Dallahan is in some ways the most intriguing band scheduled to appear at the Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort.
By Colleen Taylor
If you’re going to call yourself the Great American Irish Festival, you better be able to live up to the name—and this year, it certainly does. Frankfort, New York’s Great American Irish Fest, offers one of the hottest Irish music lineups I’ve seen all summer, so I have to tip my hat and give them a plug. Not only does the schedule boast some of Irish music’s favorite MVPs, like the High Kings, who happen to be fresh off the success of their new album, “Grace & Glory,” the festival also features some of Ireland and America’s most current bands. If you’re free in late July, consider a train or car journey to Frankfort: this is a selection of music not to be missed.
I don’t need to tell you who the High Kings are—but in case you missed my recent review (https://www.irishecho.com/2016/05/high-kings-forging-own-legacy/) of their “Grace & Glory” (2016), I might need to tell you that this quartet is getting better and better with each new set. In fact, there is only one thing I can think of that might top “Grace & Glory,” and that is hearing the High Kings play these exquisitely, vividly arranged Eireacana tunes live. I had a preview last summer, before the album was out, when the Kings introduced new songs like “Follow Me Up To Carlow” and their new arrangement of “Green Fields of France” at a show in Kerry. I was absolutely transfixed. New York is the perfect setting to experience their new set of songs from “Grace & Glory” because it is their most cross-cultural and innovative album yet. The High Kings have mastered the Irish and Americana folk fusion, and New Yorkers are bound to be as transfixed as I was last summer. The band will play on Friday and Saturday night, July 29 and 30 on the main stage, as well as Sunday afternoon, July 31.
“Grace & Glory” is the High Kings’ most
cross-cultural and innovative album yet.
Another star on the list is Moxie Strings, who return for another year at the Great American Irish Fest. This group from Michigan call themselves “a new string initiative.” The young trio, formed in 2012, blends Irish instrumentation and Americana music with a touch of rock n’ roll in their signature electric cello. This band makes old music with a fresh young ear. Their instrumentation is unimposing, yet vibrant; they’ll have you hearing old tunes like you’ve never heard them before. The Moxie Strings are full of energy, youth and they represent the future of Irish trad. They play Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
If you’re looking for a little more of a rock n’ roll feel, and maybe a drinking song or two, Enter the Haggis won’t leave you disappointed. Along the lines of Dropkick Murphys, this band has a lot of energy and a lot of amp, as well as some original songs that have become favorites of fans and Celtic radio stations. My favorite of theirs remains one of their first and biggest hits, “One Last Drink,” which hit number 9 on the billboard charts back in 2006. They have gone a bit more hard rock recently, but this is still great feel good Celtic diaspora music.
Dallahan is the band that wins the award for the most intriguing description on the list. They are the bona fide product of the American musical melting pot, mixing Irish, Hungarian and Scottish folk music into one cohesive sound. Still a young band on the rise, Dallahan released their first album just two years ago in 2014, and they’ve been making waves ever since. That they were shortlisted for 2015 Folk Band of the Year at the Scots Trad Awards speaks for itself. I am in love with their rendition of “Carrick a Rede”—the harmonies and energy they have woven into that song are truly beautiful.
One more band rapidly on the rise is also scheduled for the Great American Irish Fest: Runa. With a new “Live” album out and some Irish music awards under their belt, this group is certainly proving themselves. Vocals from lead singer Shannon Lambert-Ryan make Runa stand out from the pack.
Among other great bands playing at the Festival are the Elders, the Fitzgeralds, Kilrush, the Gothard Sisters, John Kennedy’s band, and several others. The Festival has really outdone themselves this year.
The Great American Irish Festival takes place at Herkimer County Fairgrounds from July 29 – July 31. Visit greatamericanirishfest.com.
Colleen Taylor's Music Notes column appears each week in the Irish Echo.
