2013 Entertainment - Rathkeltair

Rathkeltair (rath-KELT-ur) blends compelling and catchy original songs with tight, driving straight-ahead rock-n-roll, while never forgetting its Celtic roots.

Based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Rathkeltair has been on the road full-time since 2003. Highly regarded for its extraordinary energy, showmanship and professionalism, Rathkeltair enjoys a loyal and rapidly expanding community of friends and fans.

Rathkeltair features three veteran road-warriors from England, Northern Ireland and America. Noted singer-songwriter/guitarist Trevor Tanner, former front man for The Bolshoi, a mainstay of the UK club scene at the height of the MTV era and the subject of a rabid international underground cult following, writes most of the band's original material. Drummer Nick Watson (formerly of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band) and bagpiper/multi-instrumentalist Neil Anderson are two of the original members of Clan Na Gael (7 Nations), the NYC-based band that kicked off the "kilt rock" phenomenon in the US in the mid-90's and inspired many of the groups working in that genre today.

Rathkeltair's name-sake is a famous historical site in County Down, Northern Ireland, also known as the "mound of Down." Besides being close to the village where Nick was born and raised, the band chose the name as a tip of the hat to its Celtic heritage.

"Something GOOD for a Change," Rathkeltair's latest recording (May, 2011), delivers the extraordinary energy and dynamics fans have come to expect from one of the most talked about bands on the North American festival circuit. "Something GOOD for a Change" combines Tanner's critically acclaimed songwriting and guitar work with world-class performances by Anderson, Watson, and bassist Billy Thornton, who has been touring with the band since 2006.

Rathkeltair fans made their voices heard during Bonnaroo Festival's Annual Road to Roo competition (April, 2011) propelling Rathkeltair to a very respectable 13th place finish out of over 1,000 entries. Rathkeltair was also voted "Best Celtic Rock Band" in the Celtic MP3 Music Magazine Annual Audience Poll.

Rathkeltair has been featured at many of the biggest and best-known Celtic Festivals in North America including the Dublin Irish Festival (Dublin, OH), New Hampshire Highland Games (Loon Mountain, NH), Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival (Estes Park, CO), Grandfather Mountain Highland Games (Linville, NC), and the Glengarry Highland Games, Ontario, Canada.

Jil Chambless and Scooter Muse

Two members of the band Henri’s Notions, the longest performing Celtic band in the Southeastern United States (more than 30 years!), Jil and Scooter have also performed frequently in a trio format with Scottish singer Ed Miller at many festivals throughout the US and Scotland. For the last several years Jil and Scooter have been fortunate to work alongside many of the finest artists in Celtic Music, resulting in many spontaneous collaborations.

First introduced to Celtic music when she joined Henri’s Notions in 1989, Jil Chambless has since become one of the finest singers and flute players on the Celtic circuit. In December 2009, Jil released her first solo CD, The Ladies Go Dancing, produced by the legendary Brian McNeill. Brian has stated that Jil is "...truly a great singer!" Jil brings to any audience a wonderful listening experience from haunting ballads to upbeat songs with a smooth delivery that never fails to bring both smiles and tears in each and every performance!

Although Scooter Muse has his roots in Bluegrass and is quite an accomplished 5-string banjo player, in the late 1980s he moved into the world of Celtic guitar and soon after founded the Full Moon Ensemble, performing for 8 years across the US and in Scotland before joining Henri’s Notions in 2003. In 2005 Scooter released his first solo recording of original guitar instrumentals, Saddell Abbey, which he is proud to say was purchased by the Scottish Tourist Board in Kintyre. The Saddell Abbey Trust of Scotland calls the recording, "...a haunting and beautiful piece of music."

In 2010, Jil and Scooter began performing as a duo to pro-mote their individual solo projects, playing a variety of venues from small house concerts to major Celtic festivals and Highland Games.

 Clandestine

Whether they are playing on the main stage at a festival, theatre halls or pubs, Emish brings an energy packed show with witty banter on stage, leaving their fans asking for more. Clandestine is hard-driving, toe-tapping Texas Celtic sound. Formed in 1991, the band is known for their brand of blasting tune sets and fresh songs. Piper EJ Jones and fiddler Gregory McQueen lead the tunes with the full force of their individual musical energies. Al Cofrin brings cittern and occasionally another set of bagpipes to the mix. Percussionist and singer Emily Dugas captivates with her original song collaborations with Al, as well as her singular interpretations of songs in the Celtic genre. EJ and Al also join Emily on vocals, with many songs now set in three-part harmony.

Clandestine is a regular feature at the Texas Scottish Festival and the North Texas Irish Festival, as well as their home pub, McGonigel’s Mucky Duck in Houston. The band has toured the US extensively and had successful stints in Canada and France. Now, Clandestine is poised to tour widely again.

Entertainment - Alex Beaton

Alex continues his recovery.  Please join with us in keeping him and his wife in your prayers.  His CDs will be available for sale at the Pub Tent.  Please come by and send him some well wishes.