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Patty Mills loves Irish music and the musical style compliments Patty’s voice. Her joy in this musical genre comes through in every song she sings. For some time now she has been performing in country and classic rock, but a visit to Ireland in 2007 offered her the opportunity to become immersed in music that she says, “spoke to my soul.” Patty, whose family roots can be traced to County Cork, often remarks about the music she heard in Ireland. “When I heard it” she says, “I knew I was home.” Christer Saarikko is not Irish, not Scottish ….. 100% Finnish. Viking Fiddle! He started playing violin at age 11 when he found his Grandfather’s very dusty violin in Finland. He is a classically trained violinist and has played with the University of Florida Symphony and the UF Chamber Quartet. While at UF he discovered that playing violin is much more fun when beer is involved and you don’t have to wear a tux; he has been playing in bands ever since. Christer’s first exposure to Celtic rock was hearing Seven Nations at the Harp and Thistle in 1996, and he remembers thinking that was about the coolest thing he’d ever heard. “There’s just something special about putting on a kilt, slamming a beer, and plugging your fiddle into an amplifier and jamming with the band.” Lisa Hargiss plays guitar and bass and lends her voice to harmony. “Irish/Celtic music is where my heart is; the Irish/Celtic sound is the root upon which the chords of Appalachian, bluegrass and traditional country were built, it is the foundation of the others. As a musician, I love mixing the genres, and still having that thread of familiarity.” Lisa first heard Celtic rock when she opened with another band for Enter The Haggis at Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa, FL. She was completely blown away and became an avid fan of Celtic rock. Her lineage can be traced to the Orkney Islands of Scotland. “Hanging with the band mates and having a beer—well it just doesn’t get any better than that.” Rick Mastry has been playing music for his whole life. He started playing drums at his father’s bar when he was 9 years old, and continued to play in many groups throughout his school days. He plays guitar, bass and drums; writes songs and sings real shitty. Rick has played from coast to coast in the US and toured Europe a couple of times with the Saltwater Band in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Rick has recorded at Sunn Studios in Memphis and has a recording studio of his own. Now he gets very excited playing with himself. Ken Walker hits things. Usually rhythmically but not always. He drank his way through Scotland and enjoys the ‘freedom’ of a kilt.
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