Celtic Sands

• Lara Garner - harp,piano,flutes,bodhran
• Anna Washburn - fiddle
• Jon Mendle - guitar
• Tricia Callero - vocals

WINNER OF THE GIGMASTERS AWARD FOR TOP CELTIC TRIO AND TOP WORLD MUSIC TRIO FOR 3 YEARS IN A ROW. With the whimsy of the folk fiddle, the lovely Celtic harp, the lush rhythms of the guitar, the wooden flute, whistle and bodhran, Celtic Sands is both a traditional Celtic band and an elegant wedding trio. An alternative to the typical classical wedding fare or the typical party band.

With one cd already out and the next soon to be released, Celtic Sands has been exciting audiences throughout Northern California with their masterful interpretation of traditional Celtic music. Recent performances have had them playing live on TV and radio, and over the last year they have played dozens of shows. These professionally-trained musicians bring a wide array of instrumentation and stylistic interpretations to the music, creating a contemporary sound and energy that keeps listeners highly engaged.

Weddings: harp & fiddle alone provide an elegant backdrop to wedding ceremonies. As trained professional classical musicians, we also play all the standard classical wedding selections!

Ceilidhs and Contra Dances: We have a huge repertoire of dance music for these events and can provide recommendations for callers. We provide our own amplification equipment.

Stage Performances: We play many performances every year: public concerts, festivals, house concerts, etc.

Celtic Rock Band: we also play as a 5-piece celtic rock band with drummer and singer. Ask us for audio samples or go tour website.

