The Saline Celtic Festival offers music and dance performances on three stages throughout the day, as well as Friday and Saturday evening performances on the Red Dragon Main Stage.

Stage Line-Ups
Click here to view the complete line-up on all 3 stages.

Performances
Road Kilt
Kick off this year's pub night with a return engagement from Road Kilt! They will put your cheers and beers and dancing feet to work with their energetic performance of contemporary and traditional Irish music. This six-piece ensemble features two former Saline High School music students ready to rock their hometown! Members of Road Kilt are Justin Johnstone, Brendon McCracken, Ezra Graziano, Dominic Elder, Stacy Griffith, Jessie Nieves, Linda Teaman and Tom Voiles.

An Dro http://www.andromusic.com
Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, An Dro performs traditional acoustic music with a creative twist that defies easy categorization. The band's sound is built on a foundation of tunes and songs from many Celtic nations. Their diverse range of musical styles is complemented by an equally diverse array of instruments. Fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, hurdy-gurdy, harp, doumbek, talking drum and vocals are just part of the arsenal used to create the band's unique sound palette. The name An Dro refers to a folk dance from Brittany where the dancers link fingers as they move in a spiral. It translates literally as “The Turn.” Similarly, the band An Dro is a musical turning point for its members as they explore a new world of musical ideas. The line up includes:
* James Spalink on bouzouki & hurdy gurdy
* Michele Venegas on fiddle
* Eddie Eicher on percussion
* Fred Willson on guitar, mandolin and vocals

Vishtèn http://www.vishtenmusic.com
There's an old saying that goes something like, “Go out and make your mark in the world exploring the new ways but don't turn your back on your roots”. The members of Vishtèn have been doing just that for the past seven years, touring their brand of new-traditional Acadian music in eight different countries. Made up of third generation Acadians living separate but parallel musical experiences, twin sisters Pastelle and Emmanuelle LeBlanc from Prince Edward Island, Canada have teamed up with Pascal Miousse and Louis-Charles Vigneau from the nearby Magdelene Islands to create a sound that incorporates elements of the new ways while retaining and staying true to the essential Acadian spirit of their roots. The sound is essentially Celtic but with a difference. The songs are French, sung by each band member, alone or in four part harmony. The foot percussion drives the rhythm in a fiddle tune at times yet refrains itself in the gentler musical moments. The band members are accomplished multi-instrumentalists and step-dancers incorporating the fiddle, guitar, accordion, penny-whistle, banjo, mandolin, piano, jaw-harp and bodhran into each performance. Vishtèn received the award for ‘Francophone Album of the Year’ at the PEI Music Awards for their album ‘Vishtèn Live’! Members of Vishtèn are:
* Emmanuelle LeBlanc - Bodhran, Piano, Whistles, Dance, Voice
* Pascal Miousse - Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, Voice
* Pastelle LeBlanc - Accordion, Piano, Dance and Voice
* Louis-Charles Vigneau - Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Voice

Brogue http://www.broguetheshow.com
Featuring the musical talents of three sons of iconic Celtic music families and the dynamic drive of four elite members of the world of dance performance, Brogue shines light on the Scottish and Irish traditions inherent in its own Maritime Canadian identity. Boldly honoring their culture with youthful enthusiasm and style, these are Canadians showing off their Scots-Irish Brogue. Musical director Dan MacDonald plays his fiddle and bodhran, Brian Pickell joins him on guitar, vocals and banjo, and Ross Griffiths fills out the musical lineup on pipes and whistles. Michael Patrick Farrell is the dance director, and is a master of Irish step, ceili, and set dancing. He, along with Dan MacDonald worked with the touring production of The Magic Of Ireland.  Brogue’s dancers are highly accomplished in Irish and Scottish dance styles, presenting the vibrant choreography of Mr. Farrell.

Beth Patterson http://www.littlebluemen.com/beth.asp
Multi-instrumentalist Beth Patterson is foremost a player of the eight and ten stringed Irish bouzoukis. Know for her razor wit and musical versatility, her performances are chock full of drive, savage energy and passion, laced with humor and rapport with her audience, dishing out an eclectic repertoire of original and traditional songs. She integrates her quirky, progressive sound with Celtic music and other ethnic styles. Beth studied ethnomusicology at University College Cork (Ireland), where she explored the music of Ireland, Africa, India, Indonesia and the Caribbean. A big hit last time she was at the Saline Celtic Festival, we are happy to have her returning in 2010.

Fiddlers ReStrung http://www.fiddlersrestrung.com
Fiddlers ReStrung consists of students at Saline High School, all of whom share in producing a unique ensemble truly their own. A 17-piece string ensemble featured at more than 80 performances annually, Fiddlers ReStrung proudly displays a diverse arrangement of styles. Bluegrass, Celtic, and folk music are all part of their show, embellished with traditional step-dancing. They engage the audience with energy and charm, advocating a message of spontaneous enthusiasm born of a genuine love for the music. Working alongside leadership, students craft their own arrangements and help make organizational decisions. This collaborative ownership grants ReStrung an authentic creative edge that is clearly visible from the striking energy they portray on stage. Students are chosen based not only on musical talent, but personal maturity as well. They balance a demanding performance schedule while maintaining high standards in other school activities, sports, and academics.

