The July Irish Music Event high in the mountains is back. In keeping with the tradition we established last year, we’ve scoured the country near and far to bring you a day-long event filled with top notch Irish music, family fun, and the most breathtaking views you will see at any Artown event.
Date: July 11, 2009
Location: Sky Tavern Ski Area – Mt. Rose Hwy, Reno, NV
Time: Gates open at 11am
Admission: $10 Adults, Children under 15 free
Get a free pint with your advanced ticket purchase at
What to do at HIRISHFEST:
- Listen to great irish music.
- Ride the chairlift to the best views of town.
- Get your shot of adrenaline on the 500’ zip line.
- Show your strength in our Guinness Keg Toss contest.
- Enjoy great food and the finest Irish ales, lager, stout and cider.
- Beat the heat with altitude.
Entertainment Headliners
Skelpin – One of the nations’s most sought after Irish/World Fusion bands, Skelpin has been known to drive audiences to uncontrollable bouts of foot twitching and hand clapping. Skelpin performs lyrical Irish music fused with the passions of Spain, rhythms of the Middle East, and American romantic soul. They have performed from Tijuana to Tokyo and all points in between – and they have proudly shared the stage with The Chieftains, Matt Hensley (Flogging Molly), Danu, The Young Dubliners, Seven Nations, and Solas. www.skelpin.com
Nine 8ths Irish – This highly acclaimed Sacramento based band combines the talents of four accomplished musicians to present music that is “Irish and a wee bit more.” Incorporating their experiences in a wide variety of musical genres – from bluegrass and country to jazz and big band music – Nine 8ths Irish enjoys sharing their love of traditional Irish Music with audiences throughout Northern California and beyond. If you were lucky enough to catch them at Ceol Irish Pub on St. Patrick’s Day, then you know why they’ll be performing at the festival. www.nine8thsirish.com
The tremendous duo of Johnny Connolly & Cary Novotny - Johnny Connolly, born and raised in Dublin, has generated a reputation as an accomplished button accordionist of the highest order. Johnny’s talents have provided him opportunities to perform and record with many internationally renowned artists including Kevin Burke, The Chieftains, Patrick Ourceau and Aidan Brennan. His first solo CD, entitled “Bridgetown” on the highly esteemed Green Linnet Records label has earned critical acclaim and brought Connolly to the forefront of the younger generation of traditional Irish musicians. Cary Novotny possesses a powerful musical style, with strong rhythm and a sure sense of harmony and tone. He has recorded and performed with many great bands in the world of Irish music, including Cul An Ti, Kevin Burke, The Bridies and An Tua. www.myspace.com/bridgetownceol
Brendan Desmond, the lad with the booming voice from County Cork, Ireland will be performing all of your sing and clap along pub song favorites.
There’ll be more musicians, set dancers and step dancers – so don’t lay about, come on out. A year is a long time to wait for it to come around again.