Want to learn more about your favorite performer? Visit their links below.
MAIN STAGE
GAÊLICA
NEW TO OUR STAGE-SATURDAY ONLY
Gaêlica is a World, Folk, and Celtic Music Band that originated in Caracas, Venezuela, and is currently based in Miami, Florida. With a history spanning over 20 years, the band has released 5 studio albums and received numerous accolades for their work. They were nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Best Folk Album category and have won 5 Pepsi Music Awards, including Best Folk Album, Best Folk Song, and Best Folk Artist, among others.
Gaêlica has performed extensively in the US, Europe, and Latin America, captivating audiences with their unique blend of original compositions and traditional Celtic tunes from Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Scotland.
Gaêlica’s live performances are dynamic, emotional, and uplifting, spreading positive energy and fostering a sense of celebration and connection to Celtic-Iberian roots among the audience. Their shows are characterized by vibrant music, encouraging dance, and an overall engaging experience.
MUDMEN
NEW TO OUR STAGE-SUNDAY ONLY
Always entertaining and definitely unique, The Mudmen are a blast of Celtic energy whose members are known to be characters both on and off the stage. First discovered in 1993 as “The Campbell Brothers”, the Brothers signed a record deal with EMI Records and changed their name to “Mudmen”. The Mudmen: Robby & Sandy Campbell, Colin Amey, Andy Gingerich, Alex Showdra and Emmet Glancie, believe that nice guys can finish first, while enjoying life and what you do translates to all audiences.
They have built a legion of fans, with over 3000 shows to date. Mudmen have headlined Canadian tours, festivals across Canada, America & Europe including a very special performance at TSN’s “For the Love of The Game” Canadian gold ring presentation with Sidney Crosby present and have appeared twice on the nationally televised Canada Day celebrations where they performed and shook hands with the Queen. It has been said to describe Canada’s Celtic Rock Warriors in one word one would say fun!
EMMET CAHILL
SATURDAY ONLY – RETURNING TO OUR STAGE AFTER A 5 YEAR ABSENCE
World acclaimed Irish tenor Emmet Cahill recently made sold-out debuts at New York’s Carnegie Hall and with the world famous Tabernacle Choir. His Irish album debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Music Charts with Sony Music USA. Recent appearances include the Today Show, New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, U.S. Pentagon, Atlanta Symphony Hall.
Emmet hails from Mullingar, Ireland, and is the lead singer with PBS phenomenon Celtic Thunder.
At age 5 he began learning piano and his vocal training began at age 7. In high school he received a 5 year “Schola Cantorum” music scholarship. At 18 he began his formal training when he attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music where he received a BA in Music Performance.
ALBANNACH
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Founded in 2005, this Pipes & Drum band has taken the USA by storm. Their unique style, charismatic stage performance, and love for all things Scottish has drawn crowds from coast to coast. A MUST SEE! Not just another Scottish Pipes & Drums band! Albannach’s primal drumming and precise piping stirs the soul of anyone who hears them- young and old! These folks ARE Highlanders! Scottish Warriors to the Core!
With 5 CDs, a Documentary (Scotumentary), Multiple Fan Tours to Scotland, Canada and the open sea; the Nach Army is 64k and growing! These Celtic Rock Stars are as charismatic off stage as they are on. Being charming, intelligent, funny AND Scottish make all the right ingredients for a great interview. Radio, TV, Print – they are comfortable with it all!
This 5-person group consists of: Jamesie, bass drums and vocals; Jacquie, bass drums and vocals; Donnie, champion piper; Nick, lead drummer; and DidgeriDrew, didgeridoo.
DUBLIN CITY RAMBLERS
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
The Dublin City Ramblers have thrilled audiences worldwide with their unique blend of Ballads, Folk, Humor, Wit and foot-tapping music. Their impressive career has spanned more than 35 years, with over 30 albums, top ten hits, several awards for best Ballad/Folk Group and, to top it all off, 8 Gold Albums. It is certainly no wonder that they are classed as Ireland’s Number One Group!
Their music has also taken them all over Europe, and they have performed at every major venue in Ireland and abroad, including Dublin’s National Stadium, National Concert Hall, Cork’s Opera House, England’s Royal Albert Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and at most Major Festivals worldwide, including headlining The Milwaukee Irish Festival, The Cleveland Irish Festival, Hollywood Irish Fest, Florida, Miami Irish Fest, Ft Lauderdale and most USA, Canadian & other festivals throughout the Globe!
