GigSalad – Entertainment Marketplace Menu
Search
Favorites Log In List your services

Your list is empty.

Save musicians, entertainers, speakers, and services, and they’ll appear here.

Free Quick Quote
GigSalad – Entertainment Marketplace Menu
Search Favorites
  • Sign UpList your services
  • Log InLog In
  • Entertainers
  • Musical Acts
  • Event Services
  • Speakers
  • Home
  • How It Works
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Party Ideas
  • Help Center
Quick Quote
Back to Celtic Music
Featured Member Blackwaterside

Blackwaterside

Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
5.0 
(12 reviews)
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Celtic Music
  • Travels up to 90 miles
  • $300 - $2000
Get a Free Quick Quote
Promotional video thumbnail 1 for Blackwaterside Watch

Blackwaterside at the Seaside Highland Games

Promotional video thumbnail 2 for Blackwaterside Watch

Blackwaterside at Old Poway Park

Promotional video thumbnail 3 for Blackwaterside Watch

She Moved Through the Faire

Promotional video thumbnail 4 for Blackwaterside Watch

Harpeggio Quartet

Promotional video thumbnail 5 for Blackwaterside Watch

Vuelvo al Sur by Astor Piazzolla

Audio sample play button Audio sample pause button
Blind Mary/ Polkas
O'Carolan/traditional Irish
  • 1. Blind Mary/ Polkas
  • 2. The Month of January
  • 3. Tom Billy's/Langstrom Pony -- Jigs
  • 4. Scottish Wedding set
  • 5. Bonny Portmore
  • 6. Come On, Lads!
  • 7. The Gathering Dusk
Gallery photo 1 of Blackwaterside

Blackwaterside at the San Diego Highland Games

Gallery photo 2 of Blackwaterside

The Blackwaterside Trio performing at the Celtic Arts Center's Robert Burns Celebration

Gallery photo 3 of Blackwaterside

Susan Craig Winsberg, founder of Blackwaterside

Gallery photo 4 of Blackwaterside

Blackwaterside

Gallery photo 5 of Blackwaterside

Blackwaterside's live concert CD, "Blythe and Merry"

Gallery photo 6 of Blackwaterside

Sean Michael Clegg

Gallery photo 7 of Blackwaterside

Christa Burch

Gallery photo 8 of Blackwaterside

Tim Blair playing bones

Gallery photo 9 of Blackwaterside

Blackwaterside at the San Diego Highland Games with Christa Burch

Gallery photo 10 of Blackwaterside

Blackwaterside at the San Diego Highland Games with Laura Browne Sorenson

Gallery photo 11 of Blackwaterside

Tim Blair playing tenor recorder

Gallery photo 12 of Blackwaterside

Susan Craig Winsberg playing Irish pennywhistle

Gallery photo 13 of Blackwaterside

Laura Browne Sorenson singing and playing Bodhrán

Gallery photo 14 of Blackwaterside

Sean Michael Clegg

Gallery photo 15 of Blackwaterside

Sean Michael Clegg

View previous media icon View next media icon
5 videos 7 audio 15 photos
Media Overview Reviews Booking Info
Get a Free Quick Quote

Overview

Susan Craig Winsberg is a trained flutist with a Master's Degree in Flute Performance. She has two Grammy Awards. She can play in any style, and also plays Irish pennywhistle and Irish wooden flute. She is the leader of the Celtic band Blackwaterside. Blackwaterside plays Scottish and Irish music as a duo, trio, quartet or more. The music can be mellow or upbeat, depending on the occasion. Blackwaterside's guitarist Sean Michael Clegg is also a highly trained professional, and he and Susan play beautifully as a duo, in any and all styles -- classical, jazz, pop, Renaissance, you name it! Susan also plays as a duo with harp, which is another wonderful combination of instruments.


12 Reviews

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Andrea B.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Andrea B. • August 24, 2024

Their music made our party unique

I hired Susan (flute) and Sean (guitar) for my husband’s 80th birthday celebration because he has always loved Celtic music. The party was in my yard and only 18 guests and the music created a perfect ambience for the evening. By the end of the evening they were taking requests and seamlessly moved to playing some Beatles songs. In addition, Susan is a lovely person and easy to work with. Could not be happier.

