Celtic-Infused Folk Band Chivalrous Crickets To Perform In Mercer Co.

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Chivalrous Crickets, an up-and-coming, Celtic-infused folk band, will be performing at the West Windsor Arts on Saturday, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm.

The band's music is a unique blend of Irish, English and American folk music.

“We love to showcase local talent and bring people together to enjoy the arts in our community. The Crickets come from all over the country but found a home base in West Windsor during the pandemic,” Aylin Green, Executive Director of West Windsor Arts said. “After they played at a house party not far from the arts center, the word got out fast — you’ve got to hear this group.”

Established in 2018, the band has several musicians from diverse musical backgrounds, ranging from traditional Celtic, English, Appalachian and popular to early medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and other classical music.

Each member sings and plays a variety of instruments - from bass and bassoon to fiddle and lute. They also write original, contemporary music with roots in traditional and ancient sounds.

Founding members and sisters Genevieve King and Fiona Gillespie grew up playing Irish music. “There is a fairly established Irish music scene in Bethlehem, Pa., where we grew up, and our parents played in a band there,” Fiona said in a statement.

Other members include Genevieve’s husband Bradley King the bass player.

Five of the six Crickets will be performing on Saturday - Fiona Gillespie (vocals, whistle and flutes); Genevieve King (fiddle, vocals); Paul Morton (guitars, banjo, bouzouki, theorbo, vocals, harmonica); Ben Matus (pipes, bassoon, vocals); and Bradley King (bass, vocals).

There will be a Q&A session with the audience after the performance.