Arcona Reel Band at Appalachian Brewing Co.

by Angie Johnston with Lisa Paige-Stone

What better way to spend St. Patrick’s Day than listening to the rousing traditional and contemporary Irish sound of Harrisburg’s own Arcona Reel Band? They entertained a sold-out crowd at the Appalachian Brewing Company, a venue not perfectly suited to them due to the cramped entrance of the second floor special events room, and the rows of chairs, as opposed to tables heavily laden with ale. They would have been fantastic booming through the entire bar, which on St. Pat’s was packed with enthusiastic revelers.

The band’s style is uniquely Celtic folk (although they can also blend in a distinctly American bluegrass sound) and their energy level is high. Not only a treat for the ears, they get the toes tapping and the hands clapping and furthermore they’re a great group to watch, as they jig around the floor becoming one with their music.

Each of the seven musicians who comprise this band adds something magical to the performance. Tom Reese’s flute playing touches the heart — it’s both airy and eerily breathy, and at times goes on a flight of delightful fancy — and if you don’t yearn to dance to Henry Cohen’s fiddle, well, then, you don’t have a lick of the Irish spirit in ye. But the most awesome of all is Brian Kahler on the bodhran, a Celtic percussion instrument of dramatic possibility. This bearded elfin character is without question a master of this drum, and Harrisburg is lucky to have him.

First Draught is Arcona’s latest recording, and it contains original pieces as well as a medley of tunes from Titanic the movie. They’re currently at work on their sixth recording, The Vacant Chair, which is scheduled for release later this spring, and contains music popular during the American Civil War. Their repertoire includes hornpipes, ballads, waltzes, and jigs.

The Arcona Reel Band has played locally at the Harrisburg Artsfest and the Lancaster Long’s Park Arts Festival, as well as at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire held annually at the Mt. Hope Estate and Winery in Cornwall, Lancaster County.

If you’ve never entertained the thought of checking out a Celtic style band, do yourself a favor and spend an evening with the Arcona Reel Band, or come out and see them in the Civil War Review to be held in June in Harrisburg. They’re guaranteed to get you dancing like a member of Riverdance!

For more information, contact Sparkie Radcliffe at 717-234-0842 or visit their website at arconareelband.com.