MEET THE BAND
Blue Skye formed in Sarasota, FL in 2016 just in time for St. Patrick's Day as a completely female band. The group quickly evolved into a Celtic performance band featuring guitar, fiddle, Irish whistle, bass guitar, mandolin, upright bass, banjo, hand percussion, and vocals, in addition to the pipes and drums. The band starts each performance in the true pipe band style, with tunes ranging from marches and hornpipes to jigs and reels. The band then performs and sings many traditional Scottish and Irish pieces, as well as some newer compositions like songs by Giogair Labruidh, Loreena McKennit, Sweden's fold duo First Aid Kit, and a medley of themes from video game franchise Skyrim.
Blue Skye has performed all over the state of Florida at various festivals and Highland Games, including Suncoast Scots Highland Games, South Florida GAmes, Caloosahatchee Festival, Mount Dora Celtic Festival, Suncoast Games, Fam Jam, Florida Keys Celtic Festival, Sarasota Fedieval Fair, and Bay Area Ren Fest as well as many other festivals and events.
Cassie Calo
Lead Vocals / Guitar / Bagpipes
Bringing the power of Scottish roots and driving rock rhythms to the front row.
Courtney Calo
Harmony Vocals / Whistles / Mandolin
Weaving traditional melodies through dynamic multi-instrumental harmonies.
James Dennis
Backup Vocals / Smallpipes / Bagpipes
Anchoring the traditional pipe corps heritage with soaring Celtic harmonies.
Justin Davis
Upright Bass / Guitar / Banjo
Laying down the deep, resonant low-end strings that drive our Celtic rock pulse.
Laura Jensen-Jennings
Violin
Igniting the stage with blistering fiddle runs and soaring instrumental hooks.
Deborah Houston
Backup Vocals / Tenor Drum / Percussion
Driving the rhythmic visuals and mid-range pulse of the band's drum battery.
Deborah Bowman
Backup Vocals / Bass Drum
The booming, powerful heartbeat keeping the entire 10-piece engine locked in time.
Mary Hutchinson
Backup Vocals / Bass Guitar / Tenor Drum
Bridging the gap between the heavy string groove and rhythmic pipe band percussion.
Rhona Buchanan
Backup Vocals / Cajón / Snare Drum
Providing crisp, snapping marching snare rudiments mixed with world percussion flair.
John Dennis
Bodhrán / Snare Drum
Bringing authentic Irish pulse and precise street rhythms to the drum battery.