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Located in McDade, TX

35 Miles East of Austin

512-222-6680


Celtic Music Festival

Celtic Music Festival & Highland Games

Live Music, Scottish Highland Games, Artisans, Archery, and Mead!

Fri Dec 13 & Sat Dec 14, 2024


Campground closes at 12pm on Sunday

September 8 & 9, 2023

Tickets Available Soon!

2024 Lineup TBD

2023 Lineup Below

Friday Pre-Show

6pm-11pm

  • Emlyn Drake
  • Norðanfólk
  • Piper Gunn
  • Whiskey on a Sunday {Floggin' Molly Tribute Band}

Saturday

10am-11pm

  • Andrew McKee
  • Archery Toast with Trad Tour Archery
  • Blaggards
  • Breton Music and Dance Review
  • Celtic Union
  • Cleghorn
  • David O'Leary
  • Earl Grey in the Morning
  • Emlyn Drake
  • HUP!
  • Misty Posey
  • Norðanfólk
  • Piper Gunn
  • Port O'Thority
  • The Roxlovians
  • San Antonio Pipes & Drums
  • San Antonio Scottish Highland Dancers
  • Scottish Wrestling
  • Sean Orr's Celtic Texas
  • Shillelagh!
  • Thomas "Doc" Grauzer
  • The Troubadork Show
  • Whiskey on a Sunday


Learn more about the Hawk Walk, which is hosted at 2pm and 4pm on Saturday!

The Hawk Walk is a special event that is not included in your admission price.

Andrew McKee

An accomplished and relentless multi-instrumentalist, Andrew McKee has been part of the Sherwood Forest Faire experience since before Sherwood even existed. Andrew is one half of Brobdingnagian Bards, who at the dawn of their career used to play on the South Lawn at UT - a significant inspiration to one of Sherwood’s creators. They went on to be the first internet-savvy Celtic Music outfit and proceeded to put their big Brobdingnagian foot in the door of Celtic Music in the digital realm. As a soloist, Andrew puts on a wonderfully engaging show – and he’ll be teaming up at the Three Stags Pub with David O’Leary as “McKee and O’Leary” for some duos in the middle of the day, and for a PUB SING in the early evening Saturday.

Andrew McKee

Archery Toast with Trad Tour Archery

After the Archery Tournament has concluded in the Archery Village, Trad Tour Archery will be hosting an Archery Toast to all archers who wish to join them. This special tip of the hat to the Archery Community will take place at 5:15 in The Lionheart Tavern. That's 15 min into Port O'Thority's penultimate set, who will graciously give the team a few minutes to make their toast.


A word from Trad Tour:


Our mission is to inspire and grow the archery community through goodwill, sportsmanship and ambassadorship. We work hand in hand with our sponsors and USA Archery to further this goal.


Special thanks to Sherwood Forest Faire, www.sherwoodforestfaire.com, the home field, main sponsor, and inspiration for Trad Tour. 


Trad Tour is a USA Archery Club open for any archer to join and we donate 10% of our sales to promote attendance at archery events such as supporting the single string archers representing Team USA  at this year's PAN AM GAMES in Argentina!


www.tradtour.com

Blaggards

Blaggards

The 2023 Sherwood Celtic Music Festival presents Blaggards (no “the”, pronounced BLA’ GUARDS or BLA’ GHERDS, depending on where you’re from). They like to shred what they call Stout Irish Rock: traditional Irish music mixed with rock n’ roll, influenced by everything from Johnny Cash and Elvis to Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath. They are most frequently compared to bands like Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, and The Pogues.

Blaggards

Breton Music and Dance Review

While most people in America think of Celtic Culture as a Scottish and Irish thing, the Celts lived all over Europe and to this day there are Regions with strong Celtic roots like other parts of Britain as well as Spain and France. The region of France we call Brittany in English, or Bretagne in France, is very proud of its Celtic history - and although certain governments tried to eradicate this culture, it lives on today. Breton music and dance are at the heart of this culture, and we are proud to present a showcase of both by some of the experts. Kristen Jensen, who was a member of America’s premiere Breton band, Poor Man’s Fortune, along with Al Cofrin, another scholar of Breton music, have collaborated with dance choreographer Whitney Rowlett to bring you this rare opportunity to catch live Breton Music and Dance right here in Texas.

Breton Fez Noz

Celtic Archery Tournament with Robert de Bowyer

Sherwood Celtic Music Festival proudly presents the Sherwood Archers!

 

This team travels the country and world year round winning national and world titles and records. Come see the pros at the Sherwood Celtic Festival and Highland Games. Robert de Bowyer will be hosting a tournament at the Washing Well stage newar the Villager's Square on Saturday. 

 

The video below (or to the right on a desktop) is from Sherwood Forest Faire which runs weekends in March and April. Many of these archers will be competing at the Sherwood Celtic Music Festival.

