Hear Celtic Music from around the world in Austin

Click here for a listing of Austin Celtic music bands.

Behan
Behan gives traditional Irish pub singing tunes "a rousing, kicked-up spin". Their influences include The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, The Irish Rovers, DFW's own Irish Rogues, Bing Crosby and daddy Behan's predilection to inundate their young ears with the jigs reels and barndances of the 78 player variety. Somehow the punk music scene, liturgical music and the Arlington Drum and Bugle corp factor in as well.

Eric Bogle
An internationally known folksinger, originally from Peebles, Scotland. Born in 1944, he spent his first twenty five years in Scotland. In 1969 he emigrated to Australia first settling in Canberra. He eventually trained, and worked as an accountant, then in 1980 became a full time folk singer. Eric currently lives near Adelaide, South Australia. A gentle man, he's also one of the most straight forward and nicest people you could ever hope to meet.

Paul Brady - mp3
Paul Brady, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is one of Ireland's most highly-regarded and successful artists.

Celtic Stone
Popular Celtic music group that performed at Renaissance Festivals around the nation between 1983 to 1990.

Clandestine - mp3
Clandestine evolved out of a pipe and drum ensemble founded in 1991 in Houston, Texas. Highland pipes, fiddle, acoustic guitar, hand percussion, and vocal harmonies combine to create a sound that brings the brilliance of Celtic culture alive for the aficionado and the curious. Clandestine is a high energy band with a diverse repetoire which is firmly rooted in the Celtic tradition. Sadly, the band is broke up in the Winter of 2002.

Constant Billy
“A new day has dawned. There's a new band in the neighborhood, Constant Billy.” Take the traditional music of Britain and Ireland. Shake and stir in Rock, Classical and Swing using “a staggering array of string and woodwind instruments.” Mix in the vocals of “probably the best all-around folk a-cappella singers.” Add a dash of “hilarious between-songs banter” and you have a band that will leave you reeling. Constant Billy is Today’s Trad.
Contact: Bill Galbraith
Phone: 713.520.9920
Email: gigs@constantbilly.com

Alasdair Fraser
Master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser is a consummate performer. His dynamic fiddling, engaging stage presence, and deep understanding of Scotland's music have created a constant and international demand for his solo appearances and concerts with a variety of ensembles. Alasdair has been a major force behind the resurgence of traditional Scottish fiddling in his homeland and the U.S., inspiring legions of listeners and learners through his recordings, annual fiddle camps, and concerts. He has represented Scotland internationally through performances sponsored by the British Council, and has been awarded touring support by the California Arts Council, with the ranking of "highest priority for inclusion on the roster; considered 'model' in stature.

Great Big Sea
Although there is no single word to describe the unique sound of Great Big Sea, their music is an energetic combination of Celtic rock and sing-along folk, while remaining unmistakably traditional. Bob, the band's multi-instrumentalist, has said Great Big Sea is "a really aggressive folk band that marries traditional Celtic music with modern rhythms." A lot of this music has four or five hundred years of history behind it so when you marry that to modern ideas, you've got something that's already a proven product."
Contact: Brian Swanson
Phone: 831.375.4889
Email: brian@mpartists.com

Jiggernaut - mp3
Oil and Water. Fire and Ice. Celtic and Rock. Many bands have tried to bind the heart of Celtic music to the soul of rock and roll, but none so successfully as the new band Jiggernaut. A group founded on contradiction, their sound is a rich mixture of old and new, traditional and contemporary. Fueled by white-hot piping, smoking accordion, fiery vocals, and an irresistible groove, they are setting out to redefine Celtic music for the 21st century. Jiggernaut. Celtic Rock. 'Nuff said.
Contact: Wolf Loescher
Phone: 713.398.0125
Email: info@jiggernaut.com

E.J. Jones - mp3
EJ Jones is a multi-instrumentalist, best-known for playing the Highland Bagpipes and as an essential member of the former band, Clandestine.
Contact: E.J. Jones
Phone: 713.249.5806
Email: piper@io.com

The Killdares - mp3
Performing over 150 shows annually,THE KILLDARES are fast becoming a favorite in the alternative Celtic music scene. What they deliver is a live performance with fiddle-driven power-pop melodies, and punk-rocker attitudes. They have shared stages with an incredibly wide variety of artists, and are as enthusiastically received at national Celtic Festivals as they are at Rock 'n Roll clubs!
Contact: Harold Collum
Phone: 214.227.0838
Email: booking@killdares.com

Lunasa - mp3
Since 1997 when Ireland's all-star quintet Lúnasa released their first CD to raving reviews, Lúnasa has become one of the most sought-after bands on the international Irish music scene. The band's inventive arrangements and bass-driven grooves are steering Irish acoustic music into surprising new territory. On their first American visit, word-of-mouth led to sold-out shows and rave reviews. "A standing-room only crowd in New York confirmed Lúnasa's reputation," wrote the Irish Voice." This is the hottest Irish acoustic group on the planet."
Contact: SGO Music Management Ltd
Phone: +44.20.7385.9377
Email: sgomusic@sgomusic.com

Jed Marum - mp3
Jed Marum blends traditional songs and stories from the experience of Celtic and British Isles immigrants in North America. Canadian Broadcasting Corp and Borealis Records producer, Paul Mills said "Jed is a fabulous singer who knows how to communicate a lyric, as well as a great guitar player with a unique style that is both powerful and musical. He writes strong story songs with great melodies and can skillfully interpret them as well as works by other artists." Jed accompanies himself on banjo, harmonica, six string, high strung and baritone guitar. He has appropriately been described as an "American folk singer with Celtic roots."
Contact: Kiltfinder Entertainment Group
Phone: 214.763.6395
Email: Connie @ Kiltfinder.com

The Rogues - mp3
For over six years the Rogues have been travelling around the country entertaining people with delightful harmonic pipes and pounding drums. With their infectious nature and warm interaction with the audience, they have quickly become the premiere musical performance group on the Renaissance Festival circuit today.
Contact: Randy Wothke
Email: randy@therogues.com

Seven Nations - mp3
Bagpipe, fiddle and guitar, one of the most unlikely sonic threesomes imaginable come together seamlessly to create the sound that is Seven Nations. Their remarkable sound is a fusion of two strangely complimentary musical styles: driving modern rock and foot-stomping traditional music. Both of which are delivered by the rich multi-octave voice of Kirk Mcleod and enhanced by his deeply personal and expressive lyrics.

Solas
Solas is already acclaimed by many as the most exciting Irish traditional group in the world. They interpret a wide range of material in surprising ways; songs by contemporary artists are given a Celtic tinge, making explicit their connections with the deep, ultimately Celtic roots of American music.

The Willow Band
Here are three musicians who encompass a great variety of music in the Celtic genre: a competition piper (Highland pipes, border pipes, bombarde, flutes, whistles), a top-notch fiddle player (educated in the Nova Scotia tradition), and a virtouso guitar player (6 string, 12 string, slide, ukulele, mandola) who has also written some of the best-loved songs in the contemporary Irish scene. Great music, engaging personalities, and an entirely fun show.
Contact: E.J. Jones
Phone: 713.249.5806
Email: piper@io.com