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Pipe Bands
Dance
Dance
We host a Highland Dance Competition during the event. Come to watch or to compete!
"Highland dance or Highland dancing (Scottish Gaelic: dannsa Gàidhealach)[1] is a style of competitive dancing developed in the Scottish Highlands in the 19th and 20th centuries, in the context of competitions at public events such as the Highland games. It was created from the Gaelic folk dance repertoire, but formalized with the conventions of ballet',[2] and has been subject to influences from outside the Highlands. Highland dancing is often performed with the accompaniment of Highland bagpipe music, and dancers wear specialized shoes called ghillies. It is now seen at nearly every modern-day Highland games event." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_highland_dance
2025 ONLINE DANCE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. EMAIL HEATHER MORRIS AT heathermorris705@gmail.com FOR LAST MINUTE SIGN-UPS.
Main Stage Bands
The Bowmaneers
The Bowmaneers
The Bowmaneers perform modern and contemporary Celtic music. Exploring the more recent imaginings of Celtic songs and tunes, you will hear songs about the sea, love, betrayal, mermaids, boats and the occasional dragon or scoundrel. Songs are filled with multiple harmonies and vocal collaborations. Band members include: Brittany Hinger on ukulele and vocals; Zach Phelps on guitar and vocals; Elizabeth Lawyer on violin and vocals; Shiela Lane on piano, whistles and vocals; Linda Dolder on drum and vocals; and Jarod Lane on bass and vocals.
Patrick Crossing
Patrick Crossing
Patrick Crossing performs both original and traditional Celtic music with creative stylings and riveting melodies and harmonies. Multiple members of the band are vocalists, which allows for stunning harmonies and unique arrangements of songs. Tune sets (instrumentals) are lively renditions of Celtic foot-stomping music filled with rhythms and harmonies on a variety of instruments. Band members include: Dennon Jones on fiddle, mandolin, and vocals; Shiela Lane on whistles, cello, and vocals; Elizabeth Lawyer on fiddle and vocals; CJ Alderton on guitar and vocals; Erick Morningstar on the bouzouki and bodhran; and Molly Morningstar on vocals.
Tom Ward’s Downfall
Tom Ward’s Downfall
Colorado based trio fusing Irish flute wizard Ed Webb, fiddler Ari Schermer, and accompanist Erick Morningstar on Irish bouzouki. With Ed and Ari’s collection of Celtic trad dance tunes and Erick’s versatile rhythm backing, no session or live performance is ever quite the same. Melodic dance music with imaginative ornamentations, moving arrangements and minimalistic rhythm soundscapes evoke images of misty hills, open roads and rolling waves. “We have a creative process that is spontaneous, authentic and energetic.”
Truckely Howe
Truckely Howe
Truckely Howe has played the lively traditional dance music, beautiful airs and songs of the Celtic Isles at weddings, festivals and local events since 2011. Ed Webb, Yvonne Holland, and Steve Martin began with flute, fiddle, guitar, bouzouki and banjo. Their music is performed in the “pure drop” style. Susan Vidal joined them playing whistle and cello. More recently, Erick Morningstar playing bouzouki and bodhran, and Danna Manganaro’s vocals have brought additional color and texture to Truckely Howe.
Badly Bent
Badly Bent
The Badly Bent is comprised of Patrick Dressen (guitar, vocals), Mark Epstein (banjo, vocals), Joel Denman (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), Alex Read (bass). The Badly Bent has been performing in the Durango area and has nationally toured since 1998. Winners of the 2005 Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition, The Badly Bent has continued to be an integral component of the Durango bluegrass scene. The Badly Bent remains loyal to the traditional bluegrass that we have always respected and is expanding its repertoire by adopting other music and making it a part of our performances. The Badly Bent has released three full-length CDs, played over 100 festivals, and is looking forward to performing at The Aztec Highland Games.
Desert Highlanders
Desert Highlanders
The band was formed after the Second Gallup Celtic Festival, as a result of an impromptu jam session. Known as 'Gallup’s only Celtic chamber ensemble', and likely to remain so, we are typically a ceilidh band or, a pub band if you prefer. Over the last 15 or so years, we have gone through many changes in personnel but we have basically dedicated ourselves to the performance of Celtic music, including songs from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Great Britain, Spain, Canada, and the United States. We are also available for Weddings, Ceilidhs, Funerals, and very strange Bar Mitzhvahs…
The Robin Davis Duo
The Robin Davis Duo
The Robin Davis Duo is the sound of decades of music and life lived side by side. From Pagosa Springs, Colorado, this husband-and-wife team blends tradition and originality with a chemistry that only years together can create. Robin Davis brings rich melodies to life on the fiddle, while Jimi Giles lays down a rhythmic foundation with her clawhammer banjo. Their performances weave together heartfelt original songs and timeless tunes from the bluegrass and old-time canon, all delivered with soul, harmony, and an unmistakable sense of place. Since the release of their second studio album, Starin’ at the Mountain, Robin’s latest obsession is Celtic music. He’s learned countless jigs and reels on the fiddle and tin whistle, while Jimi’s enjoyed learning the bodhrán. Their show weaves together the delights of an Old and New world.
Ga Greine
Ga Greine
Celtic music from here to there and then to now. Ga Greine means “Sunbeam” in Gaelic and was chosen by the band to represent the reawakening of the Celtic traditions in a band consisting of multiple generations from Baby Boomer to Generation X and on to Generation Z Ga Greine blends the best of old and new, original and tradition ballads interwoven with tradition fiddle tunes from across the Celtic world. Charles Stacey plays guitar and is our lead vocalist and songwriter. His musical experience goes back to the 1950’s and 60’s and brings flavors of timeless folk music in the storytelling within Ga Greine’s originals as well as older traditional or from the new folk revival. Deb Yost plays all types of wind instruments including penny whistle, Irish flute, French flute and Galician giata (Spanish Bag Pipes). She began performing in the 1990’s with an emphasis on jazz and Latin inspirations and then began to connect with her Celtic heritage. Our youngest band mate, Abigail Baker, started playing the fiddle at age 3 and now at 13 brings a fresh perspective to traditional Celtic tunes. She also provides vocals on a few songs. Our newest addition to the band is Carl Freuden. Carl has been an integral part of various project with both Deb and Charlie over the past 25 years. He plays bass, electric guitar, percussion and sings harmony
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