JAMISON
SATURDAY ONLY
The Irish music scene in Philadelphia is bursting with bands and musicians who perform all over the area to keep the roots of Ireland alive in their songs. None of these performers are quite like Jamison though- a high-energy six-piece that can take traditional Irish tunes and turn them upside down, blending in rock, reggae, modern pop, and hip-hop along the way. Crowds can’t help but get to their feet as Jamison takes Irish music to the next level with original songs and eccentric versions of covers or festival favorites. You’ll be drawn into a unique experience with the band’s contagious good vibes.
Each Jamison show is different from the last. Whether it’s a large festival stage in front of thousands or a favorite pub crowd ready to unwind from a long week, you’ll be drawn into a unique experience with the band’s contagious good vibes. Their sets mold to fit their audiences, making Jamison one of the most versatile bands in the business. Fans will leave a Jamison show reenergized, out of breath and asking, “when’s the next one?”
LA UNICA
SUNDAY ONLY
La Unica (pronounced “La-Ooh-Knee-Ka”) is a Washington, DC based band who’ve been bringing their “Irish Latin Rock” sound to audiences for 13 years.
In a style all their own, La Unica’s five musicians seamlessly harness sounds from Latin America and Ireland to create a patented “Irish Latin Rock” musical experience. La Unica plays a mix of original creations and familiar-sounding cover songs which are sung in both English and Spanish, appealing to, well, everyone! La Unica offers a truly original sound and provides a high-energy show which gets even the shyest of guests dancing and excited to party.
SEVEN NATIONS
SUNDAY ONLY
Celebrating their 30th Anniversary with us!
The story of SEVEN NATIONS is that of a truly original and determined band that began in New York City, with members now hailing from California to Toronto to Florida. They have for years booked their own tours and have had their own PBS and CNN specials. Throw away any preconceived notions you may have about Celtic music…this is a band that has invented its own sound and attracted a prodigious national and international following.
“Seven Nations — the name refers to the seven original Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Galecia, Isle of Man, and Brittany — officially began in 1993 in New York City with a standard line-up of drums, guitars, and bass,” notes lead singer and guitarist Kirk McLeod. “We soon introduced bagpipes into the show, and over time the number of songs utilizing bagpipes grew until it became obvious that they were integral to our emerging sound,” says McLeod. “Most of the band members grew up playing Celtic music, and we’ve been performing original compositions since we began. Our instrumentation, and bagpipes and fiddle mostly, give us a distinctive sound and that’s what makes us different.”
STEEL CITY ROVERS
SATURDAY ONLY
+ Workshops Sat & Sun (Second Stage)
The Steel City Rovers perform dynamic and expressive music that is a unique composition 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 the powerful, emotive vocals and engaging entertainment. They perform on meticulously crafted replicas of historical instruments that rarely appear in today’s landscape.
SYR
SATURDAY ONLY
SYR (“sire”) is a Celtic Folk Rock band from Columbia, SC. Taking inspiration from Celtic history, stories and myth, SYR creates powerful songs with themes of battle, love and victory, celebrating the rich heritage of the Celtic Nations in a contemporary style with broad audience appeal. SYR’s reputation for a high-energy performance has made them a popular attraction for many Celtic festivals and events, building a following across the US and internationally.
The band consists of siblings Kyle (lead vocals, guitar) and Laurel MacCallum (vocals & percussion), Kelly Vance (bass), Greg Vance (drums), and Worth Lewallen (fiddle).
Chad Light
Main Stage Emcee
Actor, Director, Writer, Painter, Sculptor. Promoting the art, culture and history of the nation’s oldest city: Saint Augustine, FL.
Sharon Foy Baird
Second Stage Emcee
Sharon is no stranger to emceeing and hosting performance events. She has hosted talent shows, folk music festivals, showcases, benefit concerts and classical music performances. Sharon spent five years at the helm of the Milford, CT Fine Arts Council’s Performance Coffeehouse series where she acted as both Chair and hostess for their eight artist’s performances each season.
Favorite performances from over 50 roles on stage, screen and commercials include “The Admirable Crichton” at Long Wharf theatre, “Rainbow” at Yale University theatre, “A Streetcar Named Desire”, “Picnic” and “All My Sons” for the Alliance Theatre.
