Scottish Games Entertainers

Entertainment for 2008

Entertainers for this year are: The Wicked Tinkers, Highland Way,
Blackwaterside, and Jamie Laval & Ashley Broder.

Wicked Tinkers - Known as “The Wicked Ones” , (click on photo to enlarge) play the music of the Scottish Highlands proud, stirring, passionate and spice it with the Celtic tunes of Ireland. Aaron Shaw, one of the top pipers in America and Warren Patrick Casey, drummer for twenty five years have wowed audiences all over America. Not a military or rock band, Wicked Tinkers perform the kind of music you might have heard hundreds of years ago at a Scottish wedding, ceilidh or around the campfire of a Highland raiding party. You have seen the TINKERS on TV in the drama “High Incident” , on the Dixie Chicks music video “Ready To Run” and they have been the lead-off band for the Doo-Dah Parade in Pasadena, California three years running. mo

Highland Way
“Highland Way is California's newest Celtic music sensation performing at numerous festivals, Burns Suppers, concerts... and Highland Games. With their superb blend of vocals, instrumentation, and unique arrangements, Highland Way is one of the most acclaimed on the Southern California circuit. Members of the group have appeared on local and national television, (including The Donny & Marie Show) as well as enjoyed numerous and enthusiastic write-ups in various print media.
Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, the charismatic lead vocalist Brian Caldwell is well known for his energetic and driving rhythm guitar...and his wonderful ability to charm any crowd. Arranger, vocalist, and talented instrumentalist, Richard Gordon Heinz is the musical foundation of the band. Paul Graham Castellanos, master of an incredible array of stringed instruments, adds a vibrant cross section of sound from animated Celtic fiddle to classical guitar. Completing the quartet is Heloise Love. A gifted solo artist in her own right, her angelic lead vocals and sultry harmonies round out this incredible mix of musical talent.”

BLACKWATERSIDE, the band
featuring Susan Craig Winsberg
The band Blackwaterside was formed in 1995 by flutist Susan Craig Winsberg in celebration of her Scottish heritage. Since then they have released three CDs and have played several concerts and festivals, receiving great public acclaim. They are known for their varied approach to traditional Scottish and Irish music, alternating lively, upbeat tunes with lyrical and haunting ballades, constantly changing the texture and color of the instrumentation so that their sound is forever fresh. Audiences are inevitably impressed and greatly entertained by the uniqueness and originality of a Blackwaterside Celtic music performance.
The Blackwaterside band features Susan Craig Winsberg on flutes and whistles and the outstanding vocalist Christa Burch (of Tamlyn fame), accompanied by the talented Sean Clegg on guitar and Tim Blair on percussion and recorders.

Jamie Laval and Ashley Broder

ONE OF THE premier Celtic violinists on the international music scene today, Jamie Laval consistently creates rapt audiences with his intensely passionate performances that run the gamut from tender and melancholy to wildly jubilant.

Winner of the 2002 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship, Jamie was recently heralded in Scotland as “A new star for the Old World” (FiddleOn Magazine). The Olympian newspaper reported, “A fantastic fiddler…

In the recording arena Jamie is widely respected for his solos on the movie soundtracks Wild America, Finding Home, Emmy-nominated theme for the TV drama Everwood, and for his participation in Dave Matthews CD Some Devil.

Ashley majored in music at Moorpark College where she studied 'cello with Stephen Custer of the L.A. Philharmonic and violin with Diane Gilbert. During this time she kindled a growing interest in classical composition, all the while teaching violin and mandolin privately and in class settings. In 2005 and 2007 she served on the faculty of the Mandolin Symposium in Santa Cruz, CA. She also assisted Mike Marshall in the preparation of his mandolin method books.

That same year Ashley met Celtic violinist Jamie Laval and spent the ensuing six months forging a new duo style, rendering the traditional Celtic music of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Québec with hints of classical refinement and ethnic music from around the world. The pair now tours together full-time throughout the U.S., Canada and Scotland

2007 Entertainment

Men of Worth
Highland Way
Molly's Revenge
Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh

Molly's Revenge (click on photo to enlarge) specializes in the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and England, with occasional side trips to other parts of Europe, plus some of their own compositions.

