2020 Entertainment
We are currently working on our 2020 Lineup for Entertainment and will post here as acts are confirmed.
2020 Entertainment
Acts are added as they are confirmed, stay tuned for more!
Master of Ceremonies
CHRISTOPHER YATES
Christopher Yates will be appearing once again with all his Celtic/Highland comic silliness. Along with his Kenny G wig and brave stunt sheep lamb chop. Aye, it's all your favoUrites, "Rusty Bawls", with the Edinburgh Fringe style street theatre silliness, The Celtic Rock Comic, (wow yeah, Rod Stewart and Simple Minds are both Scottish acts), of course HIGHlander "McCloud", and this year likely a bunch of other ginger weirdness in some new Scottish Fest venues. I am sure his mum and dad are proud. But hold on, he's not even Scottish, I hear you say?? Ah hah, but let him pull his Celtic Credentials. With a grand mother from Bute, Christopher represents the down under Celtic contingent, reminding us that regardless of our Highland heritage the Costa Mesa Games brings us all together as friends. Be sure to catch one of his many show performances throughout the weekend.
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Chris can also be found throughout the festival grounds performing his shows!
WICKED TINKERS
Prepare yourself for a wild ride with WICKED TINKERS! Pioneers of the growing Tribal Celtic movement, the Tinkers have been playing haunting, heart-pounding bagpipes and irresistible tribal drums as a professional touring band since 1995. With the addition, several years back, of the mesmerizing drone of the Australian didgeridoo and Bronze Age Irish horn, the magic was complete. Sit back and be transported to an earlier time in Scotland and Ireland, when battle cries filled the air and strange, unheard-of creatures roamed the night. Or better yet, get on your feet and let your body move to ancient rhythms and forgotten sounds.
Don't think this is dry, dusty music for museum shelves – WICKED TINKERS merge the best of modern, almost rock-and-roll energy with the hypnotic, insistent grooves of their Gaelic ancestors. Rare is the bystander who comes away without feeling a surprising, sometimes bewildering connection to long-forgotten primal emotions ... half-memories of ages past and experiences nameless yet somehow familiar. WICKED TINKERS creates music to set your jaw, put a fire in your belly, a glint in your eye and a dance in your feet.
THE PLOUGHBOYS
The Ploughboys have been playing, singing, telling tales, engaging in feats of strength, animal husbandry, and defying the laws of gravity and propriety, for over a decade, now.
Consisting of Rich Cashman (bass), Vito Gutilla (Fiddle), brothers Mark Romano (Accordion, Mandolin and Guitar) and Peter Romano, (Guitar) and Rik Shannon (rhythm, percussion, and wisecracks), they are the house band for the Tam O’Shanter Inn, the oldest continuously operating pub in Los Angeles, performing Thursday and Friday nights to capacity crowds. Most Saturday nights they can be seen entertaining at one of many music venues here in Southern California.
Whether performing in the Celtic tradition, favorites from the British Isles, or their own, wickedly clever compositions, the Ploughboys are sure to provide a hard-driving, rollicking, hand-clapping, foot-stomping good time!
Facebook: Ploughboys Celtic
CELTISH
Celtish was originally formed out of their member’s mutual appreciation and enjoyment of playing traditional Irish and Scottish music. In addition, they infuse their unique sound and harmonies into non traditional tunes. The best way to describe Celtish would be a pub band that plays traditional Celtic music and non-traditional favorites with a Celtic twist (hence the”ish”)
Celtish has performed at benefits, fundraisers, concerts, private events and naturally, the occasional brewery. They genuinely enjoy performing together and encourage everyone to participate, sing along and join us in their Celtish spirit.
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SCOTTISH FIDDLERS OF LOS ANGELES
For the past 30 years, the Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles have delighted audiences throughout Southern California with the lively, energetic and irresistibly uplifting music of Scotland, the Shetland Islands, Cape Breton Island and Ireland. Their playing is characterized by hard-driving reels and strathspeys, hauntingly beautiful airs and sweet waltzes. Directed by internationally known Scottish fiddler Jan Tappan, and frequently joined by world-renowned guest artists.
