The McKrells return to the Oswego Music Hall main stage Feb. 25

Kevin McKrell pioneered American Celtic music beginning in 1979 with the band Donnybrook Fair. The original trio of Jeff Strange, David McDonnell and McKrell’s 1982 album Tunnel Tigers remains a landmark of the form with its blend of Clancy Brothers swagger and upstate NY attitude. In 1998, McKrell—who has four solo albums to his credit—formed a powerhouse band under his own name, merging the Irish sensibility of Donnybrook with a steely, world class bluegrass edge. McKrell, a respected portrait painter is best known for his indelible songs—classics like ‘Donegal’, ‘You and Me’, ‘I Miss the Rain’ and the eternal ‘All of The Hard Days Are Gone’—which have been sung and recorded by artists like The Kingston Trio, from Ireland, The Furey Brothers, Seamus Kennedy, The Druids, The Dublin City Ramblers from Scotland North Sea Gas, from Australia Pat McKernan. From the US Bob Shane, Hair of the Dog, Wood’s Tea Company, Get Up Jack and many many more.

Arlin Greene has toured the world with the likes of The McKrells, Bill Keith, Dan Tyminski, James “D Train”Williams, Bolton, Nolan and Greene, Big Medicine, George Fletchers, Folding Money, and The Trophy Husbands.

Peter Pashoukos has been a mainstay in the Saratoga and Capital Region music community for over 20 years. An original member of Garland Nelson’s Soul Session, half of the award-winning acoustic duo, The Tequila Mockingbirds, as well as being a “hired gun” for many local bands has quietly made him one of the busiest guitar players around. Self-taught, he draws inspiration from many genres from soul to bluegrass which comes through in his phrasing, speed, and playfulness. In recent years he has also received acclaim as a ukulele player having taught and performed at festivals from the Flower City Ukulele Festival in Rochester, N.Y. to Seoul S. Korea for the 13th annual Aloha Ukulele Festival. Currently he performs solo. Sometimes utilizing looping and other techniques. He is the lead singer of Saratoga based R&B/rock/blues trio, Perennial; as well as having the pleasure of contributing and being a member of The McKrell’s.

Brian Melick has been professionally involved in music for over 42 years starting his career at the age of 14. As a recording artist, he has been featured on over 400 releases both for independent as well as major labels. He has four releases under his own name “Percussive Voices”, “uduboy”, “Diverse Elements” and “In Motion”. The first three, respectfully, have also been released as sound libraries for commercial industrial use and are finding much success on several major networks, cable networks and motion picture organizations such as Discover Channel, The Learning Channel, Disney, Columbia Pictures, and NBC to name just a few. As an educator, he has developed several diverse participatory programs exploring the world of percussion, the world of udu drum as well as creating percussion instruments out of found objects. He holds several U.S. Patents for his custom designed percussion stands and built and performs on the first ever Lego Drum Set which was featured in the international drum magazine Modern Drummer. Melick made a second Lego Drum Set for the permanent collection of Percussive Arts Society’s international percussion museum known as Rhythm! Discovery Center in Indianapolis, Ind. He maintains a very diverse recording and teaching schedule as well as performing throughout the US and Canada including producing his own 4-part concert series’ “Acoustic Doorways” and “ONE World Music”

For many years Frank Orsini has been one of the prominent acoustic musicians on the Upstate New York music scene, playing fiddle, viola, mandolin and guitar. A versatile fiddler and a seasoned ensemble player and singer, he has been a member of many long-standing established groups. He has also worked as a free-lance player in countless live performance situations and recording projects. Decades of studying and playing many styles of fiddling have given him a wide-ranging versatility and repertoire on the instrument, from older, traditional material through more contemporary styles, and he also enjoys switching to viola, mandolin or guitar in the appropriate musical situation. A sampling from his repertoire may include an Elizabethan or early music selection, Celtic music from a variety of sources, Old-time fiddle tunes from the Southern mountain tradition, New England and Canadian dance tunes, Bluegrass and Country classics, Cajun, blues and ethnic selections as well as Urban and Western swing standards.

For further information, visit https://themckrells.com/home or the McKrells Music Facebook page.

Shows start at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 7 p.m. for all national stage concerts. For a complete performance schedule and ticket information, visit the website at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ or stop at the river’s end bookstore, 19 W. Bridge St. in Oswego.

The winter/spring season continues with Guy Davis on the 11 and Deeper Than Skin with Greg Greenway and Reggie Harris on the 25. April shows include Jonathan Byrd on the 15 and the Burns Sisters Band on the 29. The Season Finale on May 13 will feature Annie Sumi and Travis Knapp.

Ticket prices for the National Stage range from a low of $15 to $20 at the door. Children 16 and under are half price and under five are free. Purchase tickets at any concert, online or at the river’s end bookstore.

The Oswego Music Hall venue is located in the McCrobie Civic Center, on 41 Lake St. in Oswego, and is wheelchair accessible. It is adjacent to Breitbeck Park and overlooks Lake Ontario and the Oswego Harbor. The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables surrounding a small stage. Light refreshments will be available.

The Oswego Music Hall is a family-friendly, non-profit organization that has been run entirely by volunteers from its inception over 40 years ago. Volunteers can earn admission to shows through various tasks — from running the sound board to making popcorn. Students can also earn credit for community service. To volunteer, email volunteer coordinator Michael Moss at ocpaoswego@gmail.com.

COVID precautions: The Music Hall pays close attention to CDC, state, and local guidelines and is trying to do what’s best for performers and patrons; mindful of everyone’s safety and their enjoyment of the show. Masks are now strongly recommended. Should conditions warrant, they may revert back to stricter requirements without notice.Check https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ for updated information. Masks will be available at the door.

Find more information online at www.oswegomusichall.org/ or email ocpaoswego@gmail.com.

Concerts are made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the governor and New York Legislature. Other major supporters are the city of Oswego and Shineman Foundation.