Irish Bouzouki) and David Pender Lofgren (Bodhrán), has become one of the Pacific Northwest's most celebrated Celtic music ensembles. Gallowglass has shared the stage with Dervish, Peter Rowan, Jolie Holland, and other luminaries of the folk scene, establishing themselves as innovators among their peers and captivating audiences with their signature sound. The release of their album, 'Dear Ruin' in 2024, has garnered critical acclaim and is enjoying international radio play. While Gallowglass is steeped in tradition, they are keeping their eyes on the horizon and have built a fire for all to gather around.

Schmid + Guest

Cayley Schmid and Aaron Guest met at the Bellingham Farmers Market in 2009. Desperately jealous of each other’s busking success, they neutralized the competition and started a band together. This was the beginning of a decade-long musical partnership that descended into marriage. After the retirement of their band, Polecat, in 2020, Aaron and Cayley suddenly found themselves musically unsupervised by their bandmates for the first time. Together they play instrumental Celtic music on fiddle and piano.

Niall Ó Murchú

Niall Ó Murchú is an Irish speaker from Dublin, Ireland and a keen if limited traditional singer. He teaches other things at Fairhaven College, Western Washington University

Denis Kautsman-Kofanov

Denis Kautsman-Kofanov is a librarian of the Near East at the University of Washington. He has 15+ years of experience in learning and speaking Celtic languages. He likes singing sean-nós and other traditional folk songs, and also plays harp.

Ladies of Lindsay

Ladies of Lindsay blends Celtic, roots, and maritime traditions, weaving together rich harmonies, driving rhythms, and distinctive arrangements into a sound that is at once timeless, fresh, and uniquely their own. Through a rich tapestry of strings, whistles, percussion, and vocal harmonies, they share stories and songs that are heartfelt, engaging, and full of energy.

Zephan Knichel

Zephan is a well-versed performer of traditional and contemporary pipe music. The Great Highland Bagpipe is his primary instrument and has devoted himself to the Scottish Smallpipe in more recent years.  Zephan is a veteran member of the world-renowned Simon Fraser University Pipe Band and competes with them every Summer at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. The SFU Pipe Band is currently ranked 3rd in the world. Zephan also competes as a soloist all over North America and in Scotland. He has competed at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban and the Northern Meeting in Inverness several times, winning prizes in both Light Music and Piobaireachd. Zephan is a professional Bagpiper, performing and teaching individuals, group classes, pipe bands, and at various piping schools all over North America.

Maren & Celine

Maren and Celine are a fiddle student and teacher duo turned friends and bandmates. They share a love for Celtic music and laughter!

Ceol Sa Cheo

Frequently performing high-energy Irish dance music around the foggy Humboldt and San Francisco Bay Areas, Ceol Sa Cheo (KYOL SUH HYO) translates to "music in the fog" in Irish Gaelic. Ethereal coastal mists are common to both Ireland and the Northern California coastline that the band calls home. You can frequently find a subset of this group playing for céilí and set dances, and performing up and down the West Coast. Blake Ritter is an All-Ireland Irish fiddle champion based in Eureka CA, and Alina Larson is an uilleann piper and singer from Berkeley CA. They regularly perform with renowned guitarist Dave Isley, who is joining them for this Pacific Northwest Tour. Rarely does the opportunity arise to hear the groove, grace, and power of all three of these musicians in full flight. When listening to the driving rhythms and intricate textural soundscapes evoked by Ceol sa Cheo, you may find yourself transported to another place, another time... perhaps even to the Celtic Otherworld, Tír na nÓg!

Harper Stone

Raised on a diet of mythology and folk music, Harper was already primed for mysticism when he found a piece of his soul tucked into a grove of trees in Ireland at the age of 12. So naturally, after a 'eureka' moment in a bathtub in his early 20s, he set out to return to Ireland to discover what it meant to be a wizard. While working on a homestead, his host directed him to a 'lady of the trees' who was camped out in the woods nearby. Though she initially mistook Harper for a fairy, they eventually became friends and began exchanging letters. From those essays, riddles, jokes, and musings, Harper has gleaned a few lessons about the branches of traditional Celtic society, spirituality and lore, and how these branches can help to build a tree fort of the soul in the modern world.

The House Wrens

Irish tunes on fiddle/guitar & fiddle/harmonica. With rhythm, grit and drive, Alaska-born Kera-Lynne Newman is a commanding presence on the fiddle. A prolific performer and teacher, she has played with the Juneau Symphony, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and her own cello-fiddle duo Calaskan with Erin Esses. Jan Peters is a multi-genre veteran of the traditional music scene, from early days performing in a duo with Joe Craven to touring Ireland in 2016 with Peadar McMahon. Jan is a founding member of Gallowglass, Rosin & Reed, and brings his distinctive Irish harmonica playing along with guitar duties.

Fritillary

Based in the beautiful PNW, cello and fiddle duo Claire Willow & Joey Gish perform toe-tapping arrangements of traditional old-time, Celtic, and bluegrass tunes, with some fun originals mixed in. Fritillary means checkered, like a chess-board, and there are alpine wildflowers and butterflies with this name. We find it an apt description of how the fiddle and cello can share melody and harmony, rhythm and groove, to create a uniquely woven sound.

Pajamajam

Cayley Schmid (fiddle) of Schmid + Guest and Sub Zero Glitter Fridge and Rosie O’Neil (guitar) of the Dream Goats, Marie the Band, and Bison Socks will express their mutual enthusiasm for music, dance, pajamas, and friends by shredding a variety of spicy pan-Celtic tunes.

Northwest Along the Road

Bringing together three seasoned players from the Pacific Northwest, this trio plays Irish traditional music on fiddle, flute, and bouzouki. Their repertoire ranges from energetic reels and lively jigs to sweet hornpipes, airs, and more. Expect excellent tunes and good-natured banter.