The Trad Nua Celtic Series at Natalie’s is hosted by acclaimed Irish musicians Randy Clepper and Mick Broderick. The series presents a variety of traditional Irish and Celtic acts often juxtaposing old styles with new influences, local and international artists, and featuring traditional instruments. Sponsored by the Dublin Irish Celebration.

We’re pleased to host Gerry O’Connor – regarded as one of the great fiddle players of his generation. He grew up in Dundalk, County Louth, where he was surrounded by a musical family. He took fiddle lessons from his mother, the great fiddle teacher, Rose O’Connor.

Gerry won numerous All Ireland titles between 1967 and 1973. He played with John Joe Gardiner in the 1970’s which greatly formed his style; focusing on the fluid, ornamented, lyrical fiddling of the great Sligo masters. Gerry’s background in dance provides the influence for his vibrant dance music.

Gerry has played and recorded with highly regarded groups including Lá Lúgh, Skylark, on the Claddagh label. Toured and recorded with members of legendary Irish groups including Planxty, The Bothy Band, De Dannan, Boys of the Lough and The Chieftains. Lá Lúgh’s album, Brighid’s Kiss was voted album of the year 1996 by Irish Music Magazine, his solo album, Journeyman, was in the top five albums of 2004 by the Irish Times and was counted as a significant milestone recording of the music of the Oriel region of South Ulster. With Nuala Kennedy, Martin Quinn and Gilles le Bigot, Gerry released the album Oirialla making the debut at the 2012 Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton, Canada.

In 2018 Gerry was awarded Ceannródai, the prestigious Bardic Award by Comhaltas for his valued contributions to the Traditional Arts. Also in 2018 he launched is second solo album, Last Night’s Joy, and published The Rose in the Gap-Dance Music for Oriel from the Donnellan Collection.

Gerry is currently touring and has recorded six albums with the celebrated Irish-Canadian group The Irish Rovers.

Playing along with Gerry – Central-Ohio-based Randy Clepper is an in-demand player of the Irish bouzouki, also tenor banjo, fingerstyle guitar, and hammered dulcimer, who performs with many artists including John Sherman, Mick Broderick and Bella Issakova.

Rick and Hillary Wagner and Jim’s Red Pants. This duo performs historic American fiddle tunes, Irish, Scottish, and English country dance music as well as original and contemporary folk music on fiddle, bouzouki, tenor guitar, mandolins, tenor and 5 string banjo, flute and whistle, vocals, piano, and more. They are located in Dayton, Ohio and perform at historical events, libraries, weddings, house concerts, municipal concerts, pretty much anywhere! We love that older dance music is as vibrant and exciting now as it was two or three hundred years ago!