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Performing Artists

Click here to view, print and/or save a copy of the Saturday's stage schedule and festival site map.


Oceans Apart

Oceans Apart, as the name suggests, combines the best music from the British Isles and America.  The crossover doesn't stop there!  You will hear a Welsh vocal, Irish Jig, show tune from the 1940's, Scottish Ballad, favorite pop song from the 50's, 60's, novelty songs from every era, or any one of a large number of American or Canadian perennials.

Please visit our web site at:
www.oceansapartmusic.com
   




Steve Colby

Steve Colby is a multi instrumentalist and vocalist, whose interest in music began at the ripe old age of five.  His musical interests are diverse, but within the past fifteen years have focused on Celtic, folk, folk-rock and old time Rock n’ Roll.  While his first love is the banjo (both tenor and five string), Steve also plays guitar, mandolin and Irish bouzouki.  His musical style evolved from the great folk/Celtic music era of the 1950's and 1960's. 



John Good

Born in Wales, surrounded by music and poetry and instructed in Classical Music since childhood, John Good is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and poet. He received a Master’s in music composition at twenty-one and has practiced his trade -- arranger, performer, studio musician, teacher -- in Europe and the United States, ever since.   Of his thirty years in America he says, "In San Francisco it was Jazz, in L.A. New Wave, and in Phoenix, well it’s back home to the songs, folk tunes and harmony of Wales and her Celtic cousins!"


Phoenix Pipe Band

Founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 1958 by two brothers from upstate New York (where both had played drums with a pipe band). The magnetism of their interest drew a few others from Tempe who played pipes and drums.  Within a short time they had collected several other musicians who had gotten their start in military pipe bands in Scotland and Canada. What was then known as the Phoenix Scottish Pipe Band was on its way.

Pipe Major:   Len Wood     (602) 274-8081
Web site:       ppb.gndloop.org
   
Phoenix Pipe Band at Trans Celtic Gala


Phoenix Irish Step Dancers

The Phoenix Irish Step Dancers are a dance troupe dedicated to the promotion of Irish dancing as a living form of dance based on the traditions and standards that have evolved in Irish dancing for hundreds of years. Our teachers, choreographers, and dancers have all received many years of formal training through their association with many competitive Irish dance schools.  We teach all ages (3-78) and all levels (beginner through master).
   
Phoenix Irish Step Dancers at the Trans Celtic Gala


Shay Veno

Shay has a well deserved reputation for being a great pub singer.  In addition to showing that he is an exceptional singer with traditional songs, his CDs illuminate his skill as a song writer and interpeter of the modern Celtic songbook.

"My grandfather shortened our last name when he came to America so that he would be more accepted while doing business at his small auto repair shop, which was located in an all Italian neighborhood," Veno shared.
   
Shey Veno vocalist and guitarist performing


Jane Hilton

Jane's love for Celtic fiddle music led her to studies with All-Ireland Champion Sheila Maguire, Smithsonian Folkways Artist Kevin Burke and courses at the Augusta Heritage Festival in West Virginia, Sabhal Mor Ostaig in Scotland and the Willy Clancy Festival in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.  Jane's formal music education began in her home town of Mesa, Arizona with instruction from Cathy Worcestor.  At ASU, she worked with professor Frank Spinosa, and graduated with a BFA in Music.  Later, she studied as a graduate student of Aaron Berofsky at Indiana University-South Bend.

As a violinist, Jane has played in the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival, Kokomo Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony, Musica Nova and The West Valley Symphony. As a fiddler she found her niche with the Irish-American band, The Clare Voyants, and performed frequently in Phoenix, in addition to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle, Chicago, Flagstaff and Tucson.  Her studio time has included the recording of material for eighteen independently produced albums.  She has appeared live on Phoenix television and radio, and is an announcer on 89.5 FM KBAQ, the Phoenix area public radio station for classical music.
   
Jane Hilton violinist performing



Mary Bouley

Mary is a long-time celtic harpist who brings a little magic to every performance.  She specializes in traditional Celtic music and performs at many Arizona events, including the Emerald Ball, the Tucson Folk Festival, the Prescott Folk Festival and the Tucson Celtic Festival.  Mary has performed with a variety of bands, including Cherish the Ladies, New Potatoes, Ocean's Apart and Round the House.  In 2002, Mary appeared in concert as harpist to the Chieftans in a tribute to the late Derek Bell.  Mary currently performs with Lorna Govier as part of the Gemini Harp duo.

