• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Event Calendar
    • Submit An Event
  • About Us
    • Our Contributors
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Where to Pick up Dayton937
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Art Exhibits
    • Comedy
    • On Screen Dayton
    • On Screen Dayton Reviews
    • Road Trippin’
      • Cincinnati
      • Columbus
      • Indianapolis
    • Spectator Sports
    • Street-Level Art
    • Visual Arts
  • Dayton Dining
    • Happy Hours Around Town
    • Local Restaurants Open On Monday
    • Patio Dining in the Miami Valley
    • 937’s Boozy Brunch Guide
    • Dog Friendly Patio’s in the Miami Valley
    • Restaurants with Private Dining Rooms
    • Dayton Food Trucks
    • Quest
    • Ten Questions
  • Dayton Music
    • Music Calendar
  • Active Living
    • Canoeing/Kayaking
    • Cycling
    • Hiking/Backpacking
    • Runners

Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Gaelic

Dayton Celtic Festival 2010 With Gaelic Storm

July 27, 2010 By J.T. Ryder 1 Comment

A First Class Party In Third Class

Gaelic Storm happens to be one of the more notable acts currently on the Gaelic/Celtic scene. From an inauspicious beginning of playing a small pub in Santa Monica, CA, to (within a year of their inception) appearing in one of the most popularly successful movies of all time (Titanic), Gaelic Storm has led a charmed life indeed. They appeared in Titanic in one of the most memorably pivotal scenes in the movie, playing John Ryan’s Polka for an Irish party in third class. From their, they were catapulted onto the scene, taking on a grueling tour schedule that has not relented in all the ensuing years.

One of the things that makes Gaelic Storm so accessible is the perfect blend and balance of traditional Irish and Scottish songs and melodies mixed with various influences from around the world and enlivened with an edge of rock and roll. The energy that flows from the stage when Gaelic Storm performs is very much real and the audience feeds right back into that energy, making it consummately genuine.

I was able to interview Steve Twigger, guitarist and part of the lead vocals for the band, as he took a brief respite from the road. What follows is the unexpurgated transcripts of that interview.

J.T.: How are you doing today?
Steve: Good, good.

J.T.: Where are you at in the world?
Steve: Uh, down in Austin.

J.T.: Well, I guess the first thing, before I forget to ask…I just now, literally ten minutes ago, got a copy of Cabbage, so I haven’t been able to give it a listen yet…is that going to be for sale at the Dayton Celtic Festival?
Steve: I think it is, yes. I think it is officially for release on the third and, if I’m not mistaken, we’re kind of sneaking it out there early for Dayton. I might want to confirm that. I’m not 100% sure.

J.T.: I can’t remember what year it was, but it was a similar circumstance and you guys brought and sold copies before the official release date.
Steve: Yeah, and that, as I recall, is sort of what we are doing this time, but I want to make sure.

(Editor’s Note: The new CD will be available at the festival!)

J.T.: Now, how is the album being receive critique-wise?
Steve: Well, it’s the early days yet. There’s a few reviews coming in, but people seem to be taking to it. There’s a mention of it being a little different than what we have done in the past, but I tend to think that it’s a lot of the Gaelic Storm that people are used to done with a lot more energy, if that’s possible. I think that we have taken off in a couple of different paths that might be interesting to people.

J.T.: There’s seems that there would always be a risk in changing or experimenting with new sounds. Did that cross your mind when you embarked on this?
Steve: Oh yes! You know, the music is sort of a vehicle for us to enjoy ourselves and for the night to be enjoyable for everybody. That is kind of how we set off playing. We had no ax to grind or soapbox to stand on. We just honestly and purely wanted to enjoy ourselves and so for us, as I said, the music is that vehicle to achieve that. We have nothing to prove and no artistic bones to grind here. But, as you go along, you realize that sometimes you are moving over familiar ground and you start wandering towards other influences. I think there are more than a few influences in this CD, musical genres that we’re all kind of interested in.

