News

Makem Brothers Added to '06 GAIF Lineup

July 12, 2006

Sometimes things don't work out as planned.
Sometimes they work out better.
Faced with the defection of the Irish Descendants from its 2006 lineup, the Great American Irish Festival simply went out and replaced them with one of the most famous names in Irish Music, as the Makem Brothers have been added to perform at the July 28-29 festival.
Officials from the festival have been under the impression for months that the lineup was complete, having agreed to terms with close to 40 different acts, including such international stars as Natalie MacMaster, Solas, The Prodigals, Enter the Haggis, Hair of the Dog, The Glengarry Bhoys, The Fenians, the Young Dubliners and Old Blind Dogs. However, at the last minute, one of the headline acts, the Irish Descendants, backed out of the festival, citing scheduling problems.
What could have been a major blow instead turned into a major coup when it was learned that the Makem Brothers had an unexpected opening that weekend and would be available for the festival. A few emails later, the deal was done, and the biggest and best festival lineup in the Northeast got even bigger and better.
The Makem Brothers – Shane, Conor and Rory – are the sons of the legendary Tommy Makem and are joined on stage by fellow siblings Mickey and Liam Spain to form an act that one reviewer has called "the definitive Irish folk singers of their generation."
The Makem Brothers will be performing on the Harp Traditional Stage at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 29.