News

Elders, ETH Return to Headline 2010 GAIF

February 1, 2010

Fiery fiddles, blaring bagpipes and dazzling dancers will take center stage when The Great American Irish Festival comes to the Herkimer County Fairgrounds in Frankfort on Friday, July 23, Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25.
The official lineup was revealed for the first time at the Halfway to GAIF Hooley held January 31 at Hart's Hill Inn in Whitesboro
Headlining the traditional stage at this year's festival will be an artist who has been called the Jimi Hendrix of the violin, Eileen Ivers, who was an original member of Cherish the Ladies, one of the highlights of a career that includes a stint with the original Riverdance Company as well as the garnering of nine All-Ireland fiddle championships, a tenth on tenor banjo and over 30 championship medals; Derek Warfield, historian, singer, songwriter, author and founding member and front man of one of the truly legendary bands in the history of Irish music, the Wolfe Tones; and Canadian superstars Leahy, a powerhouse of eight musical brothers and sisters, all of whom are multi-instrumentalists and accomplished step-dancers.
In addition to these luminaries, festival-goers visiting the traditional stage will also enjoy such world-class acts as Andy Cooney, fresh off a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall; the Capital District's No.1 band, Hair Of The Dog; Belfast's McPeake, and the Keltic Kats from Kilkenny, Ireland.
For those whose tastes are a bit more contemporary, back to headline this year's festival will be high-energy festival favorites, Enter The Haggis and The Elders, leading a lineup that also includes the Glengarry Bhoys, The Prodigals, Texas Celtic rockers The Killdares, Pennsylvania funnymen Ceann, bare-knuckle Irish music from New York City with Shilelagh Law, and legendary Canadian Celtic punk-rockers The Mahones.
Adding to the non-stop entertainment will be a variety of other local and regional performers, including Central New York's most popular Irish performers, The Blarney Rebel Band, Rattlin' Bog, Vince Colgan, Pat Kane, The Stoutmen, Gerry Dixon, and hometown band Rory's Ghost.

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