Hired as:
Celtic Music
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you so much, Andrea! We had a wonderful time playing for your husband's birthday party! And taking requests for Beatles songs made it all the more special. What a fun night!

Thanks again!
Susan

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Mark S.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Verified Review
Mark S. • February 26, 2024

Wonderful performance!

What a wonderful treat! Our folks thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon of beautiful music.

Hired as:
Celtic Music
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you, Mark! It was lovely playing for your residents. What a great group of people. They seemed to appreciate every note!

Thanks again!
Susan Craig Winsberg
Blackwaterside

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Naomi S.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Verified Review
Naomi S. • December 12, 2023

Highly recommend

Great communication , on time and great performers.

Hired as:
Renaissance Entertainment
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you so much! We're so glad you were pleased with the entertainment we provided for your event.

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Megan
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Megan • January 4, 2023

Amazing!!!!

Susan and her band are absolutely wonderful. We hired the trio to play at my wedding cocktail hour. This was an Irish/Mexican wedding and I had a certain vision of what I was looking for and they exceeded my expectations. My family were traveling from Ireland so I wanted a band that would play some traditional and classical Irish music. Susan already had a list of amazing songs they already knew and some great jigs and reels that got myself and guests up dancing. Susan worked with me every step of the way to create a great set of Irish songs. She was so professional with everything and made all the planning and arrangements go so smoothly. My guests absolutely loved the music and had such an amazing time. I can’t thank them enough for their amazing performance. They are so incredibly talented. I highly recommend!!

Hired as:
Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Wedding Band, Celtic Music
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you so much, Megan (Eilish)! We had such a great time playing for you and your guests. It was extra fun knowing that so many of your family members were actually Irish and truly appreciated the music. And when people got up to dance -- well, that totally made our day!

Congratulations on your marriage, and thanks again SO much for having Blackwaterside play for your special event!

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Svetlana M.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Verified Review
Svetlana M. • October 17, 2022

Great performance!

My guests loved the Blackwaterside trio! It was fun, true music and very nice atmosphere for our UK party! Thank you very much and of course book you again in the future.

Best, Svetlana

Hired as:
Acoustic Band, Irish / Scottish Entertainment
Small thumbnail image for reviewer Susan B.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Verified Review
Susan B. • July 24, 2022

Perfect Cocktail Reception Ensemble

Susan and her accomplished partners provided beautiful music for the picture and live audio perfect wedding cocktail reception. She was great to work with and customized the selections and performance to play wonderful pieces we loved.

Hired as:
Classical Ensemble
Small thumbnail image for reviewer Albert V.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Verified Review
Albert V. • March 4, 2022

Great performance.

Susan worked me to provide a duo, consisting of
guitar/vocals and flute/lrish whistle. This was perfect for my small event and budget. She called me several weeks in advance to introduce herself and the day before the event as well. This made my event planning stress free. There performance was great. Will definitely book them again.

Hired as:
Irish / Scottish Entertainment
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you for the nice review, Albert. It was a pleasure playing for your group. You were very friendly and accommodating, and we really appreciate it. Hope to see you again in the future!

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Cruz A. S. M.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Verified Review
Cruz A. S. M. • April 1, 2019

Amazing Performance!

Blackwaterside brought a wonderful atmosphere to our wedding reception, and everyone loved their performance! If you would like to bring that beautiful and rich cultural element that celtic music can provide, I completely recommend working with Blackwaterside!

Hired as:
Acoustic Band, Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Wedding Band, Celtic Music
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you so much, Ayaka! We loved playing for your beautiful, culturally rich wedding. It was an honor to be a part of your special day. I have to say, when Sean sang and played that song you asked us to learn for your first dance, "And I Love You So" by Don McLean, I could hardly keep from crying, it was so touching -- and it's hard to play flute when you're crying!

Congratulations on your beautiful wedding, and once again, thank you so much for letting us be a part of it.

