The Prodigals Ireland meets Bulgaria in New York! – a glorious blend of Irish traditional melodic roots, singer-songwriter lyrics and a jazz-funk rhythm section. A band that has toured for more than ten years, from coast to coast across the States, as well as in Ireland, Canada and Germany, and garnered a sterling reputation in the process.  In the past year alone they have headlined concerts from the Cleveland House of Blues, to Helena, Montana's Myrna Loy Theater, to Memphis' Levitt Shell.  The UK-based Rock n’ Reel describes them as “the best funky-Celtic-folksters doing the rounds….wholly inspirational.”  The Irish Times (Ireland) described them as “fiery, fierce, frenetic and just the ticket…powerful.”  The New York Times dubbed them “indelibly Irish”, the Village Voice noted them as “the best Irish trad-rock band…NYC’s answer to the Pogues”, and from the opposite coast the Santa Monica Mirror acclaimed their music as “stunning and joyful”.  www.prodigals.com

Barry Williams Barry Williams is originally from Pouch Cove Newfoundland, but now lives in Riverview New Brunswick. He is a professional entertainer that has captivated audiences at hundreds of shows with just an acoustic guitar, a great voice and a lot of energy. Performing for crowds from ten to ten thousand, Barry plays music with great enthusiasm, and it shows. Each show is different, each show is entertaining, and each show is guaranteed to be a good time. His first of three CDs to date  “My Lady” continues to get good air play on radio stations in eastern Canada. www.barrywilliams.ca  •  watch video

Bang on the Ear Born Out of the Foothills of Glengarry County, Ontario, a small Eastern Ontario community, rich in Scottish and Irish heritage. Lead by singer/songwriter, Bradley McMillan on guitar and vocals, Mike Sonnel on lead guitar, Michelle McMillan on tin whistle & vocals, Johnny Kluver on bass guitar, Matt Cormier on percussion, and Alexander Macmillan on Mandolin and banjo. Playing and writing Original music, as well as performing you’re traditional Irish, Scottish / Pub songs, they have built a strong following placing emphasis on combining the sounds of traditional Celtic music and fusing it with rock n roll & folk rhythms. There original songs focus on there Celtic culture and that of living and growing up in Glengarry County. There infectious rhythms, and Kitchen Party vibe will have you filling your pints, and stomping your feet all night long. www.bangontheear.com  •  watch video

Shannon Quinn Shannon Quinn is an Irish-Canadian living on the East Coast of Canada. She comes from a family tree of musicians and is surrounded with the musical culture of Atlantic Canada. Shannon has been performing on the fiddle from a very young age. Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Shannon plays many styles of music, but has a deep connection to traditional Irish music her ancestors enjoyed and her sound is authentically Irish. In 2006 Shannon was the featured fiddler in the Charlottetown Festival, and was the youngest performer to ever work with the Festival Young Company. In 2008 completed her solo recording entitled "The Irwin Lake Sessions". On this recording, Shannon plays fiddle,accordion and does all vocal work. CBC Radio two recently aired her entire live one hour concert nationally on two occasions on “Canada Live”. She now attends Humber College in Toronto, studying violin in the Music Degree program.  She is accompanied by Tony Quinn, her father on fingerstyle guitar.    watch video

Kathleen Gorey-McSorley At only 15 years of age Kathleen already has international experience having performed in Ireland, Scotland and the USA as well as various parts of Canada.  Among her many accomplishments a couple of highlights would be competing at the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Co. Offaly, Ireland and the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championships in Ottawa in 2009.  Kathleen performed at the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton in October 2009.  She had the pleasure of sharing the stage in two concerts with Ashley MacIsaac in January 2010.   Kathleen was the winner of the inaugural Innishowen Fiddle contest and is pleased to be back to entertain at Canada’s Irish Festival on the Miramichi for a second year.  Carolyn Holyoke will join Kathleen on piano and accordion.  www.kathleengorey-mcsorley.com  •  watch video

Kitchen Party Created more than 5 years ago (November 2004), the band quickly gained a solid professional reputation due in good part to their three successful tours of Scotland (2005, 2006 and 2008). Furthermore, the band has reached the mark of 400 shows in the winter of 2009. Kitchen Party is an energy filled formation that will transform a regular night into a devilish party mixing Irish and Canadian Celtic styles. www.kitchen-party.com

The Town Pants The Pacific Northwest may not be the first place you would expect to hear rollicking Celtic, Folk or World music, but The Town Pants are determined to change that. The Vancouver, Canada– based band combines aspects of Irish traditional, acoustic pop, roots Americana, even Australian and Mexican influences, to create their own unique brand of “West Coast Celtic.” Armed with a pawnshop’s worth of musical instruments, The Town Pants play songs that appeal to young and old alike. The music of The Town Pants remains in the heart and head long after the music stops. The Town Pants are unsurpassed with their fast-paced West Coast Celtic style. www.thetownpants.com  •  watch video

Gerry Roberts Gerry Roberts is a talented musician and singer from Belfast, Ireland. He plays guitar, flute, whistle, bass and the bohran.  Gerry has toured the U.S. and Canada  with  well-known bands.  While working in Belfast during the winter, Gerry travels to the Miramichi for his summers.

