Celtic Battle of the Bands Finally in Ionia, Michigan, USA

**djweso** · 24th July 06, 04:58 PM

Well as the tittle suggests a Battle of the Celtic Bands was held for the first time this year in a small town outside of Grand Rapids (we have at least one member who lives there). There were 3 (Sun)days of competion featuring 4 Bands each, all out of Michigan. The winner from each of those days then went head to head at an out door event called The Ionia Free Fair.

I am a big fan of Craic Wisely, so a group of my friends (the Craic Heads) and I went to Cheer them one as one of the Finalist. Here are a few pictures from the show, the rest of mine are available at Flickr. There are more the pics and video at Battle of the Celtic Bands Website.

Todd Herring the lead singer of Craic Wisley in a UK Mocker.

Craic Wisley on Stage, competing

My best friends Sky and my daughter Lavender.

**djweso** · 24th July 06, 04:59 PM

Sky holding up THE Dave Sign (Long story, but feel free to ask).

Another kilted supporter of Craic Wisley - The kilt is off ebay and is PV but they didn't know the maker.

A kilted supporter of Belfast Gin - his kilt is from a bought pattern.

There were a few other guys there in kilts that I didn't get pics of. One was my friend Jim, I will put pics of him up later, from the Utilikilt Booth I volunteered at. One guy had basically a tartan skirt but said he had thrown it together himself to help with the jonesing until he saved up for a Union Kilt. There a male and female piper there also, apparently I missed the pipe band play. I know this was all of the kilted rabble there, because Jim and I scowered the crowd at the request of the lead singer of Craic Wisley. As Craic took the stage Todd led a parade of kilties from the beer tent to the stage. The Belfast Gin supporter was pulled out of line by the lead singer of that group. Unfortunately no one took pictures of it. I guess they were too mesmerized by the swish.

**djweso** · 24th July 06, 05:09 PM

Sorry if the pics are too big for some of you. Say something so I know to go smaller next time.

Oh, and did I mention Craic Wisley WON!

**Blu (Ontario)** · 24th July 06, 05:56 PM

The fellow in frame #6 looks as though he's wearing a pair of trousers under the very long kilt. :confused:

oh well....... Does the event draw a good crowd?

.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 24th July 06, 06:39 PM

thanks for sharing the pictures

Yes, the fellow in frame six confused me as well :confused:

**djweso** · 24th July 06, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Blu (Ontario)

The fellow in frame #6 looks as though he's wearing a pair of trousers under the very long kilt. :confused:

Originally Posted by Tattoobradley

Yes, the fellow in frame six confused me as well :confused:

Those are some sort of leg wrap, that sinches at the top and bottom. I believe it is to fake tartan hose. They are part of the pattern that you can buy at your local fabric store, its usually findable in the "costume" section. The story he told me went something like: He went to a Ren Faire, mention how much he liked the kilt and his daughter made him one. Nice guy.

Originally Posted by Blu (Ontario)

Does the event draw a good crowd?

The Ionia Free Fair is suppoed to be really big, it wasn't that busy when we were there. As for the Battle of the Celtic Bands, I here there were pretty good crowds at the first rounds, but I didn't get to go. By the evening when the winner was playing a second set at 8PM, I would estimate between 100-200 people, but that is a really rough estimate.

**Big Paul** · 24th July 06, 07:24 PM

Looks like a cool time! I hope to make it next year!!

**djweso** · 24th July 06, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Big Paul

Looks like a cool time! I hope to make it next year!!

Yeah, sorry about that. I kept meaning to post about this, in case the other Michigan guys were interested, but just never got around to it.

**Planopiper** · 25th July 06, 06:48 AM

Was it the Celtic Battle of the Bands or the Battle of the Celtic bands? In a battle of Celtic bands, different celtic bands would compete against each other, but in a Celtic battle of bands, any kind of band could compete, but it would be to the death and they would take heads as trophies. I'd like to see that.

I used to drive by Ionia all the time going between Grand Rapids and Lansing. I was kind of hoping I might recognize someone in the photos but no luck. You cut the head off the piper in one of the pics. It looks like it wa a good day for music.

**djweso** · 25th July 06, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by Planopiper

Was it the Celtic Battle of the Bands or the Battle of the Celtic bands? In a battle of Celtic bands, different celtic bands would compete against each other, but in a Celtic battle of bands, any kind of band could compete, but it would be to the death and they would take heads as trophies. I'd like to see that.

Well it was billed as the second but in reality it was the first. But that's ok, cause I didn't want to get blood on my kilt that day anyway.

I used to drive by Ionia all the time going between Grand Rapids and Lansing. I was kind of hoping I might recognize someone in the photos but no luck. You cut the head off the piper in one of the pics. It looks like it wa a good day for music.

Actually his head isn't cut off in that pic, its just how Flickr makes it look. Here is the pic:

There is a picture of the pipe band that was there, here.

Oh and one of my daughter dancing and I dancing .

I didn't take the second two, so I can't post them directly.