BAND MEMBERS
PEADAR HICKEY - Guitar and Vocals
Band leader Peadar Hickey comes from Dublin, Ireland and has been a main fixture on the New York music scene since landing in the US in 2010. A full-time performer across many genres, Peadar draws from folk, traditional, rock and country music making him a highly versatile entertainer and front man. Peadar has toured the US and Europe extensively with various bands including The Young Wolfe Tones, The Prodigals and The Mickey Dodgers but is best known for being one of Times Square's mainstay entertainers. Peadar is the resident Irish Guitar teacher at Irish Arts Center in Manhattan. Notable performances over the years include: a special performance at Gracie Mansion for Mayor Bloomberg and Irish Prime Minister Kenny on St Patricks Day 2012 and a special performance for President Obama, Irish Prime Minister Kenny and other dignitaries on St Patrick's Day 2016 The Capitol, DC. Peadar has played countless Irish festivals all over the US including: Kansas City Irish Fest, Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival, and has also been a regular featured performer at Mandalay Bay Casino Las Vegas,
Featured solo artist at Irish Arts Center Stage at Porch Stomp music Festival on Governor's Island 2019.
Weston Irish Festival as guitarist/singer for The Prodigals.
Jan 2018 - November 2018: Weekly residency at Opry City Stage, NY - a satellite venue of the Grand Ole Opry Nashville.
NOAH CHASE - Guitar, Vocals, Mandolin & Djembe
Noah Chase is a true musical force of nature on the New York music scene and beyond. Founding member and leader of acclaimed group - Citigrass - Noah brings an authentic bluegrass sound to Basket House Band sessions both in his singing and mandolin and guitar playing.
MATT MANCUSO
New York born, Matt Mancuso is an extraordinary musician. His playing is spirited and exuberant, yet underpinned by deep technical mastery.
As a young child, Matt was introduced to Irish Music by his father Pete, a respected guitarist . Matt studied with the renowned musician and teacher Maureen Glynn and with Tony De Marco Matt went on to compete in the prestigious All Ireland competitions. Matthew was placed highly 7 years in a row in solo and group competitions.
As Matt grew his musical horizons broadened. He went on to add the love of Jazz to his firm grounding in traditional Irish music. He picked up the trumpet and immersed himself in the Jazz stylings of the greats – Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, and Clifford Brown, among others. It was not long before he brought the same mastery to the trumpet as he had to the fiddle. And he continues to add instruments to his list, most recently the tenor guitar and guitar.
Matthew has toured the world with Lord of the dance (2002-2005), Europe and U.S. with Grada (2005-2008) The Cathie Ryan band (2006- present) Mathew has also taught Irish traditional fiddle workshops in Europe and US since 2006.
VONNIE QUINN
A former member of the Ireland’s National Youth Orchestra, Vonnie holds performance and teaching diplomas (LRSM, LTCL, and ALCM) in violin and piano and won an Irish Harp scholarship to the Royal Irish Academy of Music. While completing her BA at University College Cork, she studied advanced string playing with Greg Ellis and Irish traditional music with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. Highlight performances since coming to the States including concerts at the Katharine Cornell Theater, Martha’s Vineyard (The Darren Maloney Band); The Cutting Room, NYC (Doobie Decibel System); a two-month run at The Irish Repertory Theater (Ernest in Love); Joe’s Pub (Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular Music); and festivals from Savannah, Georgia to Dunedin, Florida. Vonnie is a two-time World Champion for Irish Dancing in team events with Scoil Uí Nualláin and won Scór na nÓg in the Rock category (with an Irish translation of Hungry Eyes or ‘Súile Santacha’).