Mid-Winter Scottish and Irish Music Festival Review

Every year on President's Day, a couple hundred people wake up and realize they shouldn't have had just one more drink the night before. They get up, stumble out of their hotel room(10 am check-outs are the worse) and before leaving the hotel lobby, they are already making sure they can book a room for next year. Goodbyes are said, bands pack up to start their 12 hour drives home, and the people ofPhiladelphia are thinking of reasons why they can call out of work on Tuesday. Everyone needs a day to recover after the Mid-Winter Scottish and Irish Music Festival.

The festival, affectionately called "Mid-Winter" by its regulars, just wrapped up it's 17th year at the Valley Forge Convention Center. It's organized by Bill and Karen Reid who run East of the Hebrides Entertainment in Plymouth Meeting. Bands and fans from all over the country (and other countries) drive in, fly in, and spend a few nights in the adjacent hotels to begin a mini vacation in the middle of winter. For those who love the sounds of Scotland, Ireland, and anywhere else someone can pick up a fiddle or bagpipes (and play the instrument well), this is the perfect getaway each year.

On Friday night, the music gets started around 7 pm. This year, three of Philadelphia's own Irish-inspired rock bands opened up the weekend- Five Quid, The Hooligans, and the Bogside Rogues. Be sure to check out their upcoming shows in the area! Along with these groups was Albannach, a band that always brings people up to the front of the stage and gets the crowd ready for the weekend. They're a bunch of big Scottish men who carry pipes and drums (and one fantastic girl drummer too). Tribal drumming music at it's best.

Saturday morning started with a pipe band Bagpipers played throughout the day, the first band to play Saturday morning was the MacLEOD Fiddlers and then the line up from the night before was joined by more than enough bands to keep everyone on their feet all day. It's important not to fall over and get trampled on by the step-dancers at this place! Paddy's Well is another great local band who woke up the Saturday afternoon crowd. Then followed Cliudan, who is festival and pub favorite from upstate New York. Other North American acts included Scythian, the four man band who won't let you come up for air; Charlie Zahm, a singer-songwriter who lives near Philly, and Rathkeltair- a Celtic rock jam band from Florida (though two of the members are from Europe). The Screaming Orphans could be considered an American band, too, since the four sisters live in NYC but they are originally from Ireland. Their drummer is the lead singer, and this is chic rock at it's best…along with Canada's Searson, the other kick-ass Celtic girl band at Mid-Winter's line up. Canada was also represented by the MacLeod fiddlers and Hadrian's Wall- two great groups who always make the trip to Pennsylvania for this festival. Australians were in attendance as well, in the form of Brother. Mongrel rock, as those mates call it, with didgeridoo, bagpipes, drums and guitar.

Sunday's at Mid-Winter are much more calm. Everyone is tired, but still ready to dance with a Guinness in hand. Most of the same bands played, and a few more joined in for the last day of the festival. The McDades, another Canadian group, fuses the sounds of Celtic music and jazz. Then there were a few more groups from Europe- Oliver McElhone (Philly based but born in Northern Ireland), the Tannahill Weavers who are a traditional Scottish band, and the Dublin City Ramblers (who have been performing since the 1970s).

Whether you stay for the weekend or just come for a day, mark Mid-Winter on your calendar for next February. It's more than just music and dancing. Enjoy a whiskey tasting, trace your roots at the clan tables, shop for jewelry, clothing, or other gifts, and fill up on fish and chips.

In the meantime, many of the bands will be back in the Philadelphia area around St. Patrick's Day. And almost all the performers at the festival this year will be returning to Pennsylvania before February 2010 (The Reids run a few other festivals throughout the year as well as a January cruise). The musicians love it here, and really, after playing at a place like Mid-Winter, who can blamed them? Ask any fan of this genre if they'll be making an appearance in 2010 and you'll get the same answer: we're counting down the days already.

-Brenda Hillegas