The Hooligans

Over the past decade, The Hooligans have taken their live performances from the smokey, beer-stained local pubs in Philadelphia to the festival stages. The band has played dates in Northern Ireland in 1999, as well as in Galway City and County Clare in 2003. They've appeared by invitation at major Celtic music festivals, where they've quickly established themselves as crowd favorites.

The group released its third full-length CD, Sheep Up or Ship Out, in March 2004 to critical acclaim, again showcasing its Irish roots-meets-American rock influences in an eclectic mix of traditional tunes and instrumentals. The second CD, Houses of the Hooley, released in December 2000, was a follow-up to Another Fine Mess, a live-in-the-studio recording released in 1998.

The true impact of this band can be best experienced by seeing them live. Backed by a solid, talented group of musicians, frontman Luke Jardel is an explosive personality whose energy is second to none. Add that to the band's mix of upbeat, rootsy, rocking Celtic sounds, and you've got a mix of music that appeals to all ages and backgrounds.