A Green Light from Yellow Jack
By definition, it’s still summer, but with hints of fall peeking through -- those occasional chilly days, the foggy mornings, the Spirit Halloween stores popping up everywhere. September.
But my favorite thing about September is something that’s been an annual tradition for my family and I since I was a child – the Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival.
For years, the festival took place at Krull Park in Olcott – a scenic spot for an event centered around Celtic culture – Irish, Scottish, Welsh and beyond. There were tall trees and the marvelous southern shore of Lake Ontario to accompany it. Perfect.
I would go with my family and friends, and explore with both whimsy and deep fascination, learning more about my ancestry and the various Celtic cultures. One thing that always stood out to me was the music. Since I was young, I’ve always had a love for Celtic folk music and the varying subgenres that stem from it.
From Krull Park to the recent move to the Niagara County Fairgrounds, I watched band after band take the stages with fiddles, guitars, bagpipes, tin whistles, bodhrans and more, soaking in every song. I hoped to one day be there myself, and this year, that dream became a reality for me.
I’m no stranger to performing Celtic music, especially as a fiddler. This year alone, I’ve been fortunate enough to play it elsewhere with my band Evan Anstey & the Old Ways, as well as with groups like McCarthyizm, Russlett & the Rogues and Yellow Jack.
The latter is whom I took the stage with on the opening morning of this year’s Celtic Festival. With drums, guitar, bass, fiddle, and me guesting on mandolin, we blazed through a high-energy set of Pogues, traditional tunes and acrobatic originals encapsulating both Irish and American history. There may have been a little Jameson around to help warm up our voices, but we’ll never admit to it.
This long-desired performance meant a lot to me, and the more I think about it, the more emotional I feel while typing these words. I grew up clapping and hollering for groups like Penny Whiskey and McCarthyizm, and there I was, rocking the same festival where I’d seen them time and time again.
Celtic music is part of who I am. It connects me to my ancestry, it awakens something special in me, and it’s something I’m proud to share with my wife and almost two-year-old son, the latter of whom attended his second Celtic Festival with me this year. And yes, he’s got his own kilt now.
By the way, did you know the Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival has become the biggest Celtic festival in all of New York State? Fun fact I learned this weekend!
I’m very thankful to my friends in Yellow Jack for asking me to join them for Saturday’s performance, and I sincerely hope this isn’t the last time I find myself embracing my Celtic roots on the Dragonfly or Fireside Stage. I already can’t wait for next year.
Photo credit: Caleb Cotter
Photo credit: Dennis Reed