2025 Friday Night Concert – Scottish Games Kick-Off | San Ramon Marriott
Concerts
Folk
The Caledonian Club of San Francisco’s
Friday Night Concert 2025
kicks off an epic three-day weekend of Scottish celebration, music, and tradition. As the official opening event of the
159th Scottish Highland Gathering & Games
, this concert sets the tone for everything to come; bagpipes and ballads, kilts and ceilidhs, camaraderie and culture. With a stage full of world-class musicians, thrilling pipe bands, and soul-stirring Celtic performances, this is more than a concert; it's the beginning of a weekend to remember. Now announcing a
special guest military band
will be making a surpise apprence at the Friday Night Concert.
Wasatch & District Pipe Band
Wasatch & District Pipe Band
is Utah’s premier competitive bagpipe ensemble, bringing centuries-old Scottish piping tradition to life with unmatched power and precision. Based in Bountiful, UT and founded in 2004, this large pipe band (over 100 members strong across multiple competition tiers) has become *“the state’s biggest bagpipe band,” effectively
“bring[ing] Scotland to Utah”
through its performances. Clad in their distinctive red-and-blue MacTavish tartan, the band delivers electrifying displays of piping and drumming, complete with dynamic marching formations and stirring Highland tunes. Wasatch & District regularly competes across North America and internationally – including recent appearances at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Crowds at festivals and Highland Games are drawn to the thunderous drums and soaring skirl of their pipes, which together create a thrilling pageantry of Celtic sound. Whether in concert or competition, the Wasatch & District Pipe Band embodies Scottish musical excellence with every set they play.
The Reeling Banshees (Reno, NV)
The Reeling Banshees
are a spirited Celtic folk trio hailing from Reno, Nevada. New to the Bay Area Scottish games circuit, this group infuses lively Irish and Scottish traditional tunes with their own energetic flair. The trio features
Kat MacMartin
on violin and ukulele,
Sean Morton
on guitar and bodhrán, and
Holly Sternberg-Kozan
– a five-time Nevada State Champion fiddler – on fiddle. Together, they create an upbeat, foot-tapping sound that highlights fiddling prowess and rhythmic accompaniment. While they are an emerging act, The Reeling Banshees have quickly become local favorites, delivering both rousing pub-style reels and melodic ballads with equal aplomb. Audiences can expect a friendly stage presence and a genuine love of Celtic heritage in every performance, making this trio a perfect fit for a night celebrating Scottish tradition.
Peter Daldry
Peter Daldry
is a traditional Scottish singer-songwriter with a
“truly remarkable”
voice, originally from Clydebank, Scotland and now based in California. Steeped in his homeland’s folk music (he grew up on the songs of Scotland’s Corries and Ireland’s Clancy Brothers), Daldry brings authentic Celtic soul to every song. His distinctive tenor voice and storytelling talent have earned high praise – one Celtic music reviewer declared,
“Peter Daldry has the voice of a true balladeer... a truly remarkable instrument – his voice”
. On stage, he has
“a strong stage presence and a grand way of singing and presenting a song,”
according to
Jean Bartlett
of
Ink Notes
. Daldry’s style blends tradition with a modern folk-rock heart, drawing inspiration from legends like Dick Gaughan, Andy M. Stewart, Dougie MacLean and others. Now a regular at Scottish Highland Games and Celtic festivals across the U.S., he performs heartfelt renditions of Scottish and Irish ballads as well as uplifting originals. His most recent album
Leaving Ettrick Bay
(2024) was even nominated for Celtic Album of the Year by a Glasgow-based radio station – a testament to his musical excellence.
Michael Mullen & The Muses
Michael Mullen
is a dynamic Celtic fiddler known for his high-energy performances and versatility. From whirlwind jigs and powerful reels to plaintive airs and even humor-filled hornpipes, Mullen’s fiddle playing is
“guaranteed to engage and entertain”
audiences of all kinds. A longtime veteran of the Celtic music scene (formerly the fiddler of Celtic rock band Tempest), Mullen is equally at home wowing a rowdy pub crowd with electrifying fiddle as he is performing in an elegant concert setting.
This year Michael will be introducing his new ensomble
Michael Mullen & The Muses
an evolution of his insperation to collaberate and venture to new relms of creativity in the celtic arts.
St. Thomas Alumni Pipe Band
The
St. Thomas Alumni Pipe Band
is an elite Grade 1 pipe band based in Houston, Texas – one of the very few Grade 1 bands in the United States. Established in 1988, this band is composed of alumni from the storied St. Thomas Episcopal School piping program and other top pipers and drummers. They have since grown into a powerhouse on the competitive piping circuit,
regularly competing in prestigious events, including the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland
. As a Grade 1 band (the highest classification in pipe bands), St. Thomas Alumni Pipe Band is widely regarded among the best in North America. Their performances showcase impeccable technique, precision ensemble playing, and the proud Scottish pipe tradition brought to life on stage. Whether marching in a grand Highland gathering or headlining a concert, the band delivers the stirring sound of bagpipes and drums at the highest caliber. Audiences can expect rousing traditional marches, strathspeys and reels, as well as soulful slower airs – all executed with championship-level excellence and passion.
Information Source: The Caledonian Club of San Francisco | eventbrite