All the best,
Susan Craig Winsberg
Blackwaterside

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Svetlana M.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Verified Review
Svetlana M. • May 14, 2018

Great performers

This group is very pro and they really entertained public - people were cheering and clapping and enjoying the music. Was great! Will invite them again. Thank you!

Best, Svetlana

Hired as:
Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Celtic Music
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you, Svetlana! We had a great time, and your guests were so friendly and really seemed to enjoy our music. We truly appreciate it!

Thanks again!
Susan Craig Winsberg
Blackwaterside

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Veronica
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Verified Review
Veronica • April 16, 2018

Wonderful musics...

Lovely duo with guitar and flute....perfect for our event and Susan was so wonderful to work with....

Hired as:
Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Celtic Music
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you so much, Veronica. It was truly a lovely event, and we were honored to be a part of it.

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Dick J.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Dick J. • February 21, 2018

Blackwaterside never fails to entertain

Whether it’s the Celtic music savvy crowd at a Scottish Highland Games or the families at a Sunday concert in the park, Blackwaterside never fails to capture an audience. I know that any time I book these four musicians, it’ll be a great show.

Susan Winsberg leads the group with her flutes and whistles. Drawing on her Scottish heritage, she interprets the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland with great skill. She moves easily from the familiar silver flute to the piccolo, a wonderfully mellow wooden flute, and Irish whistles. The incredible sound of her bass flute (Christa calls it “Nessie”) always gives me shivers.

I love to hear Christa Burch sing. Her voice is rich and warm, and she is great interpreter of the Irish and Scottish music she loves. Her lively and expressive bodhrán playing adds a happy touch to the music. Guitarist Sean Clegg’s background in classical and rock music informs his interpretation of the Celtic repertoire. His interplay with Susan’s flute adds a great depth to the music, and it’s a treat when he takes a vocal solo. Tim Blair plays recorder or whistle in harmony with Susan’s flute, and he adds percussion to the band with his bodhrán and bones.

With any great band, the total performance is more than the sum of the individual contributions of its members, and that’s certainly true for Blackwaterside. The show is always hugely entertaining, and the audience leaves with a smile.

Dick Jay
Chairfolk, San Diego Folk Heritage
Entertainment Director, San Diego Scottish Highland Games

Hired as:
Acoustic Band, Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Celtic Music
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thanks so much for your kind words! It's always a great pleasure to play for the enthusiastic and appreciative audiences of San Diego Folk Heritage concerts and the San Diego Highland Games. Thanks again!

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Ian S.
Rating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with goldRating star filled in with gold
Ian S. • February 16, 2018

Best Celtic Band

Blackwaterside is our go to band for all our Scottish themed events. The group led by Grammy award winner Susan Craig Winsberg embodies incredible musical and vocal talent. Over the many years the St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles has worked with Susan, she and her band have never failed to deliver. There are other Celtic bands out there but as the leading organization in Los Angeles devoted to the promotion and preservation of Scottish culture we demand the real thing and that is why we repeatedly rely on Susan and Blackwaterside.

Hired as:
Acoustic Band, Classical Guitarist, Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Celtic Music
Small thumbnail image for Blackwaterside

Response from Blackwaterside:

Thank you, Ian! We love playing for the St. Andrew's Society, and are honored to be your go-to band for Scottish music. It sure feels good to be called the "real thing!" Whether we're playing background music for your cocktail hour and dinner, or featured songs during your presentations, or accompanying your guests for Scottish Country dancing, we always feel that our music is appreciated and loved by your guests. That makes it all the more special to play for the St. Andrew's Society. Thanks again!

+ 8 More Reviews

Write a Review

Booking Info

  • Profile
  • Calendar
  • Personnel
  • Setup Requirements

Price Range: $300 - $2000

Languages: French, German, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic

What to Expect

Blackwaterside is a professional group who has been together for over twenty years. We are polite, hard working, responsible and well groomed. We can dress in a "Celtic" style, if desired, or concert black, elegant or nice casual -- whatever the occasion calls for. We will arrive on time and play extremely high-quality music, and we are flexible and amenable to your needs.

