LINEUP
FULL BANDS
State Farm Stage | 11 AM
RUSTIC REVIVAL TRIO
Inlet/Seaport Pier Stage | 11:40 AM
THE WEE ROSSAS
State Farm Stage | 12:20 PM
KILLEN CLARK
Inlet/Seaport Pier Stage | 1 PM
PAUL MOORE BAND
State Farm Stage | 1 :45 PM
BIRMINGHAM SIX
Inlet/Seaport Pier Stage | 2:30 PM
JOHN BYRNE BAND
State Farm Stage | 3:15 PM
GALWAY GUILD
Inlet/Seaport Pier Stage | 4 PM
STALL THE DIGGER
State Farm Stage | 4:45 PM
CELTIC EXPERIENCE
Inlet/Seaport Pier Stage | 5:30 PM
NO IRISH NEED APPLY
State Farm Stage | 6:15 PM
THE NATTERJACKS
Inlet/Seaport Pier Stage | 7 PM
THE SHANTYS
State Farm Stage | 7:45 PM
BOGSIDE ROGUES
ACOUSTIC, SOLO & TRAD SESSIONS
Bill Whitman Acoustic/Trad Stage | 1 PM
KEVIN O'SHEA
Bill Whitman Acoustic/Trad Stage | 2 PM
SEAMUS MCGROARY
Bill Whitman Acoustic/Trad Stage | 3 PM
TRAD SESSION w/ FINTAN MALONE, JOHN BYRNE & MORE
Bill Whitman Acoustic/Trad Stage | 5:15 PM
HOOLIGAN JACK
Bill Whitman Acoustic/Trad Stage | 6 PM
THE MISFORTUNES
Bring your instruments to join in with world-renowned experts and jam with other like minded musicians at the Trad Sessions, led by Fintan Malone, which have grown to be one of the most anticipated events at the Philly Fleadh. We would like to recognize the late, great Bill Whitman, who was the driving force behind our trad sessions. Bill was not only a long time volunteer at The Philadelphia Fleadh, he was also a member of The Shantys and a great bodhrain player who sat in at one point or another with almost every musician playing the Fleadh. He and John Byrne would host our Trad Sessions and Bill would rally trad musicians from near and far to come join in the jam. He was truly a great friend to everyone that he knew. The world lost a very good man when we lost Bill Whitman. For this, we have named our trad session, The Bill Whitman Trad Session.
Past Festival Lineups
Band Bios
The John Byrne Band
The John Byrne Band is led by Philadelphia-based Dublin native, John Byrne. With influences ranging from Tom Waits to Planxty, John’s songwriting honors and expands upon the musical and lyrical traditions of his native and adopted homes. Combining Irish and American Folk and Rock styles, the Philadelphia Daily News calls The John Byrne Band "Edgy yet accessible, in a Luka Bloom meets Dylan kind of way."
Their debut album, After the Wake, was released to critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic in 2011. John and the band followed up After the Wake in early 2013 with an album of Celtic and American traditional tunes. The album, Celtic/Folk, pushed the band on to the Folk DJ Charts, reaching number 36 in May 2015. Their third release, another collection of John Byrne originals, entitled “The Immigrant and the Orphan,” was released in Sept 2015 to a sold-out crowd at the storied World Café Live in Philadelphia and 2 weeks later to a sold-out crowd at the Mercantile in Dublin, Ireland.
John has toured with or opened for acts as diverse as The Hothouse Flowers, Ian Gillan (of Deep Purple), Gaelic Storm, Murder by Death, Finbar Furey, Luka Bloom, The Saw Doctors, The Solas, Sharon Shannon, The Young Dubliners and The Greencards. Both as a solo/acoustic act, and a full 6-piece band, John logs in over 150 shows per year, building a loyal and devoted following.
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The Bogside Rogues
The veteran Irish rock group, Bogside Rogues, is based in the Philadelphia area and is known for an upbeat sound while maintaining their traditional roots. Drawing from the varied experience of its members, the band performs a variety of Irish and Celtic styles including ballads, rebel songs, traditional dance music (Ceili) and contemporary Irish songs. Featuring Accordion/Tin Whistle, Guitar, Bass and Drums, each of the band’s members have come together from different Celtic music backgrounds to form a striking live sound that has won over audiences wherever they go, and inspired many other musicians to take up instruments in order to continue the tradition.
