Irish Festival Line-up Change

Dear Friends:

Due to an unforseen circumstance, The Fenians were forced to cancel their appearance at this year's festival. I wish them the best of luck, and sincerely hope that they will be back at Irish 2000 some time in the future. In the meantime we are excited to announce that we have gotten a top-notch act to replace the Fenians in our lineup. They are The Tossers from Chicago. Below you will find some information on the band. I know that they will be a huge hit at this years festival.

Thanks for your continued support and see you in September.

Matt Nelligan
Festival President

The Tossers

Raised on the South Side of Chicago, which is known for its huge Irish Catholic community, The Tossers emerged in the early '90s with their own brew of Celtic music fueled by a love of traditional folk songs and punk rock fury. They named themselves a pejorative term that some trace back to Shakespeare; depending on who you ask, it means commode, drunk, or the currency Britain rejected when the Irish established their independence in the 1920s.

After twelve years and four albums, The Tossers are back with their follow-up to The Valley of the Shadow of Death, called Agony. It is a collection of songs that run the gamut, from slow to fast, sweet to angry and back again. Using traditional instrumentation comprised of mandolin, fiddle, tin whistle and banjo beefed up with guitar and drums, The Tossers play with a furious edge that teeters between rage and raucousness.

"Favorite sons of the Chicago scene, The Tossers possess an unparalleled work ethic, playing anywhere, anytime, for anybody, with anybody", banjo player Clay Hansen mused. The majority of the band members grew up together, and while no one remembers exactly how the band formed, early gigs are described by Hansen as pretty much the same as now consuming massive amounts of alcohol, playing all night and not getting paid. Eventually their name got out and while continuing to play the pubs and taverns of Chicagos South Side, they began to open for legends like Shane McGowan and Stiff Little Fingers. The Tossers' live shows are legendary for attracting fans of all ages and from all walks of life drenched in Guinness and Jameson, the dancing crowd are always one step from a riot.

Illinois Entertainer had this to say of their set with McGowan: "The seven-piece band did something few opening bands really do: won over the crowd and made you forget that the headliner was a ways off."

For more info on the 2007 Irishfest 2000, visit:

http://www.irish2000fest.com/