Celtic fiddler Jessie Burns of The Bow Tides joined Karl Kumli for KGNU’s Seolta Gael to talk about the band’s upcoming shows along the Front Range and beyond, including a March 12 performance at E-Town Hall in Boulder. The concert will feature special guest vocalist Alexa Wildish and dancers from the Evoca School of Irish Dance, alongside additional stops in Salida and a festival appearance near Las Vegas.
Byrnes also discussed her ongoing work teaching fiddle and piano in Lyons and collaborating with local musicians, as well as the group’s blend of traditional Celtic music and original compositions. She shared that The Bow Tides continue to develop new material while staying connected to the region’s vibrant folk and Celtic music community. (Air Date 3/4/26)
Listen to the interview here:
Transcript:
Karl Kumli: Hello, can you hear me?
The Bow Tides: Yes, I can hear you now. Thank you very much.
Karl Kumli: Hi, it’s great to have you with us.
The Bow Tides: It’s great to be here. It’s been a while.
Karl Kumli: It has been—far too long. My guest is Jessie Burns, Celtic fiddler extraordinaire. You have many accolades and are well known. I should apologize at the outset—I tried to find Chicken Boxer by Gaelic Storm, where you’re famously featured, but I couldn’t locate it in time.
The Bow Tides: No worries. Every time I hear that album name, I still wonder how that happened. Album names are always hilarious stories.
Karl Kumli: Do you have any favorite album names that stand out?
The Bow Tides: I love one-word albums like Joni Mitchell’s Blue. Those titles are simple and powerful. I also loved Gaelic Storm’s What’s the Rumpus? It suggests a big party and a great time.
Karl Kumli: That phrase comes from Where the Wild Things Are—“Let the wild rumpus start.”
The Bow Tides: Exactly. How can that not be a good time?
Karl Kumli: So what have you been up to lately?
The Bow Tides: I’ve been teaching full-time in Lyons—fiddle and piano—which keeps me busy. When I’m not teaching, I’ve been playing locally, especially at Spirit Hound Distillery, with Johnny Connolly, Johnny B. Connolly, and David Howley from We Banjo 3, who now lives in Boulder. I’ve also been playing with Sky Kelsey, Marty Smith, and others. It’s been a joy to make music locally.
Karl Kumli: And Sally Van Meter as well?
The Bow Tides: Yes, Sally Van Meter. She’s a legend.
Karl Kumli: You two must be incredible together.
The Bow Tides: We always end up playing waltzes together because we both love them.
Karl Kumli: Why waltzes?
The Bow Tides: I think we’re softies. They just make us emotional. I love how three-four time can be so evocative.
Karl Kumli: They can be very romantic and expressive.
The Bow Tides: Exactly. Waltzes can be fast and danceable or slow and heartbreaking. I love the emotional ones.
Karl Kumli: Are you a sad-song person?
The Bow Tides: I’m more of a tune person because I struggle to remember lyrics. But I do love sad tunes—they clear the system a bit, like emotional reset.
Karl Kumli: Before we get to your upcoming concerts, I want to remind listeners this is pledge drive. If you value hearing artists like Jessie Burns, please support KGNU at KGNU.org.
The Bow Tides: One reason this station is so important is how it connects the Celtic community. KGNU and resources like Pat McCulloch’s Celtic events page keep this music scene strong. I always donate, and I hope listeners do too.
Karl Kumli: Thank you. Now tell us about your upcoming shows.
The Bow Tides: The Bow Tides formed in 2020 with two other fiddle players from Gaelic Storm. We now feature three fiddles, plus my husband Eric Durin on bass and Jesslyn Blade on guitar. They’re flying in from Chicago and Boston. We’re playing in Salida at A Church on the 11th, then at E-Town Hall in Boulder on March 12th.
Karl Kumli: That’s a great venue.
The Bow Tides: It’s one of our favorites—intimate, great acoustics, and a wonderful space.
Karl Kumli: What time is the Boulder show?
The Bow Tides: 7:00 PM, doors at 6:00. We’re also excited to have Alexa Wildish opening—she’s an incredible singer and former The Voice finalist. There will also be dancers from the Evoca School of Irish Dance. It will be a great night.
Karl Kumli: Is Alexa joining you as well?
The Bow Tides: Very possibly, yes.
Karl Kumli: Any other upcoming shows?
The Bow Tides: We’re also heading to Las Vegas, playing in Henderson at a festival just outside the city that has hosted bands like Danu and Lúnasa. We’re excited to be part of it.
Karl Kumli: That’s exciting. Maybe a new album inspired by it?
The Bow Tides: We’ve been working on new material already and are excited to debut it live. It’s always exciting to bring new music into the world.
Karl Kumli: What inspires your new material?
The Bow Tides: We’re all composers, so we write a lot of original material. We also love traditional tunes and reimagining them in new arrangements. There’s also a strong song tradition in the band, and we enjoy adapting traditional songs and making them our own.
Karl Kumli: Excellent. We also have greetings from Roger Hara.
The Bow Tides: Hello, Roger!
Karl Kumli: He’ll be taking over the next show from Denver, and he’s excited about your E-Town performance.
The Bow Tides: We hope to see everyone there. Thank you for having me, and thanks to KGNU for supporting Irish music and the community.
Karl Kumli: Thank you, Jessie Burns, and thank you to The Bow Tides. Please keep the music coming.
The Bow Tides: Thank you so much. Take care.
Karl Kumli: Take care. Bye.
The Bow Tides: Bye-bye.
