Sláinte! Welcome to the internet home of Sigean, the premier Irish Traditional Music band of the Tricities Region of Tennessee & Southeast Virginia.
Sigean was formed in 1997 by four friends who shared a common interest in Irish Traditional Music– Clay Henry, Tom Swadley, James Skeen, and Eric Olive. Together they practiced and performed Sigean’s first gig at Roan Mountain State Park and began to bring the traditional music of Ireland to growing audiences. The region has always been a hotbed of traditional American music, with audiences who know and love the sound of string bands, Bluegrass, traditional dance music, and balladry. That audiences here are perfectly-primed to enjoy Old-time dance music’s Irish cousins, the jig and reel, comes as no surprise.
The lineup has changed since 1997, with former Sigean members moving on to play with other regionally-important and internationally-known acts, but the signature sound, repertoire, and spirit remains the same. Sigean plays acoustic Irish music, in a traditional way, like you’d hear in a kitchen amongst good friends.
Sigean Throughout the Years:
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- Members of Sigean with the Canadian band “Hunting McLeod” Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival (2005).
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- Bristol Rhythm & Roots Old-time Jam outside Uncle Sam’s Pawn Shop. Tom Swadley on guitar (2005).
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- Sigean at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival (2005).
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- Connie and Tom Swadley, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (2005).
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- Our dear friends Danny and Linda Mullen at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (2005).
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- John Rushing (bass), Linda Mullen (guitar), Danny Mullen (fiddle) and Tom Swadley (guitar) jam outside Uncle Sam’s at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (2005)
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- Sigean members, friends Danny & Linda Mullen and others jam outside Uncle Sam’s at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion (2005).
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- John Rushing, Tom Swadley, Jean Bean, & Frank Wing (2005).
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- Jean Bean, Frank Wing & John Rushing with ….
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- Former Sigean fiddler Chad Beauchaine, and Tom Swadley (2005).
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- Frank Wing warms up at the Swannanoa Gathering.
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- Frank gets ready to eat at the Swannanoa Gathering.
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- Frank catches
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- Sigean friends, Steve Cook, Karen Musick and Mike Cook at Sigean plays Music on the Square – Jonesborough, TN (2005).
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- Sigean Bandleader Tom Swadley with Jack Beck.
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- Fiddler Marcianne O’Day, Flute/Whistle player Debbie Shrewsbury, and Fiddler/Banjoist Frank Wing at Big Stone Gap Inter-Celtic Festival in 2013.