The level of musicianship in Blackwaterside is extremely high (with advanced degrees in music and Susan having two Grammy awards), and your guests will definitely be impressed! We can be jolly and lively and make everyone kick up their heals, and we can play moving Celtic ballads that will bring a tear to your eye. Blackwaterside is known for its variety and versatility. We are also classically trained, so we can offer many styles.

We are happy to play background music, and we are also fully capable of holding an audience's attention for hours in a concert setting. Either way, you're getting top quality!

About

The band Blackwaterside was formed in 1995 by Grammy-award-winning flutist Susan Craig Winsberg in celebration of her Scottish heritage. Since then they have released four CDs and have played countless concerts and festivals, receiving great public acclaim.

Blackwaterside is known for their unique and original approach to traditional Scottish and Irish music, alternating lively, upbeat tunes with lyrical and haunting ballads, all performed with an enchanting variety of colors and textures that keep the sound forever fresh. Audiences are inevitably moved and greatly entertained by the soulfulness and spirit of a Blackwaterside Celtic music performance.

The Blackwaterside band features Susan Craig Winsberg on flutes and whistles and master guitarist and vocalist Sean Michael Clegg. Blackwaterside's additional/optional musicians include vocalists/bodhrán players Laura Browne Sorenson and Christa Burch, Tim Blair on percussion and recorders, Gee Rabe on accordion, and Peggy Skomal on Celtic harp. The possibility for colors, textures and styles are endless with Blackwaterside, and the quality is consistently superlative.

Additional Booking Notes

Blackwaterside can play acoustic or amplified. We can bring our own equipment, if necessary. Lighting is optional. Since we offer everything from a solo to a quintet or even sextet, the amount of space we need varies.

If playing outdoors, we need shade or cover, and our instruments can't get exposed to rain. But besides that, we're very flexible.

Services Offered

Celtic Music Acoustic Band Classical Duo Classical Ensemble Classical Guitarist Flute Player Funeral Music Irish / Scottish Entertainment New Age Music Renaissance Entertainment Wedding Band

Past Booked Events

March 16, 2025 • 12:00pm - 4:00pm Cocktail Party
April 23, 2024 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm Retirement Community Event
February 25, 2024 • 3:30pm - 4:30pm Retirement Community Event
December 02, 2023 • 5:00pm - 7:30pm Birthday Party
April 19, 2023 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm Corporate Event
March 17, 2023 • 5:30pm - 7:00pm Dinner Party
November 11, 2022 • 5:00pm - 5:15pm Wedding Ceremony
October 07, 2022 • 8:30pm - 9:15pm Nonprofit Event
July 23, 2022 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm Cocktail Party
March 02, 2022 • 6:30pm - 8:30pm Dinner Party
December 25, 2020 • 7:30pm - 9:30pm Dinner Party
March 10, 2019 • 10:30am - 2:30pm Wedding Reception
May 19, 2018 • 11:30am - 1:00pm Funeral/Memorial Service
May 13, 2018 • 11:00am - 2:00pm Festival
April 15, 2018 • 2:00pm - 5:00pm Launch Party

View More

Team

Susan Craig Winsberg flutes, whistles, recorders
Sean Michael Clegg guitar, vocals
Laura Browne Sorenson vocals, bodhrán (Irish hand drum)
Christa Burch vocals, bodhrán (Irish hand drum)
Tim Blair whistles, recorders, bodhrán, bones
Joe Chellman percussion
Gee Rabe accordion
Peggy Skomal harp

Setup Requirements

This varies from gig to gig.

GigSalad – Entertainment Marketplace
  • Company
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Partners
  • Event Planners
  • Quick Quote
  • How It Works
  • Party Ideas
  • Vendors
  • List your services
  • Pricing
  • Testimonials
  • Support
  • Help Center
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
  • Special Events
  • Book Entertainment
  • Musicians for Hire
  • Event Services
  • Book a Speaker
  • Weddings
  • Wedding Musicians
  • Wedding Entertainment
  • Wedding Services

© GigSalad 2025 ❤ Peace, Love & Gigs ®

Terms Privacy

CA Notice at Collection

Do not sell or share my personal information