Seán Heely Celtic Band
www.seanheely.com
Experience the magical music of Scotland and Ireland with the Seán Heely Celtic Band. Featuring U.S National Scottish Fiddle champion and Gaelic singer Seán Heely, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and All-Ireland singing champion Kevin Elam, bouzouki and bass player Beth Patterson, acclaimed percussionist Lucas Ashby, and percussive dancer Agi Kovacs. The Seán Heely Celtic Band brings together many different instruments to perform fiery dance tunes and ancient, soaring melodies from Scotland, Ireland, and beyond. Original compositions abound and they have rich vocal harmonies in their solid song repertoire that features ballads, sea shanties, and songs in the Irish and Scottish folk tradition.
Other members have included Scottish border piper Tracy Jenkins, harpist Abbie Palmer, dancer Marsha Searle and percussionists Matthew Bell & Alex Kuldell. Seán plays fiddle, cezouki, shruti box, harp and sings in English and Scots Gaelic. Kevin plays guitar, whistle, banjo, and is an All-Ireland champion vocalist. They have performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music center, CCE Irish Folk Festival Fairfax VA, Hylton Performing Arts Center, 2023 headliners at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Virginia Scottish games, and the Niel Gow Festival in Scotland.
Press Quotes & Testimonials
"One powerhouse of a fiddler!" ~ Liz Carroll, Irish fiddle legend and National Heritage Fellow
“Sean has steeped himself in the Gaelic language and music tradition. He has traveled extensively and studied with the best on both sides of the Atlantic. His performances are equally as enlightening as they are entertaining.” ~ Bonnie Rideout, 3x Grammy-nominated Scottish fiddler
"(On Edge of the Bow album) This is a hugely entertaining collection of music, and a great introduction to a fiddler who should make quite a name for himself in the next few years." ~ Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine
“The Celtic soundscape created by Seán Heely and his fiddle is simply magical—the heartbreaking beauty of a ballad followed by the immense joy of a dance tune!”~ Betty Scott (Director of Strathmore Artist in residence program