West Wind

West Wind is a quartet of musicians based in Madison, Wisconsin interpreting the native music of Ireland. The members played together for years in pub sessions and in a variety of groups performing the music of Celtic Europe. As West Wind they have woven their skills together into a rich and unified sound. Drawing from the old and new traditions of Ireland, they balance lilting jigs and driving reels with exuberant dance tunes from the Sliabh Luachra region. Airs, ballads, and humorous songs round out their concerts. The energy of the session fuels their live performances, crafted with respect for the fine musicianship demanded by the rich tradition of Irish music.

To find out where you can next enjoy West Wind's music live, just check the celticmadison.org Events Calendar.

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Mike Crossley (flute, banjo, whistle) started playing Scottish highland pipes at age 7 but was drawn to Irish traditional music at age 10. Armed with a whistle and bodhrán, he stormed the Irish music scene, picking up tunes and instruments as he went. He is currently studying entomology at UW-Madison where he can be found playing tunes in the Witte stairwells.

Bob Newton (octave mandolin, mandola, mandocello, bodhrán, vocals) has been playing with Irish and Celtic bands in Madison for the past thirty years, including Boxty, Far From Home, and the Public House Ceili Band. In the late 1970s, he caught the wave of the fresh, full sound of the emerging Irish music groups such as Planxty, De Danann, and the Bothy Band, bands which captured the imagination of a generation and charted the course of popular touring groups to this day. He has lived and traveled extensively in Ireland and Brittany and during the early 1980s was deeply influenced by the playing, warmth, and spirit of his neighbors in eastern Mayo and south Sligo, including Fred Finn among others, who invited him into their homes and pubs. Bob continues to teach courses related to the musical traditions of the Celtic countries and still enjoys the relaxed atmosphere of the local weekly session.

Alan Ng (fiddle, melodeon, bodhrán) Upon moving to Madison in 1992, bored with classical violin, he discovered and quickly succumbed to the addiction of playing in the open Irish session at Mickey's Tavern. In 2002 he spent some time deep in Sliabh Luachra, absorbing its music and dance, and he has been infected with outbreaks of polkas and slides ever since. His career performing Irish traditional music began with Madison bands The Snug and Public House Ceili Band, and he has since founded Birch and the Capitol Ceili Band.

Josh Perkins (guitar, vocals) grew up in thrall to George Harrison, Lou Reed and Ray Davies. Upon meeting and befriending a bluegrass mandolin and fiddle player with Kerry family roots in college, he turned his feet and never looked back. He started playing Irish music on guitar, influenced in the main by poorly shaven, chain-smoking buskers in Dublin, and has been getting away with it ever since.

For booking or other information please contact Bob Newton at rcnewton@wisc.edu, (608) 251-1072.