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The Paul Moore Band
​Paul Moore has been around the Irish music scene in Philly since 1985. Citing “The Clancy’s & Tommy Makem”, “Christy Moore” & “The Wolfe Tones” among his earliest musical influences, Paul also adds The Pogues, Saw Doctors and Flogging Molly to a wide range of Irish music styles. As a founding member of Philadelphia based bands The Blarney Stones, Blackthorn and Paddy’s Well, Moore has performed at well over 2,000 shows. He has also enjoyed playing festivals and pubs across the country as well as several tours of Ireland. Paul’s current band combines a wide range of familiar Irish songs and tunes along with his original songs. So clap, dance and sing along to the music of “The Paul Moore Band.” This talented group of musicians includes: Matt Brescia (Tin whistle, flute & concertina), Patrick Close (lead guitar), Bill Binkley (fiddle) & Nick Morolda (bass).
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The Shantys
The Patriotic spirit and soul of Irish music will forever by captured at every Shantys show. The Shantys are an Irish folk and rebel band out of Philadelphia that take pride in keeping alive the musical traditions and songs of our heritage on this side of the Atlantic. The Shantys never work from a formal setlist and always take requests from our audience as they are the rock stars! This make the Shantys the most fan friendly band in Irish music today. Stop by for the craic, get up and belt out a few tunes with us or sit back and listen, one way or another you are guaranteed to be entertained.
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The Natterjacks
Formed in 2019, The Natterjacks emerged from a core group which has been playing Irish, Rock, and Party music together in the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey area for several years. With decades of musical experience among their members, The Natterjacks set out to make sure that you, their audience, is having as much fun watching and listening as they are while performing. With a signature sound inclusive of a mix of both their Irish and Celtic heritage as well as their American heritage with quintessential rock and roll classics mixed with some of the latest and greatest party hits, there’s something for everyone in a Natterjacks’ show!
What is a Natterjack? Native to parts of Ireland and Western Europe, Natterjacks are toads that are known for their over-the-top boisterous and ridiculous mating call; also, unlike other toads, the natterjack doesn't hop but has a swaggering strut-like walk instead. ...a fitting name if ever there was one!
Birmingham Six
Birmingham Six was formed in the Fall of 2006. Taking its name from the six men wrongfully convicted of the 1974 Birmingham Pub bombings, the band mixes traditional, rebel, contemporary and original Irish music to form its sound. The members’ influences are varied and combine nicely to create an energetic, fun live show. In the vein of The Pogues, Flogging Molly and The Tossers with the spirit of the Wolfe Tones and Clancy Brothers. At least that's what we're going for. Hopefully it will turn out that way in the end.
Galway Guild
​Galway Guild is a Celtic Rock band from Philadelphia PA. Inspired by the vast amount of Celtic music in Galway City Ireland, Galway Guild packages the traditional roots of Celtic music with the modern day essence of Rock and delivers that sound to the pubs and stages of America. Playing a mix of traditional, rebel, and modern Irish musick the band performs a fair amount in the North Eastern United States.
No Irish Need Apply
No Irish Need Apply consists of five musicians from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who sing original and cover songs showcasing the austere lifestyle of the Irish people as they immigrated to America in search of a better life. The musicians proudly highlight the Irish-American work ethic and love of family through a harmonic mix of gospel, rock, folk and blues songs.
Rustic Revival Trio
Rustic Revival started out with the acoustic duo of LJ Hall and CJ Mills. After a year, this small acoustic act developed into a full band adding Dan Schram on Bass, Pat Hammill on drums and Tyler Stetler and John Gorbe, two of the best guitar players in Philly, sharing gigs as the role of lead guitar. In one short year Rustic Revival has had the opportunity to play many of the biggest bars on the scene, as well as private parties, weddings, benefits and more. Although primarily a country and southern rock band, Rustic Revival also has plenty of Irish tunes up their sleeves that they pull out when the time is right….and what better time is right than The Philadelphia Fleadh? When not playing with the full band, The Rustic Trio gives an acoustic version of the show.
