Presented By

Coke

NTIF 2012 Urchin Street Performers

Here is the performers list for the NTIF 2013 Harkness state in Urchin Street. More details to be added as they become available.

Story Glen

Hazel and Dave Green

Jane McDaniel

Gary Whitaker

Gary Whitaker is a Master Storyteller who has been performing since 1997. He is an exciting and dramatic teller of all kinds of tales. He especially loves telling Irish folk and ghost tales. He has recorded three CD's and just release a DVD retelling the tale of Beowulf. Come and enjoy the stories of /the Storyman.

Gker brings Beowulf to life in his thrilling retelling of this ancient tale. His performance lights the fires of Hrothgar’s Hall once again. The war of good vs evil fills your imagination with the sounds of battle. His voice becomes the voices of Beowulf and his warriors as they face this fierce beast and other deadly adventures.

Whether you buy the DVD of Beowulf Retold for school or for personal pleasure you won’t regret it. This retelling captures the essence of Beowulf but is easy to follow and absorb.

Performing since 1997 the Storyman has presented his programs in hundreds of schools, many festivals and civic programs. Let the Stories Live!

John Burleson & Peg Roach-Loyd

The accidental pairing of these two gifted musicians and storytellers by Don Penzien at CelticFest 2006 in Jackson, MS, gave birth to a fun and engaging duo.

Peg & John have performed at CelticFest each year since, as well as NTIF in 2011. Burleson’s gift for storytelling and Loyd’s gifted voice for storytelling through songs, plus uplifting tunes on whistle and jazzy rhythms on bodhran and guitar, make this a dynamic duo.

John is no stranger to NTIF having performed as a musician and storyteller for many years.

Peg, released her debut CD, Carving in Stone, in 2008, and has won three medals for songwriting at the Midwest Fleadh. She’s a three-time All-Ireland finalist and a co-author of four books on the subject of gratitude. Her next CD/Book called, “The Path” is set to be released in December 2012.

Rickey Pittman

Rickey E. Pittman, storyteller, author, and folksinger was the Grand Prize Winner of the 1998 Ernest Hemingway Short Story Competition, and is originally from Dallas, Texas.

Pittman presents his stories, music and programs at schools, libraries, organizations, museums, Civil War Reenactments, and Celtic festivals throughout the South. He has made three music CD’s: Bard of the South (2011), The Minstrel Boy (2012), and A Lover’s Ghost (2012).

Pittman earned a BA in New Testament Greek and an MA in English Literature from Abilene Christian University and currently teaches college level freshman composition and literature for Delta Community College, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Virginia College Online.

Harkness Stage

Don Gabbert

Don Gabbert has been called, "The voice of the West Texas Celts". A first generation Irish-American who was born and raised in Texas As a singer and songwriter Don provides a unique insight into the music and culture of the Irish in Texas.

Don states that, "To be of Irish heritage is a great honor and to be a Texan is a source of great pride, But to be both is the most marvelous distinction there is!" Through stories and songs Don invites everyone to discover and revel in their heritage and to join him in saying, "Tejas Go Bragh".

Don Currently Lives in El Paso, Texas with his Wife Wrennah and performs throughout the Southwest.

Killavil

Killavil is a group of young musicians with a continuing dedication to Traditional Irish Music. They perform at festivals, clubs, and pubs, across the United States, England, and Ireland. Killavil incorporates music from the Galway and East Clare fiddle tradition as well as the piping tradition of Patsy Touhey and Willie Clancy.

The band consists of Michael Stribling on the uilleann pipes, tin whistle, and flute, Rachel Stribling on the fiddle, Daniel Stribling on bouzouki, bodhran, and piano, and our newest member Sarah Buteux on fiddle and vocals.

Michael is an All-Ireland Champion on the uilleann pipes, and Sarah is an All-Ireland Champion in solo fiddle.

Flashpoint

Flashpoint is a new Irish music band comprised of three of the finest young musicians in the North Texas area: Joseph Carmichael and brothers David and Daniel Mehalko. Having performed at the North Texas Irish Festival, the Austin Celtic Festival, CelticFest MS, and numerous other venues, Flashpoint is quickly establishing themselves as one of the most talented up-and-coming performers of Irish folk music.

With a variety of instrumentation (including fiddle, banjo, guitar, flute, and vocals), and a tasteful mix of various styles, they present an exciting performance that is appealing to general audiences yet still true to the tradition of Irish music.

In the winter of 2011-2012 they recorded their first album together, “Jammed,” a collection of 26 traditional and contemporary tunes from Ireland and beyond.

Flaspoint was a recipient of an SCMA scholarship award.