Blackwaterside

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.

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

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.

Very friendly performed at our medieval wedding! Sounded amazing

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