 

Tournament rules including entry requirements can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1894109747480756/

Celtic Union

Andy and Barbara Spear, Celtic Union, have been playing Celtic music since the 1970s. Meeting at a Burns Night gathering in 1975 where Andy was piping and Barbara was playing fiddle, Autoharp, and singing, they literally became a union in 1984. They have played Irish, Scottish, English, and old Appalachian folk music over the years and now, being two retired special education teachers, they continue playing for pleasure at events such as Stonehenge Celtic festival, session groups, local restaurants, and volunteer activities. Barbara’s singing voice is rounded out by Autoharp and piano, and Andy’s bodhran, fiddle, and Scottish small pipes provide solo variety.

Celtic Union

Cleghorn

These invigorating artists have played the Sherwood Celtic Music Festival several times and they never disappoint! Led by a father and son team, John and Dylan Cleghorn, this family is in the business of rockin’ your argyle socks off! Bask in the cascade of the high-energy performances these hot-shot musicians offer throughout Saturday. Cleghorn’s music is all-original from “Young Free and Celtic” to “Nine minutes of WOO!” This September you are sure to become an instant Cleghorn fan for life – or you’ll remember why you already are one!

Cleghorn

David O'Leary

If you have spent much time at Sherwood Forest, then you have heard David O’Leary wailing out all kinds of favorites around the campfire. Now see him by the light of day, playing under the name his momma gave him! And if there is an Alan a Dale favorite that you just can’t wait until March and April to hear, then be sure to shout it out! David will be playing throughout Saturday, sometimes as one half of the Irish duo “McKee and O’Leary”.

David O'Leary

Earl Grey in the Morning

Earl Grey in the Morning is a violin and guitar duo based in Houston, TX. Their diverse and meticulous talents combined, Kristen Jensen and Al Cofrin offer their own recipe of Celtic, Jazz, Folk, and original music. Earl Grey in the Morning brings you music that touches on many different genres including Classical, Jazz, Ragtime, and Celtic. As a duo, the guitar and violin combination is able to produce a surprising amount of music with amazing complexity and texture.

Earl Grey in the Morning

Emlyn Drake

Emlyn Drake has been studying violin since the age of three and while she is classically trained, she has a particular fondness for Celtic fiddle. She has been performing locally around the Austin area for several years, appearing at the Domain, the Round Rock Outlets, the Texas Farmers Market at Mueller, and Sherwood Forest Faire in the Spring. She has also appeared at the Old Fiddlers reunion in Athens, Texas and at Dickens on the Strand in Galveston, Texas. Her repertoire includes Irish jigs and Scottish airs, as well as a few movie favorites.

Emlyn Drake

The Free Companies Juggers

Jugging is a military strategy sport, not unlike football or rugby. Come see this rag-tag team of warriors get medieval on each other with swords, shields, and duels to the death at the Jugging Arena!

GoldRing

HUP!

Hup! is Houston’s premier traditional Irish band. Members are Matt Lewis (guitar, flute, whistles, and vocals), Robert Shaddox (vocals, bodhran), Larry Mallette (flute, whistles), Tess Hartis (fiddle, vocals), and newest addition Katie Geringer (fiddle, vocals). Their driving dance tunes will set your feet to tapping and their gorgeous ballads will warm your heart.

HUP!

Misty Posey

Misty Posey is a high soprano, singer-songwriter with astonishingly pure vocals. Her voice goes from what listeners call "fairy-like" and "angelic" to powerful high notes, in a seamless blend of old world Celtic, classical, and contemporary music, crossing genres with a style she owns. Nick-named "Opera-girl," Misty released her debut album of Celtic/Classical Crossover songs in December 2018 and toured festivals nationwide. Renaissance and Celtic Festivals filled her performance schedule as she continued adding sean-nós and trad songs to her sets, and she began to be known as "Texas' Celtic Woman."

James Fitzsimmons

Norðanfólk

Norðanfólk are Texas-local Nordic folk music in the animist neofolk tradition of Northern Europe. Norðanfólk explore Norse mythical and cultural themes through a mix of originals and select favorites from well-known Nordic folk artists like Wardruna, Heilung, Songleikr and Skáld. On top of ancient and traditional instruments such as the kravik lyre, hurdy-gurdy, and tagelharpa, Norðanfólk layer hypnotic rhythms and 3-part harmonies in Norwegian, Icelandic and Old Norse.

GoldRing

Piper Gunn

Steady as She Goes! Take a trip to the Highlands with the dulcet and robust sounds of the Scottish bagpipes. Jason Gunn, the issue of many generations of pipers, shall take you on a journey to the Highlands of Scotland. Hear Piper Gunn as he visits the various stages at the Celtic festival.

