Just got home from three days of Irish Fest.  It was way fun. 

Highlights:

Bruce Molsky did his usual superb job including performing through a downpour this afternoon.
Matt Cranitch & Jackie Daly were fantastic- they played in the small pub setting and for set dances.
Tim O'Brien & Bryan Sutton played beautifully.
Liz Carroll did a fun set with a piano player whose name escapes me, Jim Dewan and Robbie Fulks (a fine song-writer and guitarist).
Chicago Reel played for sets & ceilis and on one of the stages too.
Punch Brothers did one set there Friday.  I hadn't seeen them before- Wow!
Henhouse Prowlers did a nice bluegrass set.  I know a couple of those guys- fine musicians all.
April Verch Trio blew me away.  I've been at the MT Fiddle Camp with her but hadn't seen this show.  She does lots of American stuff.  An awesome fiddler, singer and step-dancer!

There is so much happening there it's hard to see everything you would like to see.  Impossible to see it all.

Chirps

did you see the wild thyme band i know they played at irish fest

Liz Caroll from Chicago is an international fiddling star. With its rich heritage of Irish fiddling, that great lineup doesn't surprise me.

I'd have to second your comments on all accounts.  A wonderful "listening" festival.  It would be a hard one to do any jamming at, but worth the time and effort for listening to great music.  Bruce Molsky is sooooooooo inspiring!!

And I was stuck at home cutting firewood. G-r-r-r!

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Originally posted by richdissmore

did you see the wild thyme band i know they played at irish fest

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 If I Did I didn't know.  I don't recall that band but may have heard them in passing..  There is a lot of music there to say the least. :-)

Chirps

Yes, Irish Fest was great.   This year they emphasized the Irish roots of bluegrass and old time music.  Way too many good performances going on at the same time.  Felt like a ping pong ball going from one end of the grounds to the other to try to catch as many as possible.

I can also second everything Chirps said about the Punch Brothers, Bruce Molsky, Tim O'Brien (all of whom I have seen before) and April Verch (whom I had not seen before).  She  completely, utterly blew me away also.  She is a superb fiddler, singer and step dancer.  I went to her set thinking I would be hearing a lot of good Canadian fiddling.  Although she didn't do too much of the Canadian stuff, her step-dancing-while fiddling was something to behold .  Instead she did a wide variety of U.S.-inspired  old time, bluegrass and folk instrumentals and vocals (many composed by her) that were top-shelf in every possible dimension.  Bought her latest CD, which includes wonderful assistance from Rayna Gellert, Dirk Powell, Bob Carlin, Riley Baugus and Bobby Hicks, among others.  It's well worth  the money.

I missed it as well this year....hubby was in the hospital and I have 3 grand children around. Glad everyone had a great time..and great weather! I saw Liz Carroll there and I sure wished I could have taken her class during that week. She is amazing!! Irish Fest is ALWAYS a great time..and yes, it's impossible to see and hear everything that is awesome!

Thanks for the update!

Did I meet any of you there, perhaps at a session or something?  Anyone take the summer school classes?

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Originally posted by mossyfiddle

Did I meet any of you there, perhaps at a session or something?  Anyone take the summer school classes?

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 I think I may have seen you or someone that looks like you.  :-)  Based on your picture.  I was walking around with a fiddle in a two-tone (brown and cream) case.  I never did get a chance to try any of the sessions- to many folks I wanted to see play.

Chirps