Ocala Scottish Highland Games

& Celtic Festival

Ocala Scottish Highland Games
& Celtic Festival Entertainment

In 1978, Michael Bailey, blues and rock guitarist, left his rock band and vowed he would never form or join another band. Twenty-five years later, Irish uilleann and Scottish Highland bagpipes caught his attention, and Mike’s love for playing music was rekindled; inspired by the sounds of Off Kilter and Seven Nations with Neil Anderson, he dreamed of a band that married Celtic music traditions with a rock beat. Dream met Destiny at a wedding in Central Florida when Mike and Paulo Gallo were introduced as bagpiper for the groom and guitarist for the bride, respectively. Paulo had recently moved to Tallahassee from West Palm Beach and had been working on Caledon Wood and other Celtic tunes at the time of this serendipitous meeting. It wasn’t long before Paulo and Mike arranged a session at the house of Jay Hess, Paulo’s family friend and experienced drummer. Hearing the sound of bagpipes, Jay’s neighbor Robin Rodgers wandered over to take a closer listen and then turned back for home to grab his guitar and join the session; Robin’s love for his own Scottish heritage and experience as an electric and bass guitarist were welcome additions to the ensemble. Enthused by the synergy in music and personalities, Paulo began sending music to his brother, Julio, in West Palm Beach. Julio played bass to the recordings in hopeful anticipation of joining the band; eight months later he sold his house and relocated his family to Tallahassee. The self-proclaimed band of brothers played their first show at Shenanigan’s in Tallahassee in the fall of 2008.

Jay Hess began taking drum lessons in 1968, at 15 years old, from Ellis Tollin, the first drummer with the Tonight Show Orchestra. Though influenced by John Bonham, Bill Bruford, and Carl Palmer, Jay gives most credit to Keith Moon, whose outrageous sarcasm and antics have engendered in him the proper attitude when playing drums. Jay’s previous band in South Florida supported Bad Co., Blue Oyster Cult, Jefferson Starship and Steppenwolf.

Robin Rodgers (Clan MacLeod) learned to play guitar in high school with his brother Rusty (over 30 years ago). He makes his living as a professional artist (potter) and teacher.

Julio Gallo began his musical career at the age of five when he acquired his first Steinway and infuses keyboard, as well as bass, into the band’s repertoire.

Paulo Gallo was active, along with brother Julio, in the West Palm jazz vocal group, The Pace Setters, and travelled to Brisbane, Australia, to perform and represent the United States as goodwill ambassadors at the World’s Fair in 1988.

Michael Bailey also plays tin whistle and banjo and aspires to be a fiddler as well.

The Francis Marion Military Academy

Will be presenting the colors and doing two drill demonstrations. You can visit their website for more information on the Academy.

An Triur is Returning. Yea!

John Maze is one of the leading American proponents of the uilleann pipes. He has studied, performed, and taught the instrument across the US. He founded and directed the Florida Tionól, one of the largest sets of workshops and concerts focusing on Irish Traditional Music in the country. John has performed solo and with ensembles on piano, guitar, flute, great highland bagpipes, small pipes, uilleann pipes, and bodhrán.

Larre Reeves is a multi instrumentalist and teacher of Irish traditional music. He plays flute, whistle, concertina, mandolin, and bodhrán. During his professional career he has represented the United States 3 times in Ireland at the Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann. Numerous visits to County Clare help to anchor his style of playing.

Mick Richmond has been singing and playing guitar since the age of 11. Until recently he was a rock musician and singer/songwriter with various Florida bands including The Skatterbrainz, Flesh Castanet, and Spike the Cat. His writing catalog includes over 40 songs, and Mick applies a modern pop approach to the trad genre, and the interpretation of Irish songs and ballads.

Williston School of Dance Irish Dancers