RAGGLE TAGGLE HARPERS
Come and enjoy the melodic sounds of the harps as our Harpers play well-loved Scottish and Celtic tunes!
KEVIN MCINTYRE AND COLIN ARMSTRONG
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Pipe Major of the LA Scots Grade 2 Colin Armstrong along with Grade 2 LA Scots Piper Kevin McIntyre make their debut act at Scottish Fest this year. Enjoy the sounds of classic and modern Scottish songs sung by Kevin and featuring Colin on the guitar. If you haven't heard their fantastic music, come check them out!
ROYAL SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS
Scottish Country Dancing, the social dance of Scotland, is danced by all classes, from royal courts to barns, including Queen Elizabeth. Wherever Scots have fun, you’ll find them dancing reels, jigs, and strathspeys. Dancers dance with a partner in a group, using Scottish steps and patterns. Dancers switch partners after each dance, for a friendly social experience. All music is
Scottish, accompanied by fiddle, accordion, or piano.
Groups meet to learn & practice dances, host monthly parties, and then everyone gathers for two or three formal-dress Highland Balls during the year. There are 170 Royal Scottish Country Dance Society branches worldwide, with 30,000 members. To learn about classes in your area, and maybe try an easy dance, please visit our booth, or see our program advertisement. Come see us at the Whisky Tavern Stage! There will also be a Saturday night dance - ask about it at the booth.
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MARINE SANDPIPER
Hailing from the greater metropolitan area of Twentynine Palms, CA, MarineSandpiper is the Southern California High Desert’s only Rock & Roll Bagpiper. For over four years, he has been entertaining audiences throughout the state – from San Francisco to San Diego.
MarineSandpiper is unique in that he covers mainstream rock, pop, and even jazz.
Now a retired Marine, he earned his name during a 2005 deployment to Ramadi, Iraq where he played the pipes during down times. He wears the Desert MARPAT Camouflage kilt and boots in honor of this heritage.
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CRAIC IN THE STONE
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Craic in the Stone has accidentally on purpose become popular over the past seven years on the SoCal Celtic folk/rock music scene, probably because of our unique approach to traditional Celtic music, which, as everyone knows, is the root of all good music. We love to take on the ancient storytelling songs, instrumental jigs and reels, and traditional drinking, carousing, and slightly cheeky songs then add in a mix of more modern rock covers (Cranberries, Pogues, Proclaimers, even Led Zep and Green Day!) and turn them upside down for a captivating modern Celtic sound you'll want to tap your feet to and sing along with, even if you don't understand Gaelic!. The band's upcoming music video, "Its Guinness" captures the fun and energetic sound that makes us happy, and we hope you won't be able to stop singing and smiling when you celebrate Celtic music with us! Slainte!
BROTHER ANGUS
As a founding member of BROTHER, Angus toured extensively in the US and abroad for many years, playing many of the major American Celtic festivals and recording 15 albums along the way. BROTHER music is featured on the classic Baraka soundtrack and an episode of UPN’s The Twilight Zone was written around a BROTHER song. BROTHER appeared on the hit TV series ER and were the only independent band to perform at The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Although the band is no longer touring, every April BROTHER visits Scotland with Albannach on the hugely successful ‘BRONACH’ tours, bringing dozens of American fans with them.
Nowadays, Angus is performing solo, to great response. Hypnotic rhythms emanate from Angus’ loop station, interwoven with guitar and his signature bagpipes. Over it all, Angus’ soaring vocals and storytelling transport his audiences to another world.
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RAPTOR EVENTS
Raptor Events was founded in Long Beach, CA by Jonathan Gonzalez, so he could share his passion for falconry and animals with the world.
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Experience a display of aerial acrobatics through the art of falconry. View birds of prey up close and get hands on time with a variety of reptiles
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in this entertaining and educational opportunity. There will be falcons, hawks, owls, snakes, tortoises, and more!
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