The Wee Rossas
Born from a shared love of Irish ballads and the spirit of storytelling through music, The Wee Rossas are a Philadelphia-based folk group with deep roots in Ireland's rich musical traditions. Blending heartfelt melodies, stirring harmonies, and the driving rhythms of the Bodhran, this four-piece brings the soul of the Emerald Isle to American
stages.
Neil McKernan, the band's lead singer and guitarist, hails from County Tyrone. With a voice steeped in emotion and grit, Neil brings to life the classic ballads of Ireland's past while crafting new ones that feel timeless. His heartfelt performances are the heartbeat of The Wee Rossas. On Bodhrán is Moira Fanning, a rhythmic force from County Northeast. A former drummer of the renowned group Spirit of 16, Moira brings a fiery edge and percussive soul to the group, grounding each tune with pulse and passion. Fiddle player Cormac Brady, from the green fields of County Meath, is a virtuoso whose strings seem to sing and weep with equal power. His playing weaves through each song with both grace and fire, capturing the highs and lows of the Irish spirit. Rounding out the group is Barry Quinn, a proud Dubliner with a voice made for telling tales. Barry specializes in Dublin songs-gritty, witty, and heartfelt ballads that bring a sense of place and character to every performance.
Whether it's a rousing rebel tune, a haunting love song, or a pub favorite that gets the whole room singing, The Wee Rossas are keepers of the Irish tradition-passionate, powerful, and always ready to raise a glass to song and story.
Hooligan Jack
The One Man Irish Band, comedian and storyteller, is the prime
example of someone who couldn't decide on just one thing he wanted to do when he grew up. If he grew up at all. With that said, he still provides a high-energy Irish/Celtic show filled with cráic. He is a performer of original and trad songs of good times, bad decisions, rebellions, love, heartaches, and drinking.
With an angelic voice and half a dozen instruments or more, he brews proper Irish trad with a kick of contemporary and punk.
Before becoming a completely untamable solo artist. Hooligan Jack has been
performing various forms of Irish and American folk music for almost 20 years. With his original band GASTA and guest performances with bands/artists such as The Elders, Dave Curly, Cathie Ryan, Seamus Kennedy, Runa, The Billies, Conklin Ceili Band, Peat in the Creel, Ian Carrol and The Patrick Players, and many others.
Stall The Digger
An up and coming Irish acoustic duo focused on playing Traditional Irish Pub, Rebel and modern/classic rock tunes. Gary O'Neill hails from County Derry, Jim Gilboyne from Northeast Philly. Both originally from Clancy's Pistol, decided to slow things down a bit and get back to their roots.
The Misfortunes
Hailing from the heart of Philadelphia’s vibrant Irish music scene, The Misfortunes bring the raw energy and rich tradition of Irish folk music to life. This trio—Patrick Carroll (Uilleann pipes, whistles), Steve Stanislaw (banjo, fiddle, vocals), and Tim Buchanan (guitar, mandolin)—first crossed paths at local trad sessions, where their shared love for the tunes naturally evolved into a band.
Patrick and Steve have been playing together for years, weaving intricate melodies and driving rhythms that capture the soul of Irish music. With Tim recently joining the fold, The Misfortunes have found a fresh dynamic, blending tight instrumentation with the spontaneity and storytelling at the heart of the tradition.
Whether playing in an intimate pub or lighting up a festival stage, The Misfortunes deliver a sound steeped in history, yet alive with modern energy. Their performances celebrate the spirit of Irish music—where every note carries the weight of the past and the promise of a great night ahead.
Seamus McGroary
​Seamus McGroary was born in County Donegal, Ireland. He began playing at age 11 and gigging at age 13. At age 19 he became a resident DJ in the Limelight nightclub in Ireland. In 2004 he moved to Manchester, England and began sitting in on acoustic jams and open mic nights. He moved to Philadelphia in 2005 and formed the band Random Blonde which played bars, clubs and festivals around Philly and the Jersey shore for six years. In 2010 Seamus began playing solo gigs playing many local rooms, traveling as far as Manhattan and Yonkers and even on occasion making the trip back to Ireland to play a gig or two.
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Shaun Durnin
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Shaun Durnin has been playing all over the area as a solo acoustic act and often as a duo. Raised listening to Irish music from his father who was from Ireland, Durnin has Celtic music running through his veins. A trained vocalist, Shaun has an amazing voice as well as great licks on the guitar.