The band members David Brewer, John Weed, Pete Haworth, and Stuart Mason play an assortment of instruments, including guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, Scottish Highland bagpipes, small pipes, border pipes, uilleann pipes, whistles, fiddle, and bodhran, with some great songs thrown in for good measure.

Highland Way
“Highland Way is California's newest Celtic music sensation performing at numerous festivals, Burns Suppers, concerts... and Highland Games. With their superb blend of vocals, instrumentation, and unique arrangements, Highland Way is one of the most acclaimed on the Southern California circuit. Members of the group have appeared on local and national television, (including The Donny & Marie Show) as well as enjoyed numerous and enthusiastic write-ups in various print media.
Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, the charismatic lead vocalist Brian Caldwell is well known for his energetic and driving rhythm guitar...and his wonderful ability to charm any crowd. Arranger, vocalist, and talented instrumentalist, Richard Gordon Heinz is the musical foundation of the band. Paul Graham Castellanos, master of an incredible array of stringed instruments, adds a vibrant cross section of sound from animated Celtic fiddle to classical guitar. Completing the quartet is Heloise Love. A gifted solo artist in her own right, her angelic lead vocals and sultry harmonies round out this incredible mix of musical talent.”

Men Of Worth

Men of Worth’s tunes and songs are so authentic, so closely connected to their heritage, that Scotsman Donnie Macdonald sings some in his native Gaelic; while Irishman James Keigher includes time-polished pieces saved from the oral traditions of his native County Mayo.

The musicians, who met in California in 1988, each play a handful of instruments, among them mandolin, guitar, concertina and bodhran, a handheld drum. They are both married to Americans, and live on the west coast. Keigher, lives in Ashland, Oregon, Macdonald, lives near Sacramento, California.

They have played concerts across the US, from Alaska to Texas and plan to record a new album to add to their current eight. They are also planning a pilgrimage to their own musical roots: to lead folk fans to the western isles of Scotland and to Ireland’s heartland to hear the real music of the isles in its own home.

Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh

The Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh are a popular group that sings an easy-on-the-ears style of Celtic Rock. They have their own arrangements of traditional and modern Gaelic songs, Scottish and Irish selections, as well as their own original material.--giving them a range of appeal and articitic expression.

The sisters haunting and silvery harmonies, backed by the rich voice of cousin George Cavanaugh and his original guitar style, make this a band that is asked to Burn’s Nights, St. Paddy’s Days, and major festivals and games throughout Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Calfiornia. They have a loyal following of home grown Scots and Irish as well as Americans.

They now have five albums out, Silver Darlings, Castle Dangerous, West of Home, and Christmas Travelers.

Oceans Apart
John and Steve met on a recording session several years ago and since then, have delighted audiences of every imaginable kind with their songs and instrumentals drawn from the inexhaustible wellsprings of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and North America.

The music is infectious, ranging from the breathless jigs and hornpipes, through the more relaxed popular songs, all the way along to the ballads and airs. They have performed on network television and have been favorably received by the local and regional press.

After one of their recent appearances “English Cathy” of Transatlantic Management remarked:
“The music of Oceans Apart, while being completely contemporary, seems at the same time to speak of days, lives and worlds long gone, yet oddly enough, familiar.”

Special Guests: Ray Pearson and Jude McKenzie
Single Malt Whisky Seminars and Tastings

Jude and Ray are familiar faces at most Scottish games and festivals in the West. They can usually be found talking about Scotland's most famous export, with a wee dram in hand!

Jude is President of the Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society (Flagstaff, AZ), and the driving force behind the Society's annual Arizona Highland Celtic Festival, July 15 & 16, in Flagstaff.

Ray works for William Grant & Sons as a Brand Ambassador for both Glenfiddich and The Balvenie single malt whiskies. He served as Chieftain of the San Diego Scottish Highland Games from 1994 through 2000.

Visit them both at www.nachs.info and www.whiskytastings.com.