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Blackwaterside
- Los Angeles, CA
- Celtic Music
- Travels up to 90 miles
- $300 - $2000
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.
9 Reviews
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!!
Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Wedding Band, Celtic Music
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!
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
Acoustic Band, Irish / Scottish Entertainment
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.
Classical Ensemble
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.
Irish / Scottish Entertainment
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!
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!
Acoustic Band, Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Wedding Band, Celtic Music
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
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
Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Celtic Music
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
Lovely duo with guitar and flute....perfect for our event and Susan was so wonderful to work with....
Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Celtic Music
Response from Blackwaterside:
Thank you so much, Veronica. It was truly a lovely event, and we were honored to be a part of it.
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
Acoustic Band, Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Celtic Music
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!
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.
Acoustic Band, Classical Guitarist, Flute Player, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Celtic Music
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!
Booking Info
Price Range: $300 - $2000
Languages: French, German, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic
Website: Visit website
Phone Number: Call
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
Past Booked Events
| 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 |
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.
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