2011 Featured Performers

Alex Beaton

We regret that due to unforeseen circumstances Alex Beaton needed to cancel his performances at this years Games.The SSHGA wishes him well and appreciates Carl Peterson for graciously agreeing to join us this year.

http://www.alexbeaton.com

Carl Peterson

Over the last 20 plus years Carl Peterson has undeniably become the most successful and busiest Scottish singer in North America, performing at numerous festivals and concerts, and creating nearly 30 recordings. He was the first singer/entertainer to appear in most of the east coast Scottish festivals, opening up a market for many singers and musicians.

Carl was born and raised in Greenock, Scotland, on the banks of the River Clyde, where a great shipbuilding industry flourished for hundreds of years. In the 1800's, many Irish came to these lowland shipyards looking for work, joining the throngs of Scottish Highlanders who had been chased from their hills and glens. Seafaring men from other nations as well, joined the ranks in the Clyde Valley shipyards. One of these adventurers, a Swedish sailor, married highland lass in Port Glasgow - they were Carl's great-grandparents. Thus, Carl was born four generations hence, a Nordic Scot, with Swedes on one side and Highlanders on the other; an ancestry sprinkled with surnames such as McLean, McBryde, Caithness, Duke, and somewhere an Irish McGuire.

In Canada, Carl Peterson performed from Newfoundland on the East Coast to British Columbia in the West. Eventually Carl turned his attention south to America. It didn't take him long to find success in the festival market. In 1994 Community Concerts of New York signed him. Apart from averaging about 40 festivals a year, Carl was handling between 50-70 concerts a year from Maine to Hawaii. After five years with Community Concerts Carl spent two seasons with Allied Concerts from Wisconsin, performing mostly in the upper Midwest states. The only two states Carl hasn't performed in are Rhode Island and Alaska. He has performed in every province in Canada except PEI.

Over all these years Carl has released over 30 recordings, 1 video and published one book. In 2007 and 2008 Carl's CD Songs of the South with Bagpipes and Banjos won the Vintage Album of the Year award from The Southern Heritage Music Association. It was with the release of his highly acclaimed double CD, Scotland Remembers The Alamo and the follow up release of the companion book Now's The Day And Now's The Hour that Carl has taken an interest in writing. The double CD and the book chronicle the strong influence of the Scots and Scotch-Irish at The Alamo and in early Texas history.

Meanwhile Carl's recordings continue selling worldwide as he works on new releases at his studio in Pennsylvania.

Colin Grant - Adams

Colin Grant-Adams, recording artist, Scottish/Celtic Folksinger, Guitarist, originally from Oban Scotland, presents a program of traditional, contemporary, and nationally acclaimed original folksongs about Scotland's rugged landscape, "These are My Mountains", it's turbulent history, "Ye Jacobites By Name" and the Scottish immigrants' influence on American folk and Bluegrass music, with "Scottish American" and "Kentucky in the Spring Time."

Audiences have enjoyed Colin Grant-Adams‚ performances in the famous folk clubs of Great Britain, Norway, Sweden and Europe and across the United States.  Grant-Adams‚ brings new life to the traditional tunes and are delivered with a touch of humor, the telling of mystical stories and even a few sing-along songs that leave the crowds asking for more.

Weaving tales of Scotland's turbulent history and haunting beauty with his remarkable ballads, Grant-Adams takes you on a journey across the seas to Scotland and the Islands.

Colin captivates the audience's heart, mind and soul.

His repertoire ranges from the well-known classical songs: "Skye Boat Song," "Will You Go Lassie Go," and "Dark Lochnagar" to the contemporary, and traditional music of Scotland and Ireland to the Bluegrass music of Kentucky, plus his acclaimed original compositions, "Where the Rhododendrons Grow," "Blood in the Ground", "Scottish American," and "The Lone Piper."

Grant-Adams has produced nine recordings, "Come by the Hills," "Glencoe," "Old Friends Across the Sea," "Scotland - Land of My Father", "Scottish American," "Traditional and Original Songs of Scotland," "This Land Called Scotland," "Colin Grant-Adams and His Guitar", and  "A Toast To Scotland."

Grant-Adams has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, and concerts all over the United States, plus at the acclaimed Carnegie Hall, NYC.

Please visit www.colingrant-adams.com for more info.

