Their music has been called " a beautiful evocation of just how much Celtic music inspired the melodies played around the campfires in the Wild, Wild West."

David Wilkie and Cowboy Celtic are becoming well-known for the connections they are making between Western (traditional cowboy) music and the music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The ‘Celtic and cowboy’ musical marriage on their recordings has struck a chord with music lovers on both sides of the ocean. As one reviewer put it, “This is more than music. It’s theatre and imagery and history and storytelling and more, all wrapped up in sagebrush and tartan.”

These musical and historical connections, and the influence of Celtic music on traditional cowboy songs, come to light in the group’s music, where they combine old world Celtic instrumentation and music with cowboy songs. One Celtic melody that has survived the centuries and the distance across the Atlantic is that of “The Cowboy’s Lament” (also called “The Streets of Laredo”), popular among cowboys and fans of western music. The melody is that of the old Scottish song “The Unfortunate Rake” and the Irish song “The Bard of Armagh.” The cowboy song’s melody and theme are the same as the older Celtic songs, but the words differ in all three songs.

Tickets

$15 and $10 for museum members

Call (317) 636-9378.

For more information on the group and to hear their music visit www.cowboyceltic.com.