The Killdares
The Killdares have come to be known as one of the hottest, cutting edge bands in music today - Celtic or otherwise. World-class musicians from all over the U.S., they have come together in Texas to create and perform a brand new version of hard-driving, alternative Celtic rock music.
Blending traditional Celtic playing skills, power-pop accessibility, and straight up rock n' roll hooks, The Killdares have created a fresh new sound that's blended with enough commercial edge to be instantly recognizable, always engaging, and appealing to fans of all ages.
Expanding the definition of "Celtic", the band uses the unconventional pairing of screaming, fire-driven fiddle and bagpipes with the wail of electric guitar, bass and drums to create brilliant arrangements of traditional tunes and original compositions.
Drummer Tim Smith handles lead vocals and drums with amazing nonchalance, locking in with Jim Dawson's energetic and "in-the-groove" bass playing, and the beautifully expressive electric and acoustic guitar stylings of Brek Lancaster.
Add to this dynamic rock-and-roll band, the 2005 Grand Master Fiddler Champion, Roberta Rast, and competition bagpiper Matt Willis, and you have all the right ingredients for a truly amazing Celtic Rock / World music / AAA / Rock-and-Roll extravaganza.
In 2002, six-time National Fiddle Champion Roberta Rast joined the band. With the title of Grand Master Champion, her fiddling journey has taken her from small-town Idaho to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and now on stage with The Killdares. Since first appearing on the music scene a few short years ago, The Killdares have gone from local pub performers to national touring headliners, sharing stages with an incredibly diverse range of national and international artists.
In 1998, the band released their self-produced debut CD, "Broken With A Word." Their 2001 follow-up, "A Place To Stand," showed exceptional growth and maturity in their song writing, and contained a higher energy that caught the attention of producer Chris Bell, who has worked with Erykah Badu, and also with other prominent acts such as U2, Kirk Franklin, Fuel and most recently the Polyphonic Spree. "A Place To Stand" would be submitted in 2001 for Grammy nominations in 5 categories.
The Killdares released their third CD in the middle of the following year. Simply entitled "LIVE," this album is a snapshot of their broad live set list, and in 2002 was also submitted for Grammy nominations.
With the release of their 4th full-length recording, "Any Given Element," The Killdares continue to tour and perform all over the U.S., with the very real possibility of taking their unique live show to Canada and Europe. The band is currently in the pre-production phase for their 5th album, and even as The Killdares continue to evolve, they remain committed to creating and performing the newest and most relevant music in the world today.
7:30 p.m., Friday, April 25, 2008 Dodge Real Texas Music stage.