The Steel City Rovers perform dynamic and expressive music that is a unique composite of traditional Celtic music and North American styles including bluegrass, folk and roots. Their original works touch on issues of love, loss, celebration and heritage and they also breathe life into newly-discovered instrumental melodies from as far back as centuries ago. Their sophisticated arrangements are inviting for the most casual listener but are rewarding for those who are well versed in the nuances of musical complexity. The Rovers stand out for their powerful, emotive vocals and engaging entertainment. They perform on meticulously crafted replicas of historical instruments that rarely appear on today’s musical landscape. This highly active touring band headlines large festival stages, gives intimate concert performances, educates in a variety of workshop and master-class settings and performs internationally with symphonies. They create, collaborate and work hard to further the love and awareness of music.
Jil Chambless & Scooter Muse
For more than 25 years, Alabama natives Jil Chambless and Scooter Muse have been performing the music of Scotland, Ireland and America with various ensembles in a wide variety of venues, from simple house concerts to festivals and concert halls. Jil and Scooter have been fortunate to work alongside many of the finest artists in Celtic music, resulting in many spontaneous collaborations. In 2010, Chambless & Muse began performing as a duo to promote their individual solo projects. Since then they have released several CDs, The Laverock Sang (2011), Passing Tales & Glories (2014), Live @ NTIF with John Taylor (2016), and The Lang Awa’ Ships (2017).
As singer and flute and whistle player, Jil Chambless has performed across the US as well as in Canada, Scotland, and Israel with the band Henri’s Notions, Chambless & Muse, Scottish singer Ed Miller, Scottish fiddler John Taylor, the band Vulcan Eejits!, The Mairtin deCogain Project, the John Whelan Trio, the Vogt Family Contra Band, and others. In 2009, Jil released her first solo CD, The Ladies Go Dancing, produced by the legendary Brian McNeill. 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 eight 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.”
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Experience the magical music of Scotland and Ireland with the Seán Heely Celtic Band. Featuring U.S National Scottish Fiddle champion and Gaelic singer Seán Heely, the Seán Heely Celtic Band utilizes many different instruments to perform fiery dance tunes and ancient, soaring melodies from Scotland, Ireland, and beyond. Original compositions abound and they have rich vocal harmonies in their solid song repertoire that features ballads, sea shanties, and songs in the Irish and Scottish folk tradition. They have performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music center, CCE Irish Folk Festival Fairfax VA, Hylton Performing Arts Center, and in 2023 as headliners at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Virginia Scottish Games, and the Niel Gow Festival in Scotland. Seán brings a brand new album to the games this year as well: "Dramagical." The lineup at VSG this year is Seán Heely, guitar and vocals Kevin Elam, fiddler Colin McGlynn, percussionist Lucas Ashby, percussive dancer Agi Kovacs, piper Tom Cangelosi.
Named for towns in both Ireland and Scotland, ARDMORE (“great height”) burnishes traditional Celtic melodies with folk, bluegrass & rock influences. ARDMORE is Matthew Dunne, who has played bass and guitar in bands in New York and DC for more than twenty years, including jazz, rock, folk, soul, and musical theater. Now he’s finally taking some lessons • Eric McCleaf, who has played guitarist and percussion in various bands in the Washington, DC area for 20-plus years. Eric teaches guitar & drum and is active in the Celtic/traditional music community, serving as the Entertainment Chair for the Virginia Scottish Games and Festival • Amy Nazarov, who sang in the award-winning folk/bluegrass band Dead Men’s Hollow for 14 years. In addition to Ardmore, she sings and writes original songs as part of the alt-folk duo Tiber Creek • Don Walters, whose passion is exploring the fusion of rock, folk-rock, bluegrass, Celtic and Americana music. Don’s driving mandolin —plus his lead & harmony vocals — round out ARDMORE’s fresh take on Celtic tunes of yore.
Tinsmith is a high-energy folk band playing traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and Appalachia. Citing influences from blues to bluegrass, from funk to jazz to mountain music, they bring traditional songs and tunes into the new century. Known for their fun and energetic performances and for the taste and delicacy of their arrangements, Tinsmith has been making audiences dance since 1997. They are three-time invitees at the North Texas Irish Festival in Dallas, TX, and have played such prestigious gigs as The Barns at Wolf Trap Park for the Performing Arts, Potomac Celtic Festival, The Institute of Musical Traditions, Blackrock Center for the Performing Arts, National Folk Alliance Convention and has numerous WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association) awards to their credit.
Alex Beaton
July 15, 1944 - May 27, 2022 ...... May he rest in peace
Alex is recognized by many of the Scottish and Celtic musicians performing at the various Scottish gatherings as the person responsible for introducing traditional music to the festivals.
"Alex is not only gracious enough to share his stage with other performers at the Scottish festivals," says Dudley Brian Smith of Smithfield Fair, a Celtic group from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, “he is the reason we get to be at the festivals. He is the trailblazer."
Already a successful entertainer in the 1970s, Alex recognized a desire among American audiences for traditional Celtic music. He knew that the natural outlet for his music was the Highland Games that take place nearly every weekend of the year all across the continent. After organizing Glenfinnan Music, he began focusing on establishing a market for the traditional singer in a venue long dominated by heavy athletics, pipers, and pipe bands. Now, due in large part to Alex’s efforts, the folksinger is there along with the athlete and the piper.
Alex’s musical talents, awareness of Scottish history, and his ability to connect with his audience combined to create the Alex Beaton experience rather than just a concert. We miss him terribly.
"Alex is not only gracious enough to share his stage with other performers at the Scottish festivals," says Dudley Brian Smith of Smithfield Fair, a Celtic group from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, “he is the reason we get to be at the festivals. He is the trailblazer."
Already a successful entertainer in the 1970s, Alex recognized a desire among American audiences for traditional Celtic music. He knew that the natural outlet for his music was the Highland Games that take place nearly every weekend of the year all across the continent. After organizing Glenfinnan Music, he began focusing on establishing a market for the traditional singer in a venue long dominated by heavy athletics, pipers, and pipe bands. Now, due in large part to Alex’s efforts, the folksinger is there along with the athlete and the piper.
Alex’s musical talents, awareness of Scottish history, and his ability to connect with his audience combined to create the Alex Beaton experience rather than just a concert. We miss him terribly.
Many thanks to The Folks That Make the Music possible
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