DRISCOLL & SMITH

Driscoll and Smith are a unique acoustic duo performing many different types of music, including, but not limited to, Irish and Scottish folk music, maritime songs, contemporary folk, and older country music. Depending on the audience, they will, from time to time, throw in various original songs, and older pop, rock, and novelty songs, for good measure.

Long time veteran Jack Driscoll sings and plays harmonica and guitar, and is a prolific songwriter, with an album of original material to his credit. Before teaming up with Don Smith, Jack played many years as a founding member of the Black Water Boys, then with Blackie summers, (of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys), The Wild Colonial Boys, and as the singer and guitarist of All-Ireland button box champ John Nolan's band.

Aside from singing, Don Smith plays banjo (tenor and five string), guitar, tin whistle, and concertina. Playing for years with the likes of Marty McKernan, The Bantry Boys, the Highland Ramblers, and The Thorn Between the Roses, Don has developed a unique and humorous stage persona, which is accentuated by Jack's natural ability to play the straight man, so always expect a lot of laughs when these two are on stage.

Over the years they have frequently been compared to the Smothers Brothers (due to their uncommon chemistry!) and a number of times been told, " You guys are like the Irish Smothers Brothers!"

As mainstays on the Irish pub circuit, they are in demand in the Catskills (summer and winter) and have been described as one of the "greatest bar bands in the world".

As Pete Seeger once said, "Who are those guys?"

Besides pubs, Jack and Don appear at many festivals in the northeast (as themselves and in various lineups), such as the East Durham Memorial Day Weekend Festival, The Hunter Mtn.Celtic Faire, The Orange County, NY Irish Festival, the East Durham Traditional Irish Music Festival (following Irish Arts week), aside from other lesser known festivals scattered around and about.

Jack has opened for many notables over the years, such as Makem and Clancy, The Wolftones, The Clancy Brothers, has served as guitarist for Paddy Reilly, toured Ireland (where he was well received), and toured with Sean Dunphy for a year.

Jack and Don have played with Pete Seeger, and Don has studied with Davey Arthur, played with Joe "Banjo" Burke, and jammed with button box master Fintan Stanley.

They have paid their dues, and it shows in their performance.