About this Event
19th Annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration A joyful and cherished holiday tradition returns this December, marking the 19th Annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration. Angelic singing, instrumental wizardry, and championship Irish step dancing combine to lift your hearts this holiday season. This year’s show welcomes back the soaring vocals of San Francisco’s Amelia Hogan, Molly’s Revenge fiddler John W**d, and the banjo and mandolin artistry of rising artist, Tyler W**d. All Ireland champion Irish step dancer, Marisa Gilman, will bring a percussive and visually stunning element to the performance.
Amelia Hogan 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.
The Weeds
John W**d, 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.
Tyler W**d 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.
Evan W**d Evan won the 2025 Downbeat Award for best large ensemble composition that was featured in last December's SFJazz Big Band Concert. He's young, highly accomplished, respectful of the tradition, and honestly, it is heartening to see our next generation pouring love and dedication into this music. Evan's Celtic harp will add an angelic and elegant new layer to our holiday show!
General Admission: $30
Students and Seniors: $20
Hillside Club Members: $15
Children under 12 are admitted for free.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street, Berkeley, United States
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