She enjoyed making “The Muppets take Manhattan” and has voiced spots for numerous industrial projects and companies such as Lego, Dove and Masterbrands. Currently, you can find Sharon right here in St. Augustine a few days a week at her retirement job as a History Teller for the Historic Tours of America’s History Museum and Oldest Store Museum. She is married to classical guitarist and teacher James Baird and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.
SECOND STAGE
Capt. Mayhem, the Pirate Magician
Captain William Mayhem, a.k.a. Bill McRea, has over 40 years of history in the entertainment world, performing as a magician and comedian for well over 7,000 appearances around the world.
For over a dozen years of his career Bill traveled the world with the United States Air Force. From 1986 through 2005, he made many appearances at notable Las Vegas venues; and with his magic, wit and charm, he is a highly sought after speaker and entertainer to this day.
Relocating to his hometown of St Augustine Fl, in January 2007, he has taken his passion of magic and love of pirate lore and history and blended them together into William Mayhem THE Pirate Magician of St Augustine.
Bill has served as Captain of the St. Augustine Swashbucklers since 2009 and continues to lead a crew of like-minded pirates, performing and raising money for charities and furthering the cause of community involvement.
Bill was one of the key organizers of the original St. Augustine Pirate Gathering of 2008, an event that continues to this day. His work has continued since 2010 as the Pirate Face and Voice of the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum, tour guiding Florida school classes on yearly field trips to our City and also conducting Pirate tours of the Museum for the public. He has represented the Museum on the History Channel, the Travel Channel, Telemundo and Univision.
Mickey Sweeney
2023 WINNER-Hammered Dulcimer National Championship
Mickey Sweeney met her first hammered dulcimer in St. Augustine six years ago; it was love at first sight! Since then, she has studied with many renowned performers and won third place at the National Hammered Dulcimer Competition in 2022.
Mickey performs regularly at the Butterfly House in Chesterfield, MO and often in the St Louis area.
She is delighted to perform again at the Celtic & Heritage Festival. You can look forward to hearing some old favorites as well as newer tunes.
John Miles
Historian/Lecturer
John Miles is a retired US Marine Corps Officer and former college professor who writes articles for history periodicals and presents lectures to multiple Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festivals throughout the country. He also gives historical presentations at multiple assisted and independent living facilities and public libraries through the U.S. His articles have been published in Marine Corps Gazette, Scots Heritage Magazine, Pipes & Drums Magazine, website of History Scotland, American Frontiersman, Military History magazine, and The Highlander. John’s articles have been published in Marine Corps Gazette, Scots Heritage Magazine, Pipes & Drums Magazine, website of History Scotland, American Frontiersman, Military History magazine, and The Highlander.
John holds or has held membership in the following organizations: Clan Gillean USA, Clan Donnachaidh USA, The Scottish American Military Society (SAMS), Scottish American Society Palm Beach, FL, the St. Andrews Society of Albany, NY, and the Scottish American Society of Tidewater, VA. He received his MA degree in Military Studies from American Military University and his BA in Anthropology with a minor in History from Texas A&M University.
Blue Lotus World Dance Company
Blue Lotus World Dance Company is a performance group that showcases various World Dance Styles such as Folkloric and American Cabaret styles of Belly dance. Belly dance and other world dance styles are a celebration of the human spirit. This style of dance knows no age or size. The dance empowers women by nurturing their minds, body, and spirit. Blue Lotus welcomes you to join us in the feminine divine of Middle Eastern and World Dance Style.
First Coast Highlanders
Bagpipe Workshop
The First Coast Highlanders is an all-volunteer Highland bagpipe band based in Clay County, Florida. The band was formed in 2009 and formerly known as the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Pipes and Drums.
They are a performance and entertainment bagpipe band, a teaching organization, and a non-profit cultural group, as well as being the official host band of the St. Augustine Celtic Festival.
They promote and support Celtic culture in our community through music by providing instruction to anyone interested in learning the Great Highland bagpipes or Highland drums, and they participate in many community events in Clay, St. Johns, Duval and Alachua Counties.
Steel City Rovers
Music Workshop
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.
On Saturday & Sunday at 2:15 PM on the Second Stage, they will be presenting a workshop entitled “How to Create Effective Tune Medleys”.
A unique feature of Celtic Music is the linking of tunes to create effective, energetic medleys. Why is this part of the Celtic Culture? The group will explore ways to create effective medleys, through tune selections, timing shifts, key changes, and segues.
Come explore all the tools used to get your feet and fingers tapping along.