J.T.: Well, I had recently interviewed Scythian and when I read their bio, it touted them as having a Ukrainian/Celtic sound and I thought, ‘That sounds…horrific.’
Steve: (Laughing)

J.T.: Well, I listened to it and the back beat and the Gypsy vibe lent itself well to the Celtic music. Do you guys, when you’re at some of these open folk festivals, do you find yourself listening to other forms of World music, are you influenced by these other genres?
Steve: Yeah, in fact, we were just in Spain. We played up in Galacia, up in the northwest of Spain, at a huge festival up there with like 30,000 people. Of course, there they had some of the usual suspects from Ireland and England, but of course the local Gaelic and Celtic music there is huge. They love the (uilleann) pipes, but it is a very different sound than what we are used to and especially to what Americans term to be Celtic music. There is almost a Middle Eastern influence throughout Galacian music. On tour, we’ll pass through France and listen to the music of Brittany, the Breton music. So, all in all, even within the subsection of Gaelic music, there are different sounds. You don’t have to step out of the genre to hear completely different sounds.

J.T.: Well, and I think that’s what a lot of people whom I term ‘The Purists’…I think it’s hard to explain to them that even when you are speaking about ‘traditional’ Celtic music, there are so many other influences in it, even back then, so to point at something and say, ‘This is Celtic music’ seems kind of difficult.
Steve: Yeah, I agree with you 100% on that and I think that people have picked one particular aspect of it and decided to cling to that as if it were the rarest of antiquities. Well, fine, put on a shelf, put it in a frame and keep it there, and meanwhile, the music just keeps on moving and changing.

J.T.: Exactly. Now, you guys have played Dayton…I can’t even count the number of times that you have been here. Do you have any special memories of Dayton?
Steve: Well, Dayton has always been family to us. We met Bill Russell, who runs the festival, many, many years ago. I remember his daughters were dancing out in the crowd and we brought them up on stage. They were young back then and they were Irish dancing and so we brought them up on stage. Then, they showed up at another theater that we played at somewhere in Ohio and we put them up on stage and then afterward, in the lobby, we met their parents and became friends with them and saw them at subsequent events. Through the relationship we had with them, they built up kind of a comfort to progress into promoting shows, so we really feel like we’ve been hand in hand with them through the process. You know, we were there at the very first Celtic Festival in Dayton and here we are again, however many years later. So, it definitely has a family feel in Dayton. We always try to make the music completely accessible and seamless with the audience and I really think that it’s come to fruition there in Dayton. That’s the way it should be! It’s not just about us going up on stage. We’ve made friends and those friends have gone on to create events that we play at, and that’s the heart of folk music right there.

J.T.: That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Steve: Yeah! Yep.

J.T.: Well, you were saying earlier about the different influences before and I think that it would work the opposite way where people that think that Celtic music is a certain type of music and that they don’t want anything to do with it will hear your take on it and be drawn in and maybe explore other facets of the genre.
Steve: Yeah, well, you know, we’ve certainly done our part. We’re on the road two-hundred days a year for the last fourteen or fifteen years and as we’ve gone along, we’ve tried to bridge a few gaps, I guess, and without stepping on toes. You know, the purists, the sort of elder statesmen of the Celtic world, they certainly looked down their nose at us when we first started. Over the course of time, we’ve become friends with them and they have, of course, realized that there is plenty of room for all kinds of adaptations and variations.

J.T.: Well, I want to thank you for taking the time to talk with me. Is there anything that you wanted out there that I haven’t asked?
Steve: Um, just ask people to go to our website and get a hold of us. Of course, we have a free download on the page if they don’t want to jump in and buy the CD, there’s a free download, so they can start to enjoy it for free.

J.T.: Well, and definitely to see you all live.
Steve: Well, you know, it really is fulfilling for us to see reviews that the first words are, ‘You have to see them live!’ Whatever goes down on that CD is fine, but we really put ourselves completely into our performances.

