Band Announcement, Local Edition

We're lucky enough to live in a hotbed of Irish/Celtic music here in Kansas City. That abundance of music and the audience that supports it has a lot to do with the success that the Kansas City Irish Fest enjoys. That and the brilliant leadership of the directors, of course.

Today we'll begin some announcements of local and regional performers who'll be joining us this year at KCIF. Some are old timers, Irish Fest-wise. Some will be joining us for the first time in 2007. In that category are Rowan.

Based in nearby Lawrence, KS, Rowan is a trio made up of Doug Harvey (cittern, guitar, whistle, vocals), Marianne Payette Carter (fiddle, bodhran, guitar, vocals) and Lance Zed (fiddle, concertina, vocals). They draw musical influences from the Celtic world and beyond and are all accomplished veteran players and musical scholars.

“A potent mixture of expertise gleaned from traditional Irish and Scottish roots and personalised reflections and circumstances . . . Rowan’s collective gift is to stamp their own personalities on traditional music emerging with a tight powerful group sound. A class U.S. Celtic act with a solid grasp of traditional dynamics.” John O’Regan, Folkroots magazine

"They're playing the Kansas City Irish Fest this year, and we're honored to have them." Dan Regan, Tir na Blog

The Regans agree. Don't miss Rowan at KCIF 07.