A Celtic Christmas with On The Lash

Revel in the holiday season with a spirited celebration of music and tradition, A Celtic Christmas with On the Lash comes to the Mineral Point Opera House on Sunday, December 14 at 2:00 pm. Doors will open at 1:00 pm. Tickets range from $25 to $35 (plus taxes and fees) and will increase by $5 on the day of the show. Friends of the MPOH will have access to tickets starting Tuesday, July 1 at 8:00 am, and the general public on Tuesday, July 15 at 8:00 am.

Get ready to ring in the true spirit of the holiday season with “A Celtic Christmas.” An intimate evening of unforgettable Irish classics will transport audiences straight to the heart of the Emerald Isle, featuring Michigan’s fastest rising Irish band, On The Lash.

At the center of Ireland’s rich cultural heritage is a deep sense of community, at no time more evident than during the Christmas season. On The Lash comes together to share in this tradition, reminiscent of family and neighbors gathering in the Irish countryside to celebrate with song and good cheer.

The enchanting melodies, timeless traditions, and heartwarming sing-alongs of A Celtic Christmas will leave souls uplifted and spirits bright, as voices resonate together with the joy of the season.

On The Lash formed in early 2022, with their very first set of shows being a tour through PA and DE. Since then, OTL has been busy performing at festivals and concert venues across the US, as well as sharing their unique background and experience in the genre through educational workshops. Some notable festivals include the KVMR Celtic Fest in Grass Valley, CA; the Yachats Celtic Fest in Yachats, OR; the Longs Peak Highland Fest in Estes Park, CO; the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA; and the Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon, MI. During their
travels, On The Lash has had the opportunity to share the stage with renowned artists such as Jeremy Kittel, Talisk, Alasdair Fraser, and Natalie Hass, as well as opening for Altan within their first year of performing.

All graduates of Western Michigan University’s music program, each member of On The Lash has a unique, yet complementary background in folk and classical styles. Elizabeth June (flute/vocals) grew up learning classical flute, but she also had the unique experience of having a large family full of passion for folk music. With her dad on the banjo, mom on upright bass, and 10 siblings covering practically every instrument in between, she began singing and playing from a very young age with her family’s bluegrass band. Going on to earn a master’s degree in flute performance from the University of Michigan, OTL has allowed her to exercise fully her passions for flute, voice, and folk music. Joel Tyrone Myers (mandolin) started on fiddle as a young lad playing with the Chelsea House Orchestra, gaining a love and admiration for Irish music at the outset of his music career. Over the years, he discovered a passion for composition and songwriting, which has led to his writing and arranging a majority of the music for OTL. John Robey (fiddle/stomp) began learning classical violin around seven years old, and it wasn’t until he was fourteen that he began diving into modern styles and improvisational techniques in his church’s worship band. It was this development that first kindled a desire for a non-classical music career, which manifested into his current trajectory in Celtic music. Patrick Hartson (guitar/bass) started out in music playing cello not only classically, but also in a fiddle club, learning various styles of Irish dance tunes. He then went on to earn multiple advanced degrees in cello performance from DePaul University following his time at WMU. Along the way, he picked up guitar as a secondary instrument, opening the door to playing in bands in genres from metal to rock and ultimately back to his roots in Celtic.