Urchin Street Performers

Our Urchin Street performers this year include some well known returning faces, some new additions and, in keeping with the "Carrying on the Tradition" mission of the festival, some next generation performers. We feel sure that the younger Celts will find a great deal to enjoy.

Behan: The Next Generation

The inescapable conclusion that anyone who has seen Behan perform is that this thing is about family. Chris and Tess Behan, the Behan boys’ grandparents hang proudly above the stage, and many a song has been sung to Jim and Dorothy Behan, the parents of those boys and whose house was filled with Irish music. The members of Behan have twenty-three children between them and there are thirty more Behan grandchildren besides. Fourteen members of this group have previously performed with the band, either in song or dance. It is no surprise then to see the introduction of Behan: The Next Generation: Claire and John of the Michael Behan Clan; Casey, Caitlin, Kim, and Matthew of the Joseph Behan Clan; Sarah, Elizabeth, Daniel, William, Grace, and Martin of the Morris Clan; Madeline, Rebecca, Katie, and Emily of the Reiter Clan; Joshua, Amanda, and Caleb of the Treadway Clan, and David and Peter of the Dhooghe Clan. Ranging in age from fifteen to almost two, these kids will sing Irish songs that they just can’t their parents to stop singing, from children’s songs such as The Unicorn to Weila Weile and Whiskey You’re the Devil. The Behan grandchildren are carrying on with all that carrying on that their parents are doing.

John Burleson

John has been telling professionally since 1988 in concerts, churches, festivals, schools, clubs and other venues. A lifelong interest in folklore and mythology has generated his repertoire of Texas history, Native American, African American, Irish and other British Isles tales.

He has regularly appeared at North Texas Irish Festival, Texas Folklife Festival, Mississippi Celtic Festival, and Bedford's Celtic Heritage Festival. John has also told at Milwaukee Irish Festival and Ohio Renaissance Festival.

Calamity Road

Calamity Road are Vince Cole; guitar, banjo and occasional vocal. Jenny Rusek; cello. Helen Mateki; Female vocals and Rogan Muldoon; male vocals and 12 string guitar. The music is "old time" songs and ballads ranging from the plains of Texas to the Curragh of Kildare. The hills of Appalachia and the Ozarks to the Highlands of Scotland. Here is a collection of songs for children young and old, with roots reaching back to the "old sod".

Liz Covington

Michael William Harrison & Linda King

At NTIF on the Urchin Street stages come Michael and Linda with songs for all ages. There are songs about things we can see and can touch, like ponies and bats and fishmongers and such. We'll sing songs of unicorns, angels and bears make animal noises and throw away cares, So come all ye children it’s Urchin Street time – let’s sing and be merry, let’s dance and let’s rhyme.

Linda King and Michael Harrison are well known in the metroplex area for their performances of Celtic and folk music. Both are regular performers at NTIF and have played Urchin Street as solo artists for many years. Now they join their talents with the enthusiasm of a group of young people ages 4-12 years, onstage and on their newly released album “For Kids of All Ages”, for a fun filled show of songs that will have everyone singing along.

Killavil

Recently arrived on the Celtic music scene, Killavil is a group of young musicians with an unwavering dedication to the Traditional Irish Music. They have performed at festivals and venues extending from the Southwest to the East Coast. Killavil delivers traditional music with a focus on selections originating from the Galway and East Clare regions of Ireland. The band consists of Michael Stribling on the Uilleann Pipes and Tin Whistle, Rachel Stribling on the Fiddle, and Daniel Stribling on Bouzouki, Bodhran, and Piano.

Their Mentors include Ken Fleming, Jerry O’Sullivan, Joanie Madden, Shannon Heaton, Patrick Ourceau, Brendan Dolan, Roger Landes, Albert Alfonso, and Felix Dolan. Killavil is pleased to participate in the 2006 North Texas Irish Festival.

Maggie Miller & Ed

ParaCelt

Rebekah Passmore

As a professional harpist, singer, and composer, Rebekah Passmore has been performing since 1996. Her career spans the international scope from Santa Barbara, California to Boston University Tanglewood Institute under the instruction of the internationally renowned harpist, Lucile Lawrence; and her touring concerts taking her from Graz, Austria with the American Institute of Musical Studies to Turkey performing as principal harpist with the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. She also enjoys playing her Celtic harp, where she competes (won 1st place in the Scottish Games in Arlington Harp Competition 2005) and gathers often with other Celtic harpists. Residing in Ft. Worth, Ms. Passmore is a freelancing performer, arranger, and teacher in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. For more information, call 214-354-11-37 or visit www.rebekahpassmore.com.

Gary Whitaker

Storyteller, Gary Whitaker, has been performing professionally since 1997. He has traveled all across Texas bringing his storytelling programs to schools, public events and private parties. The Storyman’s Irish / Medieval programs include Traditional Folk Tales, Legends, Irish Saga’s, Ghost tales plus much more. Gary’s storytelling programs are geared more toward the older bracket of 8 year olds and up. He is regarded by his contemporaries as a talented and powerful performer with the ability to capture and hold any audiences attention.