Blaggards

The 2021 Sherwood Celtic Music Festival presents Blaggards (no “the”, pronounced BLA’ GUARDS or BLA’ GHERDS, depending on where you’re from) as they play what they call Stout Irish Rock, traditional Irish music mixed with rock n’ roll, influenced by everything from Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley to Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath. They are most frequently compared to bands like Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, and the Pogues.

Cleghorn

These invigorating artists have played the Sherwood Celtic Music Festival several times, and they never disappoint! Led by father and son, John and Dylan Cleghorn, this family is in the business of rockin’ your argyle socks off!  Bask in the cascade of high-energy performances these hot-shot musicians offer throughout Saturday at the Greenwoode Theatre.  Cleghorn’s music is all-original from “Young Free and Celtic” to “Nine minutes of WOO!” This September you are sure to become and instant Cleghorn fan for life – or you’ll remember why you already are one!

Scottish Highland Games

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to toss a telephone pole end over end? Well, we hadn't either until we saw the Scottish Highland Games. Now we can't get enough. This competition will last all day and include the Scottish Hammer Throw, Shot Put, Weight over the Bar, the crowd favorite Caber Toss, and more. A World Champion may even show up! You never know what will happen in Sherwood Forest.

If you are interested in competing, please contact akabull@gmail.com

Sean Orr's Celtic Texas

Friday night at the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Pub

Sean learned to sing and play the fiddle in the honky tonks and dance halls across the state of Texas. As time went on that expanded to neighboring states and then most of the country. He got involved in Celtic music after moving to Austin and taking advantage of the diverse musical culture that exists there. After a considerable tenure with the Celtic Rock band Pubcrawler, Sean has set out on his own and remains a favorite in Pubs and private venues across Central Texas. In recent years Sean has played festivals in Canada and Europe as well many in Texas. He also had the privilege to represent Texas playing the fiddle at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

The Troubadork Show

Tobias has been a multi-disciplinary nerd for longer than anyone can comfortably remember. So, when the pandemic hit, and he realized that interactive comedy and magic acts don’t convert well to online streaming, he opened up the “Musician” wing of his brain and started learning and writing songs, culminating in the semi-regular streaming show known as TROUBADORK! 

Celtic Archery Tournament with Robert de Bowyer

Sherwood Celtic Music Festival proudly presents the Sherwood Archers!

This team travels the country and world year round winning national and world titles and records. Come see the pros at the Sherwood Celtic Fest. Robert de Bowyer will be hosting a tournament in the Pirate Territory behind the King's Swing. 

The video below (or to the right on desktop) is from Sherwood Forest Faire which runs weekends in March and April. Many of these archers will be competing at the Sherwood Celtic Music Festival.

Tournament rules including entry requirements can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1894109747480756/

Shillelagh!

Texas Celtedelic Irish jam Band, Shillelagh! Has played at Sherwood many times.  Sometimes at gatherings and sometimes at the faire on various stages, including some that have been lost in the mists of time. Oh Majestico Stage! We hardly knew ye!  Music in the living tradition, especially the Brittish Isles and Ireland. Enjoy this unique and various band of true bohemians, dedicated to their musical adventures.  Stick to Music!

San Antonio Pipes & Drums

A dedicated group of bagpipers and Scottish Drummers make up the San Antonio Pipes and Drums. This non-profit organization, formed in 1986, strives to present traditional bagpipe band music for the enjoyment of both musician and audience. Members wear traditional Scottish attire, each kilted in an authentic tartan of the member's choice so that many clans are represented. Instruments played are the Great Highland Bagpipes and specially-tuned drums. The group strives to improve performance and to encourage and assist beginners. Participants range in age from teenagers to "over 70" retirees. A popular attraction at the Texas Folklife Festival each year since their formation, the band is also proud to have played for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the president of Mexico when they visited San Antonio. They represented the city of San Antonio in a Fiestas Octubre Parade in Guadalajara, Mexico, and were the first musical group officially to perform in the Alamodome. The San Antonio Pipes and Drums will play on Saturday at various locations around the festival grounds, including the Highland Games arena, the front gate, and the Lionheart Tavern.

Ed Miller

Ed Miller has been hailed as "one of the finest singers to come out of the Scottish Folksong Revival" and as "one of Scotland's best singing exports." Originally from Edinburgh, he has for many years been based in Austin, TX where he gained graduate degrees in Folklore and Geography at the University of Texas. Ed plays concerts, clubs, house concerts, festivals, Highland Games ,and Burns Suppers, and he even gives lectures and workshops, and has recorded 9 CD's of Scottish songs. Ed Miller currently hosts “Across the Pond” on KDRP, Sun Radio (sunradio.com), and has been an Austin radio personality for decades, as he once hosted “Folkways” for many years on Saturday mornings on KUT. Find this scholar and propagator of folk music at the Greenwoode Theatre and the Lionheart Tavern on Saturday.