Blackthorn

Blackthorn is a Celtic band that saw its inception back in 1988 when a small group of ex-pats found a common interest in a music that wasn't all that common in Vancouver at the time. Since then, the group has travelled a long road through the streets of traditional and not-so-traditional Celtic music, expanding their repertoire and musical skills along the way.

Blackthorn's repertoire celebrates the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland as well as folk music of English and French Canada. This means that they are not only in demand for Robbie Burns and St Patrick's Day events but also Highland Games, festivals, ceilidhs, concerts, conventions and private functions throughout the year.

Blackthorn can rip up a reel, bounce along with a jig, pull your heartstrings with a mournful ballad and have you laughing and singing along to a favorite old tune all in the course of a performance. They play in their own style, with their own interpretation of the music and it is very apparent when watching them, that they have fun and enjoy what they are doing.

''a leading light in the Celtic music scene in B.C. - and beyond''

- Rogue Folk Review

Performing with professionalism and joie-de-vivre, Blackthorn always creates smiles and tapping feet. Their crowd-pleasing mix of Celtic, Quebecois and folk music gives their shows an appeal that crosses cultures and generations. Blackthorn's shows in Harrison Hot Springs have ended with well-deserved standing ovations and encores.

- Phyllis Stenson, Executive Director, Harrison Festival Society

The 2009 Maritime Festival at Britannia Heritage Shipyard had the largest attendance to date, largely due to the fact that Blackthorn, a Vancouver based Celtic band headlined the Musical Expressions series on the Saturday night. As the Producer of the festival's stage and music series, it was a pleasure to have Blackthorn on the bill this year. Their performance was magical, a highlight of the summer series. They are amazingly talented musicians. Their voices blend together beautifully and they moved the audience sometimes to tears. I also love their in between song antics, it really brings the audience in, making them feel like they are a part of the show. I had many emails after the show from fans of the Musical Expressions series, telling me how much they loved Blackthorn.

- Cherelle Jardine, Producer, Musical Expressions

For further information, visit www.blackthornband.com

Brother

celtic - tribal - mongrel

Chances are you've seen BROTHER on NBC's 'ER', maybe heard their music on the classic 'Baraka' soundtrack or UPN's ' Twilight Zone.' The band has shared stages with Joe Walsh, John Entwhistle, Linkin Park, and Alicia Keys and are the only independent band to have played the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fusing signature vocals and guitar with the deep pulse of the didgeridoo, the soaring highs of the bagpipes, and tribal percussion, BROTHER is wholly original. The band's powerhouse live performances are an energetic celebration, captivating and engaging the audience from the first song to the last.

Angus, founding member of BROTHER, arrived in Los Angeles from Australia with his brothers a decade ago as little more than fresh-faced farm boys. In LA, they found themselves busking at Venice Beach, the Hollywood Bowl and Universal Studios to survive. Since those days, BROTHER evolved its trademark sound while touring extensively in the United States and in Canada, Japan, France, Egypt and Australia.

They did it all free from standard industry trends and pigeon-holes. BROTHER has self-released 12 albums, sold more CDs in the USA than any other independent Australian act and has regularly been cited as a role model within the independent scene.

BROTHER live today is a powerhouse celtic tribal trio. The band's legendary live shows have reached a whole new level, with soul brothers Angus, Dalbo and Drew filling the stage with their energy and sound.

a band that you must hear!...

with influences from every culture you can imagine… wonderful music.

River Rhythms Festival, Wisconsin, USA

the most popular act in the six-year history of the Michigan Irish Festival.

Muskegon Chronicle, Michigan, USA

Brother is one of the most unique, creative and primal trips

I've ever experienced in a live performance.

No Cover OC Event Guide, California, USA

For further information, visit www.brothermusic.com

Men Of Worth

The folk-music duo, Men of Worth, was formed by James Keigher (Ireland) and Donnie Macdonald (Scotland) in 1986. Both exiles, it was through the Celtic music scene in Southern California that James and Donnie first met, and within a couple of years a partnership developed that was simultaneously serious and fun.

Geographical changes now find James and Donnie living in Southern Oregon and Northern California respectively. Whilst remaining true to their Gaelic roots, Men of Worth have successfully evolved as entertainers. Success breeds success, and a natural progression toward education and travel has sealed the next decade as an exciting and pioneering era for the versatile duo.

Together Men of Worth blend their voices with harmony and support their collection of songs with their varied selection of instruments. They have a very simple approach to their presentation, and in keeping with tradition, remain true to the music and story. Their show is a unique combination of humor, exciting tunes, and soulful, heartfelt ballads.

