Cast your mind back to the early days of the Mid-Winter Ceilidh, and you'll hear in your mind's ear the unmistakable sound of Iron Brew. The earthy Gord Fisch vocals on a solid guitar base, with apt harmonization from Barb, and tasteful whistle riffs and tunes. Now imagaine the sweet, lyrical sound of the uilleann pipes, or possibly the power of Highland pipes, and the rhythmic pulse of Mike's bodhran. A pause, and then launch into Mike singing a song to take us back...back to the days. Original band member Tim Dixon is playing with Bob Marley's band these days [we like to think].

For the 2008 Ceilidh,Iron Brew will be back will some of the old favourites, and new tunes and instruments since the last show. Although the band hasn't been playing every week, the members have been, and they are looking forward to bringing it all into play for the weekend!

For about 10 great years, Iron Brew played every venue available in the area. The Regina Folk Festival, The Cathedral Village Arts Festival, The Ness Creek Folk Festival, The Mid-Winter Celtic Festival, and many more. From fundraisers for social causes and friends, to wild gigs at the Rugby Club [who could forget the Snow Sevens, and the hot tub?] and weddings. The band played a very memorable wedding in Brooklyn, NY, and then Gord and Iain had a self-directed walking tour of Irish bars that resulted in the song "McSorley's Ale House".

All those St. Patrick Day gigs, and of course the winter of recording at Touchstone of the CD "Are You My Sister?" That's the CD you still hear played at O'Hanlon's [which didn't even exist when the band did!], at Bushwakkers, McNallys, and very often on CBC radio. The CD has been played on BBC Scotland, and of course on Community Radio by our good friends in Saskatoon and Regina. From Colin Grewar's "Afternoon Edition" on CBC radio, to the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon, to "The Other Side," to MOSAIC and beyond. This was a band that loved to play.

[And what most didn't know about: the weekly sessions of "practice"... tea and cookies, beer, a few stolen smokes on the porch, rocking babies while working on arrangements, discussing music, listening to sources, and stories about music, musicians, hunting, horticulture, brewing, politics...and on until midnight and beyond. Such great times, and so many good tunes...]

GORD FISCH is well-known across North America as the coordinator of the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp for many years, the Director of the Regina Folk Festival, and a mainstay of guitar and vocal performance in many folk and Celtic ensembles. Gord wrote some great music for Iron Brew, and since he moved to Montreal a few years back he's been gigging in Celtic bars and festivals with a variety of artists. He has also got some great web resources for Celtic music and tunes. Check them out!	MICHAEL QUINN is originally from Antrim in Northern Ireland, and his passion for the music, the people and their politics is unmatched. He sings a great song, plays the bodhran, and keeps us all on task when the beer starts to flow. Mike has been playing Celtic music in Regina for many years, and has been a part of many bands.
BARBARA MACDONALD is an excellent Highland piper, and an accomplished whistle and smallpipe player. Her backup vocals and harmonies provide depth to the Iron Brew sound, and her piping adds a dimension of excitement to the band.	IAIN MACDONALD is the pipe major of the City of Regina Pipe Band, and a regular solo competitor across Canada and in Scotland. He plays the Highland bagpipes, reelpipes, smallpipes, and the uilleann pipes in the Iron Brew mix.
	Here's the band's recording, which makes it to air in a few parts of the world, and was reviewed in Dirty Linen and other folk/roots magazines. You can still buy the CD online HERE, or of course you can come to the 2008 MWCF and get yourself a signed copy! RealAudio Samples: All Along the Watchtower Are You My Sister?