The Elders

Though the genre of Celtic music includes the shimmery sounds of Loreena McKennit and Enya, it also encompasses music charged with all the rowdy irreverence of an Irish pub. And that’s right where Kansas City’s Celtic rock outfit the Elders feel most at home. Sporting the infernal energy of a bar fight, this six-piece band sprays out an array of whirling jigs and ballads while slinging sweat and spittle into crazed crowds of wannabe Irish. Their lyrics are righteous, and their harmonies land them somewhere between the Chieftains and the Eagles. This year, the Elders headline five Irish-American festivals, including gigs in Montana, Michigan and right here at home.