**See our other group Amethyst Trio, a 4-time award winner!!

• A Fig For A Kiss - Irish slip jig
• Air on the G String - Bach
• All For Me Grog - Irish drinking song
• Amazing Grace - trad.
• Arioso - Bach
• Ave Maria - Schubert
• Blackberry Blossom - American
• Blue Bonnets Over the Border - Scottish piping song
• Bonnee Dundee - Scottish
• Bonney Swans - Loreena McKennitt
• Boys of Bluehill - Irish
• Boys of the Lough/Sweeney's Dream
• Bridal Chorus - Wagner
• Brigid O'Malley - trad. Irish
• Butterfly Waltz - Brian Crain
• Can I Have This Dance? - Anne Murray
• Canon in D - Pachelbel
• Danny Boy - Irish
• Devil Went Down to Georgia - bluegrass
• Down By the Salley Gardens
• Drowsie Maggie - Irish
• Drummond Castle - Scottish
• Drunken Sailor - traditional
• Durang's Hornpipe - Irish
• Einini - Irish lullaby
• Fallen Embers - Enya
• Falling Slowly - from "Once"
• Fields of Athenry - Irish
• Flower of Edinburgh - Scottish reel
• Follow Me Down to Carlow - Irish
• From Such Great Heights - Postal Service
• Give Me Your Hand - trad Irish wedding
• Give Yourself to Love - Kate Wolf
• Good Riddance - Green Day
• Greensleeves - English
• Haste to the Wedding - Irish
• Health to the Company - English
• Henry Martin - Scottish
• Hills of Connemarra - Irish
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach
• Jock O'Hazeldean - Scottish
• King of the Fairies - Irish set dance
• Leavin' of Liverpool - Irish
• Legends of the Fall - James Horner
• Loch Leven Reel - Scottish
• Marquis of Huntly - Scottiish strathspey
• May It Be - Enya
• Molly Malone - Irish
• Morgan Megan - O'Carolan
• Mountain Dew - bluegrass
• Musical Priest - Irish
• My Dancing Day - English
• My Heart Will Go On - Titanic
• Only Time - Enya
• Pachelbel Canon in D - Pachelbel
• Penelope's Song - Loreena McKennitt
• Red-Haired Boy - "Celticgrass"
• Rocky Road to Dublin - Irish
• Rocky Top - bluegrass
• Shady Grove - American trad.
• Shepherd Moon - Enya
• Shule Aroon - Irish
• Si Beagh Si Mohr - O'Carolan
• Sleep Sound i'da Mornin' - Irish
• St. Patrick's Day - Irish
• Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
• Star of the County Down - Irish
• Step It Up, Mary - Irish
• Sweeney's Dream - Irish reel
• Tell Me Ma - Irish
• The Bonny Swans - Loreena McKennitt
• The Black Velvet Band - Irish
• The Butterfly - Irish slip jig
• The Last Rose of Summer - Irish
• The Maid of Shalot - Loreena McKennitt
• The Moonshiner - Irish drinking song
• The Parting Glass - Irish
• The Prayer - Andrea Boccelli/Celine Dion
• The Stolen Child - Loreena McKennitt
• The Sweetness of Mary - Scottish strathspey
• Titanic selections - James Horner
• Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra - Irish American
• Trumpet Tune - Purcell
• Trumpet Tune - Clarke
• Trumpet Voluntary - Purcell
• Wake Me Up When September Ends - Greenday
• Wedding Classics - large selection
• Wedding March - Mendelssohn
• When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - Irish American
• Wild Nights - Van Morrison
• Wild Rover - Irish drinking song
• Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go? - Scottish
• Ye Banks and Braes - Scottish
• Ye Jacobites By Name - scottish
• You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Despite the horrible weather, they persevered to get down to LA from San Francisco and with a smile or two! They performed outstandingly and were extremely pleasant (I especially worked with Lara) to deal with. Highly professional and talented. I would recommend them without reservation and the music was so wonderful - - my 85 guests can't stop raving about Celtic Sands. -- Mary C, Los Angeles, CA, 12/18/2010
• Celtic Sands was exactly what we needed for our office party. They were responsive, punctual, and very talented. They did a great job! -- Leslie H, San Jose, CA, 12/10/2010
• Everyone at the reception was EXTREMELY impressed and pleased with them! I could not have gotten a better group to help celebrate my marriage! We already have plans to hire them for future events. -- Beverly C, Sparks, NV, 10/31/2009
• Celtic Sands was BEYOND unbelievable!! I WILL recommend them in the future and use them ourselves!! They were wonderful and accomodating and added a definate WOW factor to our party!! We can't thank them enough for their friendliness, professionalism, and of course their amazing talent!! We were honored to have them be a part of our very special day!! The THANKS goes to them!!! -- Kay F, Livermore, CA, 4/19/2008
• Hiring Celtic Sands for our wedding was one of the best things we did! We absolutely loved them in every way. They were so sweet and excited for us and all of our music ideas. They were very helpful and never said no to anything. They were patient and very punctual with everything. If we ever have another big event in California we would hire them in a heartbeat. We will recommend them to every one we know. What I love most about their music is not just the talented playing but the love and commitment they put into their songs and furthermore - into our wedding. -- Kristine S, Lodi, CA, 7/27/2008
• Celtic Sands played at the reception for my dad's memorial service. Their music was fabulous and extremely appropriate for the event. Towards the end, the people attending the reception liked them so much that they got Celtic Sands playing more up tempo irish music...it was wonderful. They were professional, talented and very accomodating. Use them, they are great! -- Melanie D, Los Gatos, CA, 4/2/2009
• What a great evening! This group made our whole event. Its all about the music!! They get two thumbs up in performance, style and attitude. -- Derek G, Sacramento, CA, 10/13/2007
• Everyone enjoyed the music! People kept coming up to me and asking where I found this duo, as they were so good. They played classical before the wedding ceremony, and then a variety of classical and Irish folk music during the dinner hour. We booked only two of the musicians, but they brought many instruments to play, giving a variety of music and sound. I recommend them to anyone. -- Kandy C, Pleasant Hill, CA, 5/24/2009
• Celtic Sands was wonderful! The music arrangement and selections was perfect for our Irish Clan and was enjoyed by all. Thank you for helping to make this a memorable celebration and we look forward to our next family reunion with you! -- Kathleen R, Los Gatos, CA, 11/21/2008
• Great show. A real talented group. We'll invite them back, for sure. -- James J, Las Vegas, NV, 11/10/2007
• Actualy,Lara who is the point person recommended her other group The Amethyst Trio for my party because she feltt they fit my party better. She was correct and everything went great! I'm using both her groups for my daughters wedding and I know I will be pleased!!! -- Vita M, Riverbank, CA, 12/4/2010
• Celtic Sands was a pleasure to work with for our wedding! They were the most professional and easy to work with vendor in the whole wedding planning experience. Not only were they very accommodating but they offered advice and tips to make our event run smoothly. The music was fabulous and we had many compliments from our guests on how their music made our event special. -- Karen A, Woodside, CA, 10/5/2008
• This group is superb and the harp playing is spell-binding. They also played everything we requested. What a talented and fun group of musicians. I would whole-heartedly recommend Celtic Sands to anyone who needs musicians for an event. -- Devin E, San Mateo, CA, 6/1/2007
• As the Bride I wasn't able to enjoy the Celtic Sands Music during the ceremony or Cocktail hour, but EVERYONE raved about how beautiful they sounded! During the ceremony, I thought it would be a great Idea to sing my vows to my husband, but with my nerves shot to hell, I couldn't even hold a tune, one of the celtic sands nicely picked up my key, and played a little background for me- I REALLY appreciated that! as for my singing :) not much they could do about that! During the cocktail hour they offered to stay later if needed, the music was lively and fun, was perfect for our Irish family from Ireland- made them feel right at home. THanks Celtic Sands! -- Jennifer M, Mill Valley, CA, 9/6/2008
• We had the pleasure of Celtic Sands performing at our daughter's wedding this past Saturday. They were delightful! The trio performed many beautiful Irish songs as well as the more traditional fare. They even led us in some group singing of Molly Malone, All For Me Grog, etc.! We got so many compliments on them from the Irish and Non-Irish family. They really added to this very special day. We will definitely invite them back for future gigs! Thank-you!! -- Lesley L, Walnut Creek, CA, 10/27/2007
• We hired them for a corporate reception. They had good communication prior to our event, showed up on time, performed as contracted. Everyone loved it, they did a really great job. I would highly recommend them. -- Laurie J, San Francisco, CA, 3/17/2008
• the harpist (lara garner) was wonderful! and the harp was absolutely gorgeous! Lara was very easy to work with and she always responded quickly to my e-mails. since i wasn't exactly sure what i wanted for the wedding ceremony, she helped me plan it! she even left her harp so we can take pictures with it!!! she was absolutely great! -- Jeannie W, Burlingame, CA, 9/20/2008
• Great band and great performance ! Very talent and accommodating especially for our special requests, we've got a lot of compliment from our friends about this band we chose and really make our wedding day special, unique and unforgetable. I highly recommend this band to my friends. -- Pauline L, Santa Cruz, CA, 8/18/2007
• Celtic Sands consulted with me ahead of time to find out the best ways to meet the needs for my event and offered several other ways they could adjust their performance if warranted. Their music, visual appearance, set up suggestions, and personalities were all wonderful additions to what I needed. The guests told me how much they enjoyed the music. Very professional, very talented ----- Five stars. -- Jane P, Cupertino, CA, 6/28/2009
• They were very talented performers. -- Michael H, Roseville, CA, 3/20/2010

Click here for more feedback

• Amethyst Trio — San Francisco, California
• Lara Garner - Pianist/Harpist/Flutist — San Francisco, California