Durty Nelly's The Durty Nellys acquired their unique handle from a Pub of the same name located in the shadow of Bunratty Castle, County Clare.  There sits one of Ireland’s oldest and most renowned pubs.  So impressed with the establishment they were not hesitant when it came down to naming the band. Consisting of four exceptional musicians from the City of Miramichi, New Brunswick(Canada’s Irish Capital) they have come together to form a unique hard driving Celtic and folk experience.   From the corner pub to the big stage, the Nelly’s are guaranteed to satisfy any audience.  They are looking forward to taking the Irish Festival stage for the first time.  GIV’ER!!   watch video

The Nelson Doyle Dancers The Nelson Doyle Dancers, instructed by Ellen Doyle, is a non-profit volunteer organization in existence since 1991. It consists of boys and girls age five and up who are instructed in traditional Irish dance, language and history. The Nelson Doyle Dancers have performed in Ireland as well as throughout the Maritimes. They have been featured on CBC children's programs, ASN's Breakfast Television and documentaries on Irish Immigration to New Brunswick. Faoi do chois é!

Hibernian Pipes & Drums The Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipes and Drums Band’s mission is to play the pipes and drums to the highest skill level possible. Located in Manchester, NH, the band performs several times a year for a variety of events. A high communal spirit, endless good times, and above all, the joys of achievement are the rewards of hours of dedicated practice.

Bob McCallum Bob McCallum is a Miramichier with a repertoire of Irish songs that will have Festival audiences clapping their hands and tapping their feet.   watch video

Sons of the River This local musical group has been entertaining for many years, first at kitchen parties and later as a dance band.  These four friends met and began playing together while teaching at James M. Hill School.  Their wide variety of music includes a full repertoire of Irish traditional music.  They include Clarence Comeau, Wally Jimmo, Charlie Stymiest and Vernon Shea.

ChiGals Step into a ChiGals practice and you’re not sure if you’ve walked into a music rehearsal or a therapy session.  You’ll hear lots of brainstorming, harmonies – sweet and sour, laughter, tears, life stories, and humor.  The rich vocals are supported by guitar, bass, tin whistle, bodhran and other percussion instruments.  The group originated several years ago when Paula Foley called Jo Ann Lynch, Lynn Doyle and Carmel MacTavish to sing at a charity event and the ChiGals were born!  The gals play a variety of music including spiritual, traditional and contemporary tunes. Paula, Jo and Lynn have released solo CDs which are available for purchase: Paula Foley: The Soul of Who She Is (2001), Jo Ann Lynch: My Rock (2009), Lynn Doyle: Songs of Home (2006)

Cosán Claudie: on guitars, piano, mandolin. Marie: tin whistles, piano and mandolin. Andrée: fiddle. Originally from the province of Quebec, the three sisters grew up in New-Brunswick before moving to Prince-Edward-Island. Surrounded by music from all over the Maritimes they picked up musical influences from different places. From a musical family, traditional music has always had an important presence in their life. They have been singing since their childhood and later started to learn to play instruments together around age ten. Ever since, they have been playing together for friends and family and discovered the wonderful sound of Irish music. About five years ago, the three sisters decided to share with the public, their passion for irish music and acapella songs. On a summer trip to Vancouver Island, the group Cosán was born.  Since then, Cosán has been playing in the Maritimes, performing for festivals and major events.

The Heritage Players Watch the memory of Miramichi’s most beloved folk poet come alive as the Heritage Players present several of his poems in new and unique ways. Featuring The Gillis Family, Brad Donovan, Barry MacKenzie, the Sutton Brook Six, and the cast of “In Camp at Sutton Brook.” Directed by Bernie Colepaugh. The Heritage Players are a local theatre group dedicated to preserving and presenting the Miramichi’s rich culture and heritage so that it may be enjoyed and remembered by future generations. The Tara Players Theatre of Ottawa Follow Irish Canadian Father of Confederation Thomas D’Arcy McGee on the last day of his life before his tragic assassination on Sparks Street in Ottawa on April 7, 1868. Born in Ireland, McGee was a prolific and brilliant man, a journalist, poet, historian, lawyer, lecturer, orator, visionary, statesman, politician, and loving husband and father. Yet, he was controversial with weaknesses which hindered his personal and political life. Padraig Finlay is the producer, playwright, and principal actor for the McGee! project, which presents excerpts of speeches, poetry, musings, joys and fears of Thomas D’Arcy McGee.