The Kitchen Jam Band formed from a local Durango session six years ago when the contra dance community desperately needed local bands to play. They’ve been playing together ever since for contra dances and all sorts of local events. They play a mix of Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton, Shetland and Orkney Island tunes in addition to some old time and bluegrass. The current members are Ken and Jo Ann Beegles (accordion and keyboard), Pat Blair (keyboard), Maria Blair (fiddle), Bob Condon (bodhran), Ed Lehner (guitar), Diana and Barry Longwell (fiddle and whistle), Elizabeth Vaught-Schaeffer (fiddle), and new addition Stella Dickson (vocals). Many of its members can be found at the Sunday music session at the Irish Embassy Pub in Durango, or at the SJSFS ceilidhs in Aztec.
Giants Dance celebrates the reverent and irreverent traditions of world Celtic music. They take particular delight in producing the quirkier or deeply moving songs that reflect the joy, pride, humor, and sorrow that is the Celtic Experience. Giant’s Dance offers original and tradition tunes, soulful vocal harmonies and astonishing acoustic instrumentals. The members have performed for over a decade at festivals throughout the Southwest including three previous Meltdowns. The band features Kevin Dawson on vocals, fiddle, and bodhran, Karen Cunningham on vocals, flutes, and pennywhistles, and Steve Cunningham
on guitar and vocals, three of Durango’s most seasoned Celtic musicians. Recently Eric Morningstar joined them on bodhran and other percussion instruments allowing Kevin to concentrate more on fiddle.
Bands:
Giants Dance
Kitchen Jam Band
Patrick Crossing
Big’ns
A Celtic Gathering
Mad Haggis
Gypsy Fire
(Hopefully more bands to come!)
Patrick Crossing is a Celtic Band that originates from Durango, Colorado. The band members include: Shiela Lane (whistle, flute, vocals); Erick (bodhran, djembe) & Molly (vocals) Morningstar; Stephen Sellers (bass); Linda Dolder (djembe); Elizabeth Davis (fiddle, percussion); Ed Webbe (whistles); and CJ Alderton (guitar, vocals).
The band performs mostly traditional Irish music with a sprinkling of contemporary songs. The band honors the deep spiritual roots that flows through all things Celtic and this comes across in their performance. Most Sundays you can find various band members playing in Session at the Irish Embassy in Durango from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Contact Info: patrickcrossing@gmail.com
A Celtic Gathering is Maria Blair, on fiddle and highland dances; Samantha, vocalist; Zachary on guitar, fiddle and Cape Breton step dances; Bob Condon on bohdran drum; Steve Studebaker on snare drum and tin whistle; Carla on woodwinds; Jim Lynch on bagpipes. We also have 8 dancers who perform folk dances and Scottish Country dances. We played for 200 people at Music in the Park in Cortez, 100 for the Republican Fund Raiser, and at Clancies Pub in Farmington for Octoberfest, among the recent gigs.
For info contact: Jim Lynch - email: lynch9jel@fone.net
Mad Haggis has been around for over 10 years, in various forms. It started out as a Sunday afternoon diversion that gradually expanded out to the occasional public performance. It's always been done out of love of the music. Debbie Yost is woodwind player, who plays pennywhistle, Irish flute, flute, alto and tenor sax, and has played in several bands in the Four Corners area. John Cater has played the bagpipes and bodhran in the Montrose and Four Corners area for many years. He is very in tune with
his Scottish heritage. Kathy Freuden has sung in several choruses, choirs, and bands since grade school. She takes pride in her Welsch heritage. Carl Freuden has played guitar, bass guitar, and mandolin in numerous bands across the country. He's been writing original material for the past couple of years. For info: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/Mad-Haggis/119421331432141?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wncG9XTEcA
Sylvia Zurko A masters degree in music education and several years of teaching experience
have provided Sylvia Zurko with a solid base from which to pursue what has become
her first love—performing and composing with her Celtic (folk) harp. Celtic music
is a large part of Sylvia’s repertoire. In the early 1990’s she performed regularly
as part of a duo called “A Tapestry of Strings” with a hammered dulcimer/fiddle player
and recorded a cassette of Celtic music, which was re-released in CD format in 2003.
She now has four CDs to her credit. In addition to regional Renaissance & Celtic
festivals and solo performances, Sylvia plays frequently at weddings, receptions,
restaurants and fundraisers. She is a guest lecturer in history classes Fort Lewis
College, performing and speaking about the Celtic bardic tradition, harp history
and Renaissance music. Sylvia’s harp repertoire includes Celtic, classical, Renaissance,
and original music (including a tango!), and she is always happy to share her music
and the stories behind the tunes.
Big'ns is a four-piece band performing mostly traditional Irish pub tunes and hailing
from Pagosa Springs, CO. Eli Carpenter (guitar, vocals) is the big driving force
behind the Big'ns, strumming the six-string and wailing out Clancy Brothers and Pogues
lyrics like there is no tomorrow. Eli recruited Jess Wilton (mandolin, vocals) to
play a St. Patty's Day 2009 show in Pagosa, and Jess welcomed the diversion from
playing in the local bluegrass scene and signed up for something different, as well
as an opportunity to wear his kilt in public.
Shane Tuller (violin, vocals), a classically trained violinist, joined in late 2009
and displays his Irish heritage and inherent family musical background with rousing
fiddle tunes and tongue-twisting traditional vocal tunes - he is also arguably the
best-dressed Big'n. In early 2010, Micki Killoran also made the jump from years
of bluegrass bass to re-connect with her Irish roots and hold the Big'ns to a steady
pace. From very diverse backgrounds, these four deliver a fun gig with flavors drawn
from all types of music. Contact: Eli Carpenter 970-946-7132 or bigns@centurytel.net
