OUR 6th, or 7th (I think) APPEARANCE AT THE GAIF (Great American Irish festival)  quickie take two


At approximately noon we loaded up on crappy coffee from a place that charges way too much for the mountain bean with weird size cup titles (pragmatism aside, Latin titles? Really? Really!!). Plattsburgh so needs a Tim Horton's but I humbly digress&

Down the 87 to the 90 and in no time we were in Utica New York. Booked into some real nice digs at the Radisson, finished our road rockets and left for the Fairgrounds.

It was raining at the GAIF, again. Someone there really needs to hang up some blessed prayer beads on a clothesline overnight (an old Catholic ritual for sunny weather, in Glengarry anyways).

We met our good friends, 'Pogey' backstage and caught up on the goings-on in Nova Scotia. They put on a great show. If you get a chance, catch a 'Pogey' act and walk away smiling! Celtic music  with a Cape Breton base: I love it!

We were on next at 6 pm and luckily the tent started to fill quickly till it was overflowing, out into the rain! For an hour and twenty minutes we took no prisoners and booked it right through. Darcy, our new flaming fiddler utilized every inch of real estate on the massive stage and still seemed caged-in. Ah, youthful zeal!

Not to be outdone, Ewan immigrated to the mosh-pit with a set of complex blistering reels which upped the ante for our show. Graham displayed his new version of two of my Robbie Burns favourites, "For A' That" and "MacPherson's Rant".

Some people misconstrue our adherence to traditional Scots' music with the "trad" idiom. Although we are proud of the music from whence we came, we spare no quarter when it comes time to rock it out. We submit that when you put yourself out as a 'celtic group'  that's what you should do, albeit with different based rhythms. It can be done while pushing the envelope!

This is who we are, the Glengarry Bhoys, from Glengarry Ontario  a highland Scots' enclave of celtic musicians that grew up with celtic music. It defines who we are  not just a passing fancy, but yet again, I digress&.

We were again blessed, for the second night in a row, with a great Irish Dance troupe showcase during our set. They were awesome and rounded off a great show! Thanks Matt (not 'Naked Matt', well, maybe, but different)! We finished off with a sweat- drenched encore. The crowd seemed pleased and so were we. A short walk the best VIP tent anywhere (festivals take note: beer or all kinds, coolers, burgers, salads, pastas, chicken, beef, sweeties etc&..all served with a smile).

With full bellies and fresh clothes, we stopped in to visit old friends for a jar(s), but first we caught a few numbers from the 'Elders': a great and polished band  that plays, you guessed it, trad Irish based music, with a very unique entertaining twist!!

Another great GAIF! Large, enthusiastic, and quite knowledgeable audiences. The quintessential Irish festival and we are proud to have been part of it since the beginning! The Glengarry Bhoys: the perpetual GAIF House Band!!

Recession? What recession??

Maudit estit de tabarnouche!! I Love New York!!!

Tapadh leibh et a tantot.

Ziggy

From the Glengarry Bhoys - 2009

Friday and Saturday was the highlight of Irish festivals in New York State-we were one of the headlining acts at the Great American Irish Festival in Herkimer County just outside of Utica. I must admit that this is the best and most organized Irish festival in New York State if not the country, and take it from us (a band that performs close to 150 concerts a year!) that this is one of the best festivals.

A blistering set on Friday night with thousands in attendance at our concert set the stage & we did steal the show. Saturday had us performing in the late afternoon to a rousing audience that left no one sitting. A special thanks to Matt Sullivan for a job well done; the volunteers, again, were amazing and friendly. We played along side such notable bands as Eileen Ivers – Enter the Haggis – The Elders – Hair of the Dog – Seamus Kennedy – The Prodigals – Paddy Noonan – Searson – Rathkeltair – Millish – Fieldstone – Kyndred – Cassidy/ McCale – Pat Kane – The Blarney Rebel Band – Cliudan - Gerry Dixon – John Gilligan – Vince Colgan and Rattlin Bog… all great entertainers, very professional, and talented individuals.

Graham Wright

Glengarry Bhoys - from "Roadkill" 2007 May their memory live on forever

You guys really have it all together there. Best of luck on the years to come -

Andy Cooney

The GAIF is one of the most professionally run festivals we've been to. From the moment we got there to the moment we left we were well taken care of. Rare for an event in its third year to be so exceptional. Keep up the good work and we look forward to being a part of the festival next year -

Dave Barton - The Peelers

We had a great time- it was very professionally run, which goes a long way with us -

Shane Makem, the Makem Bros.

Again, thank you for the warmth, the welcome, the complete professionalism and the great folks you choose to work with us - they are genuinely terrific people.

Cathie Ryan

Just saw my first "Dogs" show at the Great American Irish Festival. It was truly the highlight of the festival for me. What a great time! Looking forward to seeing the band again soon.
Robert Burns - USA - 31/07/2006

From the Old Blind Dogs Website - 2006

The weather took a bad turn on Saturday afternoon. It was a severe electrical storm with high winds. Several camp tents (two in Camp Haggis and some others nearby) were flipped over in the high winds. But everyone was ok and the GAIF people handled the situation very well. The festival organizers and small army of volunteers should be commended for their helpfulness, grace under pressure, etc."

From the Enter the Haggis website - 2006

...Utica was a great success. First time the festival was held and they did a terrific job. It was great to hang out with The Fenians, Seanchai and others.

From the Prodigals website - 2004

Utica was muddy but they had a very nice large tent with fantastic sound!!! (just remember sound).
The Bhoys played to a packed house in and out of the tent. Everyone enjoyed!! I was standing just on the edge of the tent and it started to rain a little. Who cares the Bhoys are playing! Than the rain progressively got worse. Who cares the Bhoys are playing! The Bhoys rhocked that tent and the crowd begged for an encore! We wanted a couple more encores but there was another band to follow and the Bhoys had a date in Syracuse. It was a nice music festival and they had a lot of good bands I wish I could stay but it was off to Syracuse...

"Road Kill" from the Glengarry Bhoys website - 2004

"The festival was OUTSTANDING! I heard compliments all the while I was there from musicians and spectators alike about what a great event it was. It seems impossible that it was the first year. It was run better than many festivals that have been in existence for plenty more years. Congratulations to everyone involved!"

Donal O' Shaughnessy - 2004