Ha’penny Bridge Celtic Band


Ha’penny Bridge is a Northern California Celtic music band comprised of several musicians from the Chico, California area. Its dynamic, vocal-driven sound has been described aptly as “California Celtic” due to the band’s unique repertoire of Mark McKinnon’s original songs, its stirring adaptations of classic and contemporary Celtic-style ballads, and creative infusion of traditional Irish and Scottish tunes.
Although Ha’penny Bridge is a relatively new addition to the Northern California Celtic music community, during its nearly four-year existence, it has become one of the Chico area’s most popular bands. In December, 2008, the Chico News and Review praised it as one of Chico’s hottest up-and-coming bands, and Ha’penny Bridge was nominated for a Cammies Award as the Chico area’s best band in the World/Celtic/Reggae category. During its successful appearances at the prestigious KVMR Celtic Festival in Grass Valley in 2008 and 2009, Ha’penny Bridge has been hailed for its “rapid rise as one of the North State’s most popular bands” that has “garnered a large and enthusiastic following of music lovers of all ages drawn to the group’s powerful, ensemble-style playing and ringing vocal harmonies.” The band was also honored by an invitation to perform at the Chico World Fest last Fall, which culminated in a rousing standing ovatio,
as well as headlining Sacramento’s 14th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival.
Ha’penny Bridge comprises a lineup of Chico-area musicians with a rich, cumulative pedigree in Celtic and corollary genres. With a frontline of Molly McNally, Gina Tropea and guitarist Mark McKinnon on vocals, the band includes Michael Cannon on accordion, Jewel Cardinet on mandolin, Vita Segalla and on fiddle, Tom Haber on bass, Tony “Dharma” LaRocca on congas, and Jimmy Fay on drums
In 2008, Ha’penny Bridge released its first studio CD album of original songs, The Awakening, which has received steady airplay on Chico’s KZFR and Nevada City’s KVMR. The Chico News & Review hailed the CD as something audiences “are bound to love,” “glorious…comfort food for Celtophiles,” and “true to musical roots in sound, structure and lyrics…in the key of Van Morrison or Mary Black.” The band is thrilled and honored by the very positive responses from the community. The CD can currently be purchased online, and in Chico at Made in Chico and Bustolini’s.
Ha’penny Bridge has currently written and added new material to its already extensive repertoire, and is currently planning its next CD for 2010. For further information about bookings, upcoming performances, or to be added to the band’s email list, contact www.hapennybridgeband.com, Mark Mckinnon at mcksnake@yahoo.com or (530)877-0152, Molly McNally at millymcnilly@yahoo.com

www.hapennybridgeband.com.