Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a relaxed brunch, live music, and some Irish dancing! Buttons & Bows will be playing traditional tunes, featuring fiddler Gwen Johnston, who blends Celtic, old-time, and bluegrass influences, along with Jimmy Kelly, a Boston-based Irish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist.

Irish dancer Kara Howgate-Mello will bring the energy with a mix of step and sean-nós dancing, styles she’s studied both in Boston and Ireland.

Brunch is from Bagel Table, so come hungry, grab a drink, and enjoy a great start to St. Paddy’s Day. Sláinte! 🍀

Gwen Johnston
Born and raised in small-town Massachusetts, fiddler Gwen Johnston weaves together tunes from the Celtic, Old-time, Bluegrass, and contemporary folk genres. Beginning her journey at the age of 13 with classical violin, Gwen found her home in traditional fiddling at the age of 22 under the guidance of acclaimed Irish Fiddler, Laurel Martin. Fueled and inspired by the joy of sharing music with others, Gwen is also an illustrator and tapestry weaver who believes the worlds of art and music are too often kept separate. 

Jimmy Kelly
Singer, Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist playing based Boston Irish music. 

Kara Howgate-Mello
Kara began dancing in 2009 under the direction of Kieran Jordan, initially concentrating on step dancing but quickly expanding her focus to include sean-nós (old style) dance. Her repertoire is grounded in traditional steps from the south and west of Ireland and draws on both improvisation and formal step dances. Kara’s influences have spanned both sides of the Atlantic and she has learned directly from dance masters Michael Tubridy and Patrick O’Dea and teachers Kieran Jordan, Rebecca McGowan, Edwina Guckian, and Annette Collins. Kara has performed at numerous gatherings in the Boston area with the Kieran Jordan Dance group and has traveled to Ireland to attend Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy in Co. Clare. Most recently, she taught classes through CCÉ Boston Music School