J.T.: And a lot of energy. Well, I want to thank you again for talking with me and I hope to meet up with you during the Celtic Festival.
Steve: Fantastic J.T. I hope you really enjoy the CD there.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Bill Russell, Cabbage, Celtic, Dayton Celtic Festival, Gaelic, Gaelic Storm, Jessie Burns, Patrick Murphy, Peter Purvis, Ryan Lacey, Scottish, Steve Twigger, United Irish of Dayton

Dayton Celtic Festival 2010 With Scythian

July 23, 2010 By J.T. Ryder 1 Comment

And Interview With Scythian

Once again, the sounds of fiddles, pipes and step dancing will echo out over Riverscape MetroPark (111 E. Monument Ave.) as the United Irish of Dayton present the 9th Annual Dayton Celtic Festival on July 30th, 31st and August 1st. The festival, as always, will offer an eclectic collection of music, crafts, demonstrations and displays celebrating everything Celtic.

One of the bands that will be performing is the epitome of eclectic. Known simply as Scythian, the bands has created a unique blend with their Ukrainian and Middle Eastern Heritage with their love of Celtic music to conjure up a sound that is as singularly seamlessly as it is effortlessly energetic. They have quickly become road veterans on the Celtic circuit (having played at the last three Dayton Celtic Festivals alone), but they are also enjoying a rather large crossover popularity at the various bluegrass, Americana and grassroots styled festivals.

I was able to speak at length with one of the founding members of the band, Danylo Fedoryka, and what follows is our unedited conversation about the progression of their music, their influences and their current projects.

J.T.: Well, I guess the first thing is is how you all came up with the whole Ukrainian slant to your music?
Dan: Oh! My brother and I kind of started the band and our parents both immigrated from the Ukraine during World War II. It was just sort of a progression. We started playing mostly Celtic music, but then we had this music that we grew up with and we wanted to start playing some of our heritage and so we kind of came up with this mix.

J.T.: You know, the thing is, I listened to a lot of your stuff and there were some that had an almost total Ukrainian/Gypsy sound to it, then there were other things that you had that was Celtic music, but the back beat had that Gypsy flavor to it.
Dan: Yeah! Or, also, Middle Eastern because our drummer, his dad is from Jordan. I really think that the Celtic music lends itself really well to Middle Eastern drums. They have the same rhythms. So do African beats, like 6/8 time…the Irish jigs are in the same rhythm as the African tribal beats. They actually say that in Ireland, the Egyptian monks came over and things like the Celtic cross and those symbols are actually Coptic, which is Egyptian. The bagpipes also originated elsewhere as well, in the Middle East, so it seems somewhere, way, way back, those cultures immigrated from wherever they were from and influenced the Irish culture and tradition. It’s kind of cool to play the Ukrainian music with the Celtic music because there is almost a natural fit, going towards the East.

J.T.: I have to admit that I was really surprised by it too. When I read that it was Celtic music with a Ukrainian flavor, I was like, ‘Oh no…this is going to be horrific. I mean, there are a couple of Slavic influenced bands out there that have moshed their own traditional sound with something that God never intended and it comes out sounding like cats being strangled.
Dan: Yeah! (laughing) There have definitely been some failed attempts, or it can come across as cheesy or contrived.

J.T.: Well, like I said, this seemed to lend itself really well to create a great blending.
Dan: Well, I think that one of the reasons that we are attracted to Celtic music is that the stuff resonated with the things that we grew up with, because the Ukrainians are somewhat like the Irish in a lot of respects. They were the peasants of that part of the world. They were farmers whose main staple was the potato and they were oppressed throughout most of their history. I guess we just find a lot of commonalities between our cultural traditions and the Celtic traditions and culture. Because of the musical selections that we pick in the Celtic genre that we try and bring back into our Ukrainian influences, it meshes very well. It’s not like we say, ‘Well I want to make Whiskey In A Jar Slavic.’ It’s just not going to work.