Piper Gunn

Port O'Thority

Port O'Thority is a musical journey of Celtic, Pirate, and World Folk influences with music and stories celebrating our past, mourning our losses, and looking forward to who we will become. Welcome to the Port O’Thority show! Sláinte!

Port O'Thority

The Roxlovians

Ky Hote, the “Most Dangerous Guitar Player”, and the incomparable Lauren Morris on fiddle team up for a weekend of The Roxlovians, an upbeat jig-worthy duo that will put the soul of music in your heart.

GoldRing

San Antonio Pipes & Drums

A dedicated group of bagpipers and Scottish Drummers make up the San Antonio Pipes and Drums. This non-profit organization, formed in 1986, strives to present traditional bagpipe band music for the enjoyment of both musician and audience. Members wear traditional Scottish attire, each kilted in an authentic tartan of the member's choice so that many clans are represented. The group strives to improve performance and to encourage and assist beginners. Participants range in age from teenagers to "over 70" retirees. A popular attraction at the Texas Folklife Festival each year since their formation, the band is also proud to have played for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the president of Mexico when they visited San Antonio. They represented the city of San Antonio in a Fiestas Octubre Parade in Guadalajara, Mexico, and were the first musical group officially to perform in the Alamodome. The San Antonio Pipes and Drums will be playing at various locations around the Celtic festival grounds.

San Antonio Pipes & Drums

San Antonio Scottish Highland Dancers

Highland Dancing is a long tradition and an integral part of any highland games because it is both an art and a sport that provides young people with the opportunity to build self-confidence, discipline, perseverance and athletic ability. It also promotes the preservation of Scottish culture and ensures that the knowledge and understanding of Scottish heritage is preserved so it can be passed onto the next generation. We have competitive and non-competitive dancers ranging from age 4 up to adult and enjoy performing in and around San Antonio to promote our Scottish heritage. Join these dedicated Scottish folk dancers for a real Highland Fling at the shady little grove of the Villager’s Square Stage.

San Antonio Pipes & Drums

Scottish Highland Games

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to toss a telephone pole end over end? Well, we hadn't either until we saw the Scottish Highland Games. Now we can't get enough! These competitions will last all day and include the Scottish hammer throw, shot put, weight over the bar, the crowd favorite caber toss, and more. A World Champion may even show up! You never know what will happen in Sherwood Forest.


If you are interested in competing, please contact akabull@gmail.com.

Scottish Wrestling

Late in the day at the Villager's Square Stage, get ready for a fun and intense event. Kilt Wrestling or Back-Hold wrestling is a tradition of the Scottish Highlands. Each participant wraps their arms around their opponent and the hands must remain clasped together. The goal is to take down their opponent or to break their hold. There will be age, weight, and experience brackets, including kids divisions starting at age 5! Please welcome this new event, hosted by Powersports MMA of College Station, Texas. 

Sean Orr's Celtic Texas

Sean Orr's Celtic Texas

Sean learned to sing and play the fiddle in the honky tonks and dance halls across the state of Texas. As time went on that expanded to neighboring states and then most of the country. He got involved in Celtic music after moving to Austin and took advantage of the diverse musical culture that exists there. After a considerable tenure with the Celtic Rock band Pubcrawler, Sean has set out on his own and remains a favorite in Pubs and private venues across Central Texas. In recent years Sean has played festivals in Canada and Europe as well many in Texas. He also had the privilege to represent Texas playing the fiddle at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Sean Orr's Celtic Texas

Shillelagh!

Texas Celtedelic Irish Jam Band, Shillelagh!, has played at Sherwood many times. Sometimes at gatherings and sometimes at the faire on various stages. These gifted artists make music in the living tradition, especially the British Isles and Ireland. Enjoy this unique and various band of true bohemians, dedicated to their musical adventures. Stick to Music!

Shillelagh!

Thomas "Doc" Grauzer

Thomas “Doc” Grauzer plays harp music of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods on modern lever- and historical wire-strung Irish harps. He joined Sherwood Celtic Music Festival for the first time last year and we are very glad to see him return to the Lionheart Tavern.

Thomas

The Troubadork Show

Despite popular demand, Tobias the Adequate returns to Sherwood with TROUBADORK! Come see the (musical) idiot as he performs the Songs of his People - Geeks, Nerds, and Goofballs!

The Troubadork Show

Whiskey on a Sunday {Floggin' Molly Tribute Band}

Whiskey on a Sunday is Texas’ / USA’s premier ( and only ) Flogging Molly cover band. They bring the high energy Celtic punk you know and love! Although their main focus is Flogging Molly, they also play songs from The Decembrist’s & Dropkick Murphy’s as well as originals. They hail from Austin, Tx and frequently play Irish Pubs like Kelley’s and other venues.

The Troubadork Show
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
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