Bryan Kelso Crow http://www.celticconnectionsradio.org
Bryan Kelso Crow, host of NPR’s Celtic Connections radio show, is an Associate Professor of Speech Communication at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is a native of Tennessee, with Scotch-Irish roots. Bryan learned to play the tin whistle while hiking the roads of Ireland in 1978, and has been playing the traditional wood flute since the mid-80s. He performs in Illinois and Missouri with The Dorians, a three-member Celtic band based in Carbondale, IL. Bryan is a guest lecturer in the Irish Studies program at Southern Illinois University, and a member of the Coordinating Committee for the Southern Illinois Festival of Irish Music and Dance. He taught as an exchange professor at the University of Ulster, outside of Belfast, for the 1985-86 school year, and got to know many Irish musicians during that time. Mr. Crow launched the Celtic Connections radio show in 1991 as a local program and the program moved to national syndication in July 1996.

Leim Irish Dance http://www.umich.edu/~umleim
The University of Michigan's first Irish Dance group was started in the winter of 2000 by a group of five students. Having been trained in Irish Dance at various levels, they sought to create an opportunity for others like them to continue dancing upon arriving at the University and to teach those who had never had the chance to do so before. In November 2000 they put on their first show with eight dancers, 4 dance numbers, and a budding local Celtic band. The group has since progressed to a full-fledged performance group, gaining an official name and recognition both on and off campus. Léim Irish Dance now performs at various multicultural events around campus, Celtic Festivals across the state of Michigan, and other events in and around the Ann Arbor area.

Ealain Ceime Irish Dance School http://ealainceime.com
Ealaín Céime Irish Dance School is a performance-focused Irish dance school in southeast Michigan. The students perform modern Irish dance choreography to modern Irish music. They present jigs, reels, and hornpipes in both soft and hard soled Irish shoes. They also learn and enjoy Irish social dancing (ceili dancing). Watch their performances and try a step or two when Miss Kimberly leads a participatory workshop during the day. We are happy to welcome the Ealain Ceime Irish Dance School to our festival this year!

Michael Hough http://www.mustardsretreat.com
Our good friend Michael Hough returns once again to host The Red Dragon Stage! After more than three decades performing as half of the duo Mustard’s Retreat, Michael is a seasoned veteran of the festival scene and takes comfortable command of our big stage. We are always happy to have Michael on hand to introduce all of our performers, keep the audience apprised of what is going on throughout the park, tell our sponsors how much we appreciate them, and help reunite children with their lost parents! Michael fills in between acts with his wonderful songs, adding the voice of some of Ann Arbor’s finest talent to the day’s entertainment.

Renee Ginell http://www.danceforfun.biz/Page6.html
No stranger to The Saline Celtic Festival, Renee has led performances by her students from the Dancin’ Feet School of Gaelic Culture & Dance, joined in with The Commonwealth Dance Collective, and most recently graced our stages with her trio, Blue Caledonia. This year, Renee is going to be featured in the Fiber Arts Tent, where she will sing centuries old waulking songs to the rhythms of the spinners and weavers as they “waulk” their newly made fabrics. The Fiber Arts Tent is a new area at the festival, and we are very pleased to have Renee and the artists evoke the spirit of historic workplaces as part of our 15th event! And you just might catch Renee dancing a step or two.

Finvarra's Wren (www.finvarraswren.com)
Finvarra's Wren is a multi-generational group with a tightness and strength that can be attributed to the fact that the members are from two musical families. "We're in this for the long haul. That's why we grew our own band." says Jim Perkins. Jim leads the group with vocals and guitar, with Cheryl Burns on vocals, dulcimer and bodhran, Alison Perkins on fiddle, vocals and tin whisle, and Asher Perkins on concertina and button accordion. Ali and Ash have both won multiple championships over the years. The group is usually joined by Terence McKinney on uilleann pipes, but in this occasion will be joined by Toronto musician Nicolas Brown, who adds uilleann pipes, flute and tin whistle. The Wren sound is firmly grounded in traditional Irish music combined with elements of American, Folk and the British Isles. Wildly entertaining, eclectic and just plain fun, Finvarra's Wren can grab a crowd and whip them into a Celtic frenzy. Armed with lovely songs both old and new, exuberant tune sets and light hearted banter, they can quickly turn an audience into a room full of friends.

"Irish folk band FINVARRA'S WREN plays traditional Celtic music so heartachingly well that even Finn McCool would be impressed." - Detroit Metro Times

"Finvarra's Wren unequivocally ranks in topmost echelon of American bands performing Irish traditional music today. With expert musicianship from every quarter, the band's imaginative interpretations of tunes and songs are wholly true to the Irish traditions from which they draw their material and inspiration. Their performances are most engaging, and they are an absolute delight on and off the stage." - Don Penzien, Festival Director, CelticFest Mississippi

The Commonwealth Dance Collective
This year's incarnation of the Commonwealth Dance Collective (the CDC) will feature performances by current and former members of Fiddlers ReStrung, the Saline Fiddlers, and the debut of Restless Soles. An umbrella organization for Michigan stepdancers, the CDC embraces a variety of styles of percussive dancing, and presents a show comprised of dancers of many ages and experience levels. The dancers will be supported by musicians from the Saline community. The group is always delighted to share the "common wealth" of these traditional and original pieces of stepdance choreography through performance and workshop opportunities.