J.T.: Well, certain elements could lend themselves to another treatment of sorts. It’s kind of like Béla Fleck: he’s pulled off some stuff within the bluegrass genre that is just amazing. I mean, when you hear it described, you’re like, ‘Okay, a banjo with African tribal rhythms? Um, no.’ But then you hear it and it’s absolutely seamless.
Dan: Yeah! It’s very interesting that, as a musician, I tend to be a little bit skeptical, and then once it goes down, it sounds awesome. We were in Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival and afterward, there was an after party and there was a guy who was from India. He played in an Irish band called Corned Beef and Curry and so we were playing and he was playing some stuff and so I was like, ‘Hey! Can we play something from India?’ and so he was like, ‘Okay, cool.’ He said, ‘Start playing one of your Irish songs.’ we started playing one of our songs called Drums of Belfast in the key of D Minor and he just laid down these ridiculous Indian melodies over this Celtic song. It just sounded off the chain. But before he started playing, I said, ‘I don’t know if this is going to work,’ but it ended up being dynamite and I just love those moments where you go, ‘Oh my Gosh! This really does work!’

J.T.: So how have you guys been accepted on the Celtic circuit?
Dan: Well, at first, there was a lot of skepticism about us, but people liked our energy, but they didn’t know if this whole ‘eclectic’ thing would work. So, our first year, we only ended up with like three or festivals interested in us, but after that, I think it really resonated a lot, especially since we really try and incorporate the crowd into it. My grandmother, she’s still living and she’s one hundred years old and she used to tell us that every three or four months, a fiddler would come to her village and when that happened, everything stopped, everyone finished work and went into a bar and the fiddler would play for like five or six hours straight and everyone would just dance. It was their only opportunity to let off steam. My brother and I just loved that imagery of just a fiddler coming in and having a hoedown and enabling that and so I think our vibe, even though we had a vibe of a communal entity, there is something separate from that which I think the Irish festivals capture and that I think happened in Ireland where they would have sessions and people would get up and dance. About fifty to sixty percent of our music is still Celtic, or Celtic based, so it wasn’t like we weren’t Celtic at all, but I think, after the first year, word caught on, which is great. This year we were at the Milwaukee Irish Fest for the fourth straight year and we’re going to be in Dayton for the third straight year and I think we are going to be expanding a little bit. When you get asked back, it’s just a real good feeling to know that people really value what they were, at first, a little skeptical about. They value it somewhat like a flavor, a break from straight out Celtic music all weekend long, so people can feel some of the other influences out there. It’s been fun as the appreciation grows.

J.T.: Well, one of my things has been that there should be someone in there that crosses over different lines to cater to those who may have a preconceived notion of what, say, Celtic music is, so this different aspect draws them in and they are then able to explore the more ‘purer’ forms of the genre.
Dan: Yeah! The cross-pollination. See, to me, that’s forward thinking and that is how festivals will grow.

J.T.: Yeah, if you have the same groups year after year with the same sound, it can become tedious, and that would be counterproductive in growing a festival.
Dan: Well, Bill Russell over at the Dayton Celtic Festival has done a great job bringing in bands that are cutting edge. He had brought in Slide for a couple of years and, in my mind, they are the best traditional band on the circuit. If you like traditional Irish music, I would say that there is no one better than that band for that.

J.T.: Well, even when you’re talking about the Chieftains, who most would consider the ‘old guard’ of Celtic music, they have never really be what you would call ‘traditional.’ They have dipped into many different genres. Their last recording had a South American influence. Long story short, there were regiments of Irish soldiers fighting the Mexican-American War and a lot of them deserted into South America, so there are pockets of ‘traditional’ South American music that is heavily influenced by the Celtic music.
Dan: Ah, interesting.

