Syr (pronounced "sire" and meaning "sir") was founded by Kyle MacCallum who wanted to blend the heritage of the Celtic nations with a contemporary musical style.

The group. from Columbia South Carolina, combines the talents of five professional musicians to create songs that have the power to move audiences with their driving and melodic compositions, and themes of love, victory, loss, and battles.

Jamison combines the dynamism of foot-stomping Irish reels with fresh melodies and lyrics, mixed with reggae, pop, and rock. They play well-known covers in their own, high-energy style, and also perform original compositions.

The members of Jamison are Frank Daly on vocals, acoustic guitar, tin whistle, and mandolin; John O'Callaghan on vocals, electric guitar, tin whistle, and mandolin; Sean Hick on electric guitar and vocals; Alice Marie on fiddle, viola, and vocals; and Dave Lynd on bass moog pedals, and vocals.

The Steel City Rovers, from Hamilton, Ontario, seem to have as much fun on the stage performing as do the folks in their audiences.

The Rovers are Mark Fletcher, who performs on a number of instruments (Scottish smallpipes, mandola, accordion, and Irish whistle), lead vocalist Ryan McKenna, Joel McKenna on guitar and vocals, Dave Neigh on fiddle, Dave Gould on drums and percussion, and a number of fine musicians who sit in at various locations.

What happens when young Suzuki-trained string musicians are encouraged to explore music beyond the traditional classic repertoire? They stretch, grow, and learn to create arrangements specifically for their ensemble — and they share their talents with audiences in the U.S. and Europe.

Vivace, formed each year since 2009, consists of the best students from the senior classes of the Suzuki schools in Connecticut's Westport and Orange Counties. These students auditioned to join this select and unique touring ensemble.

Emmet Cahill, an award-winning tenor who was formerly with Celtic Thunder, has performed in more than 80 cities in North America — including at St. Augustine's annual Celtic Music and Heritage Festival.

Emmet has opened the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade, and his debut at New York's Carnegie Hall was a sold out performance. Emmet, originally from County Westmeath in Ireland, performs with orchestras and ensembles and also takes the stage alone with his guitar.

Cat McWilliams was born to sing the blues (and rock). Originally from St. Augustine, Cat started playing the guitar and singing when she was in high school.

Early in the last decade she provided vocals and rhythm guitar as part of the acclaimed local band, Yankee Slickers. With them she shared the stage with a number of regional and national bands.

The appropriately named West King String Band was formed in St. Augustine by musicians who have strong roots and many friends in the Ancient City.  Now from Nashville, they spend more weeks touring all over the U.S. than they spend here in St. Augustine. That's why it's a treat when they return for a festival or a gig at a local bar.

Singer, composer, and drummer Adam Hendley has worked with various local and national artists, performing jazz, rock, and funk. He also led the band Adam Hendley's Urban Soul band for over seven years.

Mental Boy (AKA Chuck Mental) plays acoustic guitar sometimes, and sometimes he performs as the Mental Boy band and plays electric guitar and is joined by a bass player and drummer.

Chuck (AKA Mental Boy), a singer and songwriter, mostly performs his own compositions, and does play some punk covers. His own songs include, "She's Perfect," "She's a Brat," and "Mental Boy."

Mental Boy's influencers are first and last the Ramones, and in between are bands such as Screeching Weasel, the Headbangers, and Teenage Bubblegums.

Sometimes creativity is a result of boredom — the kind of boredom that happens when one spends the winter in a beach town well north of St. Augustine.

Like that year when singer/songwriter Cameron Moratis spent a winter in Ocean City Maryland. There, he took the time to write songs influenced by the diverse indie and alternative rock bands he enjoys. (Think the hard rock/progressive sound of the Arctic Monkeys and the dreamy, melodic indie sound of The Smiths.)