Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration will be held at St. Michael’s Episcopal Dec. 13. Photo courtesy of Winterdance

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - A joyful and cherished holiday tradition returns this December, marking the 18th Annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration.

Angelic singing, instrumental wizardry and championship Irish step dancing combine to lift your hearts this holiday season.

At 7 p.m. Dec. 13, the Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration will be held at St. Michael’s Episcopal at 2140 Mission Ave., Carmichael. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s show welcomes back the soaring vocals of San Francisco’s Amelia Hogan, Molly’s Revenge fiddler John Weed, and the banjo and mandolin artistry of rising artist, Tyler Weed. Making his Winterdance debut on guitar, mandolin and vocals, we’re honored to share the stage with Wake the Dead’s Paul Kotapish.

All Ireland champion Irish step dancers, Marisa Gilman and Cameron Carson Riddle, will bring a percussive and visually stunning element to this 18th year of Winterdance.

Many longtime fans of Winterdance and Molly’s Revenge will notice that Stuart Mason is no longer part of the lineup. After 17 years, our lifelong musical partner and dear friend, "Uncle" Stuart Mason, will be stepping down from the Winterdance cast. Stuart's life is filled with fish to catch and a growing and abundant stack of pet portrait holiday orders that he and his Christmas elves are rushing to fulfill.

Almost two decades ago, Molly’s Revenge began our Winterdance holiday celebration. Combining lively instrumental Celtic music with seasonal carols and Irish dance, the cast has evolved over the years but continues to offer a compelling and popular holiday show. We continue this tradition in the hopes that we can play a small part in nurturing community, unity and festivity through song, story and dance. We look forward to seeing familiar faces, making new friends, and hope to see you there!

Amelia Hogan is an impeccably authentic singer of Celtic music, and her “lilting, buoyant, distinctive voice” (AM Kennedy, Irish Music Magazine) comes through in honeyed tones on Irish, Scottish, British and American-styled vocals. She sings both contemporary and traditional music well versed in the Irish tradition of Sean-Nós, or “old style”, a highly lyrical solo a cappella style. Amelia is a headliner at the SF Free Folk Festival since 2004; frequent host of the internationally known Starry Plough Sunday night session ( Berkeley CA,)  headliner at The Irish Club of Alaska’s Galway Days Festival; a regular at the An Goilin Singers Club in Dublin, Ireland; a special guest and community partner with the Consul General of Ireland, San Francisco; Ongoing partner with the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco, headliner and special guest performer and regular of Hyde street Pier NPS Maritime History Museum Sea Music Festival and concert series.

John Weed, fiddler for Molly’s Revenge and New World String Project, has spent the last 30 years immersed in various fiddle styles. With an affinity for folk traditions, John’s exploration has emphasized Irish, Scottish, Swedish, and Old-Time fiddle. While he holds a bachelor’s degree of music from CSU Chico, the musical education that charted his path began through a long series of Irish sessions.

There, he learned the nuance of aural passing of melodies and the tradition of conversing in a deeply musical manner. John’s passion for the vital expressiveness of the session lead to performing across the United States and internationally. In addition to being a full-time performer and instructor, John is currently on faculty at Palenke Arts, a multicultural arts organization in Seaside, California.

Paul Kotapish Equally confident and inventive on every fretted instrument, Paul has distinguished himself on the stage for over 30 years. Most recently, Paul has made a name for himself with his concerts and recordings with Kevin Burke’s Open House, a headlining act in Celtic and international folk festivals across the country. His blazing guitar and mandolin work also help drive The Hillbillies From Mars, Sylvia Herold’s Euphonia, and other Northern California-based acoustic groups. Paul is also widely respected for his work as editor and feature writer at Acoustic Guitar Magazine.

Tyler Weed was raised in a musical family. His journey began on guitar which quickly led to earning money backing his father on fiddle. He then discovered flat-picking melodies while also developing a passion for jazz. This allowed him to be equally comfortable playing in the old-world fiddle styles as well as using swing-accompaniment on Irish melodies. 

Heavily influenced by Bay Area mandolin great Marla Fibish, he developed nuances traditional Irish tunes on mandolin — picking patterns for the different dance tunes, tone projection, and styling, which continues in his playing today. Tyler represented the next generation of mandolin players at his performance at 2023 San Francisco Festival of Mandolins. He has since journeyed into the world of tenor banjo. His banjo style can be characterized by ornate, percussive triplet stylings with a driving, yet hypnotic groove.

Tickets cost $35 in advance or at the door. Children’s tickets are $20. To purchase in advance, visit mollysrevenge.com/shows.