Men of Worth are an international act, and have earned much respect and success in two decades of touring. Cultural presentations in Schools have received rave reviews by students and teachers alike. Performing concerts, festivals, and having recorded ten albums, Men of Worth continue the very tradition from which they evolved.

Donnie Macdonald comes from the Isle of Lewis, one of the Hebridean Islands off the west coast of Scotland. Writing tunes and original songs in both his first language Gaelic and in English, Donnie presents the music from his native Scotland with passion and humour. Donnie performs on vocals, octave mandolin, tenor banjo, concertina, and bodhran.

James Keigher comes from Co. Mayo in the west of Ireland. He is a singer, writer and collector of traditional and contemporary folk music. James was raised in Charlestown, a small rural community setting, steeped in traditional music and stories. He performs on vocals, guitar, mando-cello, and bodhran.

For further information, visit www.menofworth.com

Seattle Knights

The Seattle Knights, the Northwest's premier sword fighting and jousting organization, is a theatrical troupe whose specialty is Medieval Fantasy. Their dedication to the principal of "Education through Entertainment" has made the Seattle Knights the top stage combat troupe in the country.
The actor-combatants perform choreographed combat using real armor and weapons. Men and women perform on equal footing, taking up spears, pole weapons, war hammers, axes, daggers, and, of course, swords of almost every variety. For all the ferocity and excitement, it's all good, clean fun.
The Seattle Knights proudly maintain the best safety record in the industry, and have performed for schools, businesses, private functions, parades, charities, festivals, and renaissance fairs around the United States.

For the Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games & Clan Gathering, the Seattle Knights swap armor and horses for kilts and comedy, displaying their skills with rapier and repartee throughout the day. Join us for music, mirth, and merry mayhem.

For more information, visit: http://www.seattleknights.com.

WICKED TINKERS

Wicked Tinkers - a Celtic Tribal Sound Explosion!

Prepare yourself for a wild ride with WICKED TINKERS! Pioneers of the growing Tribal Celtic movement, Wicked Tinkers have been playing haunting, heart-pounding bagpipes and tribal drums as a professional band since 1995. With the addition, of the mesmerizing drone of the Australian didgeridoo and the Bronze Age Irish horn, their allure is hypnotic. The band merges the best of modern, rock-and-roll energy of the 21^st century with the persistent grooves of their Gaelic ancestors. "The combination seems to tap the very soul of Gaelic Music," says bagpiper Aaron Shaw. The Wicked Tinker sound transports listeners to an ancient Scotland and Ireland when battle cries filled the air generating psychic connections to primal emotions. This music puts fire in your belly and dance in your feet.

The WICKED TINKERS bring their vitality and humor to stages across America. Besides appearances on national television THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON, Wicked Tinkers tours the U.S. for most of the year. They have made friends and fans from all over the world at some of the largest Highland Games, including: Pleasanton in California; the Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games in Enumclaw, Washington; the Texas Highland Games in Arlington, Texas; festivals in Estes Park, Colorado, and Las Vegas, Nevada; as far east as the Oklahoma Highland Games; the Kentucky Scottish Weekend; the Rhode Island Celtic Festival; and the Mid-Winter Scottish-Irish Festival and Fair in Pennsylvania.

Some of WICKED TINKERS' biggest fans are kids! The band has performed and instructed at schools for children of all ages.

"...the Tinkers appeared, beating the living hell out of tapan, bodhran, and marching snare drum, while pipes skirled, a didgeridoo wobbled, and a Bronze Age Irish horn bellowed, like the voice of some H.P. Lovecraft aquatic leviath... -Mick Farren, City Beat - Los Angeles, CA

"Music that truly isn't about being pretty, it's about being forceful and filled with rhythms of life." -Chuck Thurman, The Coast Weekly

"A sound powerhouse!" -Antje Depone, Monterey County Herald

"The Celtic bagrock band ... the bagpipe-and-drums answer to The Clash! ... They play like their sporrans have been set ablaze!" -Dean Bonzani, Flagstaff Live

WICKED TINKERS sound is the distillation of the passion of a people and their music. Like a fine, smoky Scotch whisky, it's a little rough around the edges but unmistakably the real thing.

Please visit www.wickedtinkers.com to learn more about the WICKED TINKERS.