The festival will include We Banjo 3, Lunasa and Seamus Kennedy.
MUSKEGON, MI – A band that has claimed the No. 1 position on Billboard’s World Music charts is among the headliners for the 2017 Michigan Irish Music Festival.
We Banjo 3, a band from Galway, Ireland, is bringing its blend of traditional Irish, old time and bluegrass music — referred to as “Celtic Grass” by the band — to Muskegon in September for the annual four-day festival.
The Michigan Irish Festival is scheduled for Sept. 14-17. The event will feature more than 20 Irish and Celtic musical acts across six stages at Heritage Landing. In addition to the music, authentic food beverages will be served at the Celtic Kitchen and beverage stations.
The musical lineup consists of the following acts, so far:
* We Banjo 3 — Band has the distinction of having entertained an American president, an Irish prime minister and members of the U. S. Congress on Capitol Hill.
* Lunasa — The band has performed more than 1,500 shows across 36 countries since the band formed in 1997.
* Cara Dillon — She won the All Ireland singing trophy at only 14 years old.
* The Elders — The band was founded in 1998 by six individuals with a passion for music rooted in Americana and Celtic folk rock.
* Old Blind Dogs — The band was named Folk Band of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards.
* Goitse — The multi-award-winning quintet came together at Limerick University’s Irish World Academy.
* Ten Strings and A Goat Skin — The trad/folk/fusion trio hails from Prince Edward Island, Canada.
* Danny Burns — He learned his craft on the road while playing and living in New York, Nashville, New Orleans and Chicago.
* Dave Curley — He is best known for being a member of award-winning bands Slide and Runa.
* Moxie Strings — The band is the combination of fiddler Diana Ladio and electric cellist Alison Lynn.
* Seamus Kennedy — A fan favorite of the festival, he mixes in fast-paced humor in his show.
* Blackthorn — Each member of the band plays multiple instruments to complement the lead vocals of Belfast native Richard McMullan.
* Kennedy’s Kitchen — The band’s music is rooted in traditional Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes, stories and songs.
* Tallymoore — This contemporary Irish folk band from Milwaukee performs a range of Irish and Scottish folk tunes, ballads, reels and classic pub songs.
* Stone Clover — The band calls its style “Paddy Slag, ” stemming from Irish tradition with many other influences as well.
* Conklin Ceili — A West Michigan band with two studio albums under its belt.
* Brother Crowe — The band, led by two brothers, has hammered through more than 100 shows in a year.
* Max & Ruth Bloomquist — The duo is celebrating 40 years of performing their style of Acoustic Americana with roots in folk, bluegrass and traditional country music.
Advance tickets and a festival pass can be purchased online.
A four-day pass for the entire event is $30 per person online and $40 at the ticket booth. Patrons visiting Thursday must pay $5 -cash only– at the ticket booth only. Friday and Sunday’s ticket prices will be $10 online and $15 at the gate, respectively. Saturday’s tickets will cost $15 online and $20 at the ticket booth.
More information regarding the festival can be accessed on the event’s website .