Mary Bouley harpist


James Reid

James Reid juggling 3 red balls
   


This juggler extraordinaire has been delighting audiences since he was just eight years old.  Only six months after learning how to juggle in Tempe, Arizona, he began his performing career.  Now twenty-seven years later, James has traveled throughout Arizona and the rest of the U.S. performing and teaching with juggling, Yo-Yo, Diabolo (Chinese Yo-Yo) and more. James has performed for thousands at festivals like Tempe Festival of the Arts and Glendale Glitters and wowed audiences in venues like Gammage Auditorium, Chandler Center for the Arts, The University Theatre at Yale, and so many more.  James currently resides in Phoenix and performs throughout the country.  Now James brings his unique fun to the Celtic Harvest Festival.  Current favorites in his show include juggling while eating an apple and spinning a Hula-hoop, bowling ball juggling, and the sports spectacular.  See www.jrjuggler.com for more information.

       






James Reid juggling a sword, pick ax and scythe


Liz Warren

Liz Warren storyteller
        


A fourth-generation Arizonan, Liz is a storyteller, teacher, writer and co-founder of the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.  Her recorded version of The Story of the Grail received a Parents Choice Recommended award in 2004 and a Storytelling World award in 2006.  The Path of Truth, her new CD of Arizona family stories will be released in 2009.  In June 2009, she was a featured teller at the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival, the annual storytelling festival of the Midlands of Ireland.  Representing SMCC, she is the producer of the annual Mesa Storytelling Festival.  Her new textbook, The Oral Tradition Today: An Introduction to the Art of Storytelling was published in 2008.




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View the Stage Schedule.

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Activities

Activity schedule coming
  
For families with children, there will be activities for young Celts in their own special area!  The Sedona Charter School will host the children’s activities at the festival, and will include hands-on arts and music fun, including:
  • Bodhran Making (outside) - Children will decorate an "Irish Drum" and Tipper from a pizza box and dowel.
  • Celtic Face Painting (Tequa Ballroom) - Celtic symbols will be painted and worn for the Festival!
  • "Iron Age Celts" an interactive computer activity (Tequa Ballroom) - Children will have the opportunity to learn about their forbearers by creating a family or community scenario on a laptop.
Children will be performing in groups: singing, dancing, drumming and storytelling.  Consult the festival schedule for times and locations.

                                                                     
Learn more about Celtic arts and crafts.



Whisky Tasting

Full Moon Saloon logo
Hosted by the Full Moon Saloon, in Tequa Festival Marketplace.

Formal tastings will be a 2 PM and 4 PM, guided by Master of Scotch Rick E. Edwards.

Guests will be tasting The Glenlivet 12yr, 15yr, 16yr, 21yr, and the 25yr.

Glenlivet logo




Glenlivet ambassador Rick E. Edwards
RICK E. EDWARDS
The Glenlivet Ambassador

Rick E. Edwards feels immeasurable pride in the fact that he is able to make a living from his true passion: Scotland and Scotch Whisky.  A native of Des Moines with Scottish-Norwegian heritage, Edwards spent the bulk of his youth in Minneapolis until he joined the military in 1986.  After serving six years in the army as a Red Beret Paratrooper, he moved to Hollywood, and in 1996 began working in the whisky industry.   Working at first as a promotional model, Edwards fell in love with the taste, history and heritage of Scotch Whisky.  He eventually worked his way up to become Master of Scotch in 2003 before being appointed The Glenlivet Ambassador in 2007.

Edwards has traveled all over Scotland in his quest to learn more about Scotch Whisky, and counts sailing around the inner Hebrides and building peat fires in the rain on the Isle of Skye as some of his most treasured memories.  However, he asserts that nothing compares to sharing his passion and knowledge with others, interacting with people and seeing them become enthused and excited about Scotch.  At the end of the day, Edwards says, "That’s something tangible I can walk away with."  Edwards’ favorite drink is The Glenlivet Archive 21-Year-Old, which he believes offers an unparalleled complexity and depth. He drinks it neat with a splash of ice cold water.

Rick Edwards is a graduate from the Royal Lochnagar Academy of Malt Advocates at Balmoral Castle. A Master of Scotch and Brand Ambassador for The Glenlivet Distillery.



Contact Us


John Good
Cultural Director
 
johng@celticharvestfestival.com
623-939-0209


Join us for the best Celtic music in the Southwest