Listen at www.patrickcrossingmusic.com.

Saturday, October 5   12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on Main Stage 

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.

Sunday, October 6   9:30 am – 11:30 am on Main Stage

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.”

Performs on Main Stage Saturday, October 5 at 8:20 am - 9:20 am and on the Traditional Stage Sunday, October 6th

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.

Saturday, October 5 at 4:30 - 5:30pm on Main Stage

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. 

Red Desert Muse has been performing at the Aztec Highland Games since our first year together, and has often been joined by their descendant troupe, Shimmy Mob.  Hosting Bellydancers at the Celtic Festival allows us to recognize important and often ignored ties to the British Traveler Culture, which has its roots in India with the original Romany peoples, (Rom or Roman). By at least the 5th Century AD, the Romany had migrated out of India and begun to establish themselves in the Middle East, bringing their music and dance with them. While mainly street performers, they were also known to entertain for the courts.

The Romany spread throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. In Britain, the Romany were joined by people who fled warfare, famine and religious persecution, adopting their modes of dress and lifestyle but bringing additional crafts, knowledge and languages.  Because of this turbulent history, many British Travelers do not today consider themselves to be Romany (i.e. descended from India) even though linguistically and genetically most are related.

Travelling from place to place, the Romany picked up dance steps or musical styles in one country and carried them to others. It is in this spirit of the creative melding of dance and music that we come to you today. Although Red Desert Muse is not a Romany bellydance troupe and does not claim to dance in any of the Romany styles, we owe them credit for being the original “fusion” performers.  

We hope you enjoy the performances and perhaps are curious enough to delve more deeply into the history of the Romany peoples.  Visit our booth at the Aztec Highland Games Festival for bellydance costumes, jewelry and accessories.