Earl Grey in the Morning

Earl Grey in the Morning is a violin and guitar duo based in Houston, TX. Their diverse and meticulous talents combined, Kristen Jensen and Al Cofrin offer their own recipe of Celtic, Jazz, Folk, and original music. Earl Grey in the Morning brings you music that touches on many different genres including classical, jazz, ragtime, and Celtic. As a duo the guitar and violin combination is able to produce a surprising amount of music with amazing complexity and texture.  Find this amazing duo at The Lionheart Tavern.

GoldRing

Larry Mallette, flautist for The Jig is Up! who used to frequent the Greenwoode Theatre at Sherwood’s Celtic events and Therese Honey, who has performed with us several years at the Lionheart Tavern, will join together at the Lionheart as a duo known as GoldRing.  Therese’s Harp and Larry’s Flute will transport you to a place where all things are in perfect harmony.

Thomas "Doc" Grauzer

Thomas “Doc” Grauzer plays harp music of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque periods, on modern lever- and historical wire-strung Irish harps.  He will be hosting some Irish Sessions where musicians get together to perform a very Irish version of a musical “Jam”.  Although Doc is an accomplished musician who has played in Austin for ages this will be his debut as a musician at Sherwood.  He has been a patron of Sherwood over the years, so we are very glad to see him take the stage at the Lionheart Tavern. 

The Dublin Harpers

The Dublin Harpers family band will enchant you at the Lionheart Tavern. This family of kids, teenagers, and a very cool Mom and Dad, design and build their own instruments, including the harps which they practice and teach near and far. Benjamin, a luthier, percussionist, and bodhran player has been building, refinishing, and repairing instruments for many years. Candyce has been studying, performing, and teaching harp her entire life in the Classical, Irish, and Scottish methods. And, as you have guessed, the young Dublin Harpers have been at it their whole lives, too! Join them as they make music together at the Three celestials Stage.

Kris Colt - Black Rose

Kris Colt is a uniquely American Celtic vocal artist, who brings with her the historical tradition of the Bardic Storyteller. Weaving her successfully radio charted originals, Kris Colt will lead you through an adventurous set of the most beloved Irish and Scottish classics as well as the sassy fun-filled, upbeat pub tunes that get you stomping and singing along. 

Kris is also an accomplished songwriter—both lyricist and composer—whose debut CD entitled

THE VOYAGE, A MYSTICAL JOURNEY, is distributed by New York’s Dara Records.

Katie Geringer and Matt Lewis

Born from late-night Irish sessions in Houston area pubs, fiddler Katie Geringer and guitarist Matt Lewis come together to form a thrilling new traditional Irish music duo. While undoubtedly influenced by great fiddle/guitar duos such as Martin Hayes/Dennis Cahill and Liz Carroll/John Doyle, Katie and Matt create a sound that is uniquely them.



Katie and Matt’s playing showcases a range of traditional tune types and songs while also displaying their mastery and love of the genre. The music they create is energetic and spirited yet thoughtful and expressive. Like adding a drop of water to whiskey, their playing combines to form a sound that is subtly smooth, complex and tasty.

Piper Gunn

Steady as She Goes!  Take a trip to the Highlands with the dulcet and robust sounds of the Scottish bagpipes. Jason Gunn, the issue of many generations of pipers, shall take you on a journey to the Highlands of Scotland.  Hear Piper Gunn as he visits the various stages at the festival throughout the day. 

Andrew McKee

An accomplished and relentless multi-instrumentalist, Andrew McKee has been part of the Sherwood Forest Faire experience since before Sherwood even existed. Andrew is one half of Brobdingnagian Bards, who at the dawn of their career used to play on the South Lawn at UT - a significant inspiration to one of Sherwood’s creators. They went on to be the first internet-savvy Celtic Music outfit, and proceeded to put their big Brobdingnagian foot in the door of Celtic Music in the digital realm. As a soloist, Andrew puts on a wonderfully engaging show – and he’ll be teaming up at the Three Stags Pub with David O’Leary as “McKee and O’Leary” for some duos in the middle of the day, and for a PUB SING in the early evening. 

David O'Leary

If you have spent much time at Sherwood Forest, then you have heard David O’Leary wailing out all kinds of favorites around the campfire; now see him by the light of day, playing under the name his momma gave him. And if there is an Alan a Dale Favorite that you just can’t wait until February to hear, be sure to shout it out! David will be playing throughout the day at the Three Stags Pub, sometimes as one half of the Irish duo “McKee and O’Leary”.

Solar Rain Fire Dancers

The incredible troupe of fire dancers who rock the Sherwood Campgrounds each faire season return for the Sherwood Celtic Gathering to offer us an amazing fire finale at the end of Saturday night. Earlier that evening they will also translate the musical rhythms of the bands at the Greenwoode Theatre into visual expressions of fire. Their dances will feature fire staff, fire fans, poi, fire-blowing, and many other flaming objects you have never seen! Come for a great day of music, and stay late at the Greenwoode Theatre for an explosive finale by SOLAR RAIN!