Celtic Thunder • October 23, HJK Center, Oakland

An Evening with Celtic Thunder is more than just a concert—it’s a journey through the group’s incredible legacy. Featuring a carefully curated setlist of their greatest hits, this show will showcase the powerful harmonies, soaring ballads, and electrifying performances that have made Celtic Thunder a household name. From classic Irish folk songs to contemporary favorites, audiences can expect to hear the anthems that have defined Celtic Thunder’s illustrious career.

The event takes place at the beautifully restored 1,500-seat Calvin Simmons Theatre, the crown jewel of the Henry J. Kaiser Center!
TICKETS & INFORMATION

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com

Wake the Dead • October 31, The Freight

Wake the Dead, The Bay Area’s own Celtic All-Star Summer of Love party band, is returning to the Freight for their 26th annual Day of the Dead Bash, always the sell-out party of the season! This hot septet combines Irish jigs and reels with the songs of the Grateful Dead and other ’60s iconic bands, delivering them with unique power and joy. Soaring vocal harmonies and daring instrumentals fuel Wake the Dead’s singular groove engine, delighting Celtoids and Deadheads alike. Now in their 26th year, Wake the Dead has grown to embrace the entire Summer of Love — the Airplane, the Youngbloods, Buffalo Springfield, and the British Invasion are now joyful parts of the mix. Local fans are guaranteed many brand-new surprises. Never the same show twice.
Wake the Dead is Danny Carnahan (vocals, octave mandolin), Sylvia Herold (vocals, guitar), Paul Kotapish (vocals, mandolin), Kevin Carr (Irish uilleann pipes, fiddles), Valerie Rose (vocals, fiddle), Cindy Browne (bass) & Brian Rice (exotic percussion). Their sound is unique, their energy extraordinary—a rare collision of worlds that leaves everybody dancing & grinning.
TICKETS & INFORMATION – TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com

Solas • November 5, The Freight

Solas is lighting up stages across the globe as they celebrate three decades of pushing boundaries and honoring traditions in Irish music. Hailed by The Boston Globe as “the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced,” and by The Wall Street Journal as “an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness,” Solas continues to captivate audiences with their spellbinding musicianship and genre-defying creativity. Formed in New York City in 1995, Solas quickly rose to prominence as a revolutionary force in Irish-American music. The very first iteration of Solas brought together a lineup of extraordinary talent including multi-instrumentalist Séamus Egan, fiddler Winifred Horan, vocalist Karan Casey, guitarist John Doyle, and accordionist John Williams. Together, they redefined the Celtic sound for a new generation, weaving traditional Irish tunes with elements of folk, bluegrass, Americana, and contemporary songwriting.
TICKETS & INFORMATION – TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com

Cherish The Ladies • December 5, The Freight

For four decades, Cherish the Ladies has captivated audiences worldwide as one of the most celebrated Irish music ensembles in history. Renowned for their exhilarating mix of traditional Irish music, stunning vocals, and propulsive step dancing, they have won the hearts of audiences and critics alike. As the Boston Globe aptly puts it: “It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do!” This Grammy-nominated group has forged a path for women in the male-dominated Irish music scene, leaving a lasting legacy with 18 critically acclaimed albums and thousands of performances worldwide, from prestigious concert halls to the Olympics and even the White House. Led by the dynamic flute and whistle virtuoso Joanie Madden, a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award, Cherish the Ladies offers an unforgettable experience of music, song, and dance—a true masterclass in entertainment. Alongside Madden are stellar musicians; Mary Coogan on guitar, Mirella Murray on accordion, Kathleen Boyle on piano, Nollaig Casey on fiddle, vocalist Kate Purcell, and a talented ensemble of world-class dancers.
TICKETS & INFORMATION – TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com