At the Brandywine Festival, nothing lends to the atmosphere quite like music and dance. From the first wandering bard in the morning to the last reel of the evening, music is at the heart of life in the Shire. You’ll find opportunities to dance anywhere and everywhere there’s music—and trust us, there will be plenty of both.
Hobbits love to celebrate, and we want you to feel confident enough to join in. That’s why we’ve put together a program of dance lessons and an incredible lineup of musical guests to make the nights unforgettable.
Dancing in the Shire
Since many of our visiting Hobbits may be new to the dances of the Shire, we wanted to give everyone time to learn. Instead of limiting instruction to just one day, we’ll be releasing a series of dance lesson videos ahead of the Festival so you can learn at your own pace.
Of course, we’ll still have in-person dance lessons on Wednesday to get everyone comfortable, but having the steps in advance means more fun and more confidence once the music begins.
Our Dancemaster, Amaranth, will be teaching five historical dances and two Brandywine Originals. The traditional dances include:
- Branle de l’Official
- Sellenger’s Round
- Strip the Willow
- Devil Amang the Tailors
- Black Nag
These are time-tested favorites, though we’ll be adding our own Brandywine flavor to each. As for the two Brandywine Originals—well, those are a surprise you’ll just have to discover on the dance floor!
Keep an eye out for the official dance lesson videos, and be ready to step into the rhythm of the Shire.
Music in the Shire
Our evenings will come alive with three incredible headlining groups, each bringing their own style of folk music to the hills of Kentucky. Together, they’ll weave a tapestry of sound that connects history, storytelling, and community.
🎻 Whiskey Before Breakfast
Masters of traditional Irish folk (with a dash of Scottish, Canadian, English, and American spice), this group brings fiddle, mandolin, flute, and percussion together for nights of revelry. Their creative process? A “tune potluck” over whiskey and laughter, where silly tune names sometimes become masterpieces. Expect a joyful, rollicking time full of music that’s meant to be shared.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
🦉 Swarm of Owls
A duo with fire in their strings, Swarm of Owls blends the fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and Irish tenor banjo with the haunting call of the Uilleann Pipes. With backgrounds ranging from Emmy-winning composition to magazine writing, their take on traditional Irish music is feisty, textured, and unforgettable. Each performance is unique, driven by the energy of the audience—so expect to be part of the show.
Instagram: @wayne_fiddle_fingers | @uilleann_villian
🍀 Ishna
Traditional Irish folk with a modern twist, Ishna takes beloved songs and infuses them with new rhythms, harmonies, and contagious joy. Their reels, jigs, and ballads bring both heart and fire to the dance floor, with sets like their rollicking “Tommy People’s” jigs and a foot-stomping version of Whiskey in the Jar. Every performance is a celebration of music, memory, and belonging.
Facebook | Instagram: @ishnamusic
Music is for Everyone
At the Brandywine Festival, music is a social activity. Clap along, sing along, dance until your feet ache—or simply sit by the fire and let the tunes wash over you. As our headliners say: “We’re having a good time making music, and hope you have a good time too.”
Bring your instruments, your voices, and your dancing feet. Together, we’ll make the hills of the Shire ring with music.
