The 1st Annual Fairfax Feis- Festival of Irish Music & Dance October 14-15th

The Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and Heartbeat Music© announce The 1st Annual Fairfax Feis - Festival of Irish Music and Dance. The Feis will be held October 14-15th in venues throughout downtown Fairfax in Marin County, California.
 
A Feis is a traditional Gaelic arts and cultural festival. Featured Artists include:
Girsa, Todd Denman & Friends, Shay & Michael Black, Brosnan School of Irish Dancing, Culann’s Hounds, Kyle Alden, Lucia Comnes Band, Gerry Carthy, Colm Ó Riain, The Gas Men, Gerry Forde, The Mild Colonial Boys, Dale Russ, Jack Gilder, Dave Cory, Pat Hamilton, John Pedersen, The Toast Inspectors and many more.
 
Feis attendees will enjoy traditional, fusion and hybrid Irish music, Irish dancing and food and drinks. Because the Fees is taking place October 14-15th the beautiful Fall colors will be in abundant supply.
 
David Smadbeck, a local musician and Co-President of The Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and Cormac Gannon, a member of the community and Irish band, The Gasmen, have wanted to launch an Irish music festival in Fairfax for many years. It is hoped that this festival carries on and expands the rich traditions of Irish music and dance.
According to Feis Co-Founders and producers, David Smadbeck— a realtor at Coldwell Banker, Co-owner of The Sleeping Lady and Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Co-President and Cormac Gannon—a musician in The Gasmen—a popular Irish Music band and a music company, Heartbeat Music©: “We have seen over the last number of years the rise in popularity of Irish traditional music locally, with weekly jam sessions in Fairfax, San Rafael, Inverness and other places. We think that now is the right time to hold a Festival highlighting this wonderful tradition of Irish music and dance, and want people to also experience and enjoy the unique town of Fairfax.  In addition, we hope to draw new visitors to downtown Fairfax to help our merchants and business community.”
 
There are three options for enjoying the program for the 1st Annual Fairfax Feis:
 
Friday, October 14th 8:30pm- Closing – Three venues 6 bands, one price $15.
The Sleeping Lady, Peri’s and the 19 Broadway.
Or purchase tickets for separate venues at the door $7 each subject to availability.
 
Saturday, October 15th 11AM-7PM Fairfax Pavilion Show
8 hours of Irish music and dance $30.Buy tickets online by October 1st for $25.
 
Saturday, October 15th 7:30-Closing The Fairfax Feis Multi-Venue Program.
The Feis continues at 7 venues throughout Fairfax: The Sleeping Lady, Peri’s, 19 Broadway, Iron Springs, Sorella Café, Nave’s Bar and Fairfax Coffee Roastery.
7 Venues One price $15.
Or purchase tickets for separate venues at the door $7 each subject to availability.
 
Visit http://www.fairfaxfeis.com to purchase tickets online and for more information. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the event subject to availability.
 
Why an Irish Festival in Fairfax?
Where else but Fairfax would a softball match between the Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead take place? Fairfax merges various cultures: surfing, skateboarding, mountains, mountain biking, fishing with excellent restaurants and shopping plus a thriving music scene with such venues as The Sleeping Lady, 19 Broadway, Peri’s and more. Many of these venues will continue the Feis with music into the night,
Festival Founders
Fairfax Feis co-founders Cormac Gannon and David Smadbeck met through friends who played music around the Bay Area.
Cormac Gannon originally is from County Mayo in the West of Ireland and has been a Bay Area resident since 1991. He plays bodhrán and guitar and sings. After meeting mandolin, guitar player, and singer Vincy Keehan, Cormac was introduced to the San Francisco Irish music scene. He and Vincy and other musicians formed ‘The Gas Men’. Cormac has always enjoyed organizing musical gatherings and jam sessions, as well as organizing gigs and trips for The Gas Men to such places as, Havana, Cuba, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Anchorage, Alaska. Living in the San Anselmo-Fairfax area since 2003, Cormac recognized the amazing potential of putting on an Irish Festival in the town of Fairfax, with its vibrant music venues, community spirit and beautiful people. He and David decided to take on the task of bringing together the amazing talents of the Bay Areas musicians and some brilliant of-town musicians to have a festival similar to the ‘Irish Fleadh Cheoil’ (Festival of Music) which take place annually in towns all over Ireland and around the world. Cormac is married to Ella and they have two daughters, Brigid and Teresa.
 
 
About The Fairfax Chamber of Commerce
 
The Fairfax Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization to promote a thriving business community in downtown Fairfax. Visit http://fairfaxcoc.com/
 
About Heartbeat Music
 
Through promoting concerts, festivals and musical gatherings, Heartbeat Music aims to share the joy of playing music and hearing live music in the community.
 
 
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Contact Information

Sandra Evans

PR Manager- & Associates

& Associates- Sandra Evans

(1) 4158879230

sandra@andassociates-ca.com