The Philadelphia Fleadh, now in its 11th year, is an annual Irish-American Festival with multiple stages featuring live Celtic Rock, Traditional Irish music and dance, The Feis at the Fleadh, shopping, vendors, food, spirits, kids' activities and more. Entertainment includes 13 of the Best Irish Bands in Philly accompanied by Irish dancers who will kick off each set with the band. Remember your lawn or beach chair so you can sit down and relax while listening to the bands...and then turn your chair to watch the next stage perform for a day of non-stop music.
Bring your instruments to join the sessions with world renowned experts and jam with other like minded musicians at the Trad Sessions, which have grown to be one of the most anticipated events at the Philly Fleadh. Led by Fintan Malone, we have some world class players who will entertain you from 3-5 pm inside the Pub.
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.
The Fleadh is partnered with The Celtic Flame School of Irish Dance who host many other dance schools who come to perform throughout the day. Celtic Flame also is the organizer of The Feis at the Fleadh. If your school is interested in competing in the Feis or performing at the Fleadh contact CelticFlameIrishDance@gmail.com.
A variety of food will be provided by Nick's including their classics and some great Irish selections. Nick's will also have full bars, beer stands, and Pops McCann Irish Whiskey will be featured in drinks and tastings throughout the day. Although the Fleadh will take up all of Nick's parking lot, there will be unlimited parking next door in the mall parking lots.
Don't forget kids under the age of 12 are free, so invite the cousins, plan a family reunion, and make it a fun and affordable family tradition!
The Fleadh is held on the second Saturday in May each year and will take place at the Nick's Roast Beef Woodhaven Parking Lot in Northeast Philadelphia.
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8 am - 5 pm
Band Bios
The John Byrne Band
The John Byrne Band is led by Dublin native and Philadelphia-based 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. His next record, another selection of originals, is scheduled for release in Fall 2019.
John has toured with or opened up 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.
www.johnbyrneband.com
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The Bogside Rogues
The veteran Irish rock group, Bogside Rogues, is based in the Philadelphia area in the Mid Atlantic United States 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.
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. For the past 8 years 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).
The Paul Moore Band
The Shanty's
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.
Shack, CJ and Jimmy V
Mike Shackleton. CJ Mills and Jim Vassallo have all been big names in the Philadelphia Irish scene for many years. Although they all played together sporadically in the past, the three teamed up last year to bring their high energy trio to clubs and pubs on a regular basis. The boys can be found throughout Philly, Bucks County and Delco in the winter, and at the Jersey Shore in the summer.
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.
http://www.birminghamsix.com/
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!
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.
http://www.noirishneedapply.net/
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.
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.
Shaun Durnin
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.
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.
McGroary has just released his new single "Sing" which you can listen to right here.
Sing - Music and Lyrics by Seamus McGroary
L.J. Hall
L.J. Hall is brand new to the scene....mainly because he is only 16 years old! With a natural talent on guitar, and the voice of a country star, L.J. has been wowing audiences bar after bar. He plays in the Philadelphia area in the winter and the Jersey Shore in the summer.
The Trad Session at The Fleadh have proven to be one of the most anticipated events of the festival. Previously led by John Byrne and Bill Whitman, musicians from all over would attend to play music with others. Bill Whitman unfortunately recently passed away, so our sessions our now named in his honor.
The session this year will be led by Fintan Malone, and will have representatives from multiple trad and ceili groups who come share their talents. The Scubadelphia Trad stage will be on the main stage inside the Pub at Nick's Roast Beef. So, when you need a break from the big bands and crowds, head in for a pint and some traditional Irish music.
Galway