An eclectic bunch if ever there was one, the Sonora-based Black Irish Band (known to their friends as the Hooligans) first coalesced on the film set of Back to the Future III, when multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Patrick Karnahan and bass man Richard Restivo spent filming breaks formulating their idea for a traditional folk group that would cross cultural and musical boundaries. With the addition of fiddler Dave Rainwater, guitar/mandolin player Mike Lee, and yet another multi-instrumental vocalist, Steve McArthur, the group embarked on its mission to breathe new life into old tunes with strong vocals and high-energy instrumentals.

And as for their repertoire, the Black Irish Band's long list of albums says it all: from the Irish pub tunes of Day the Earth Shook to their recent American Landscapes, the band's expansive range covers rollicking sea chanteys, railroad music, and plaintive western ballads, plus traditional music from Canada, Scotland, Ireland, and Italy. Veritable fixtures at many west coast Celtic festivals, The SF Maritime Museum, and the Sacramento Railroad Museum, their performances are like a unique music lesson, mixing the folk music of some of the ethnic minorities who came to California with their experiences in the land of opportunity, stories of the sea, the Gold Rush, and the building of the railroads.