J.T.: Well, the Irish immigrants were basically conscripted into the military. America said, ‘If you run down here and fight our war, we’ll let you into the country,’ but most Irishmen couldn’t bring themselves to fight fellow Catholics, so they deserted. But the music, it’s still part of the Celtic heritage, just like bluegrass is. I guess I just have a problem with that purist mentality. It has it’s place for preservation, but music is a living entity.
Dan: Yeah, we grew up with that. We’re classically trained. Our mom went to Julliard and she was very into only classical music, and so that is what we were trying to get away from. When we started and we came across some of those attitudes, it really rubbed us the wrong way. There’s a living tradition, I think, and the people like The Chieftains will step outside of their comfort zone. I think that is what all art is. You should never be finished.

J.T.: Yeah, you become complacent and stagnant. Where do you guys see yourselves going from this point in time?
Dan: Well, we’re kind of positioned pretty interestingly, like we’ve somehow manged to span across a lot of different circuits. There is a certain ‘what is it?’ quality to our identity. People can’t really pigeonhole us, so we find ourselves doing really, really well in the more grassroots circuits. We get incredible responses at those festivals. We’re biggest in the Celtic circuits I think, but we’re not too far behind that on those grassroots circuits. We have also found ourselves in the bluegrass circuits. We’ve been at MerleFest, which is in North Carolina.

J.T.: There’s a lot of stuff coming out of North Carolina.
Dan: You know, North Carolina is a really awesome state for us because there are a lot of Scottish people there and a lot of Celtic people who live in the mountains and who are really into bluegrass, so like when we play our Celtic stuff, they just go nuts. It’s really a powerful state for us. MerleFest has been really good for us, to open us up to a different realm in terms of Americana and bluegrass. Think that this summer is going to a really big one for us, because last year, even though we did a lot of festivals, this year I think we feel a little bit more comfortable and established. We spent like six weeks in the studio recording our next album and it’s all original and it will be nice coming out of that because, you know, you just become that much tighter when you do that. We have new product, like we have a new live CD and a new DVD. This is our first ever live DVD and we’ve been waiting years to get it done and we finally completed it. My brother and I just did a children’s album…

J.T.: Oh that would be cool.
Dan: Yeah! It’s just been something that…we have a bunch of nephews and nieces…we actually have like twenty-five nephews and nieces…

J.T.: Jesus!
Dan: Yeah! I know! And we have to entertain them, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we just put this down on an album?’ so we kind of wrote it for them. It was just nice for us…if you’re just doing one thing all the time, and treating everything like it’s just a source of money, then it isn’t art anymore. It’s been really satisfying for us to just dabble in a lot of different things. I just see this summer is going to be a big summer for us, being like, ‘Okay, we’ve arrived’ and I think our show is always getting better and it’s a pretty powerful show now. We’re kind of looking to bring in some supplemental performers for certain shows to just have some fun. When you go into the studio, your songs take different shapes, so we’re like, ‘Well, let’s bring that onto the road with us.’ It’s not going to be every show, but like my sister played cello on the album and I want to get her out for some festivals. I think she’s going to be at the Dayton one. It’s just going to be fun for us to see how we mature into a band that is comfortable using guest performers and can incorporate other elements to make a bigger sound.

J.T.: Yeah, and it keeps everyone on their toes.
Dan: Yeah, and for those who have seen us over the years, it’s going to be like, ‘Oh! This is something new!’

J.T.: Well, the live stuff I’ve seen from you guys, it seems like interacting with the crowd seems to be a big, integral part of the performance.
Dan: Definitely! For us it’s just like…I can go watch a virtuosic performer, but I find myself getting bored. I want to have some kind of interaction with that person. Ultimately I feel like it’s the Emperor’s New Clothes, where people are saying, ‘It’s so amazing! It’s so Amazing!’ but if you really stop, you’re like, ‘No, it’s boring.’ People want to have that interaction, they want variety. I was talking to our engineer at the studio and we were trying to discuss the length of the album ad he said, ‘I highly recommend, so not go longer than forty-three minutes…’

J.T.: Well, that’s rather specific.
Dan: Yeah! He said that it is the longest that the human mind can really focus if you don;t have any visual cues. It was interesting listening to his philosophy on that. We feel really strongly about that. We customize every set list. We show up and get a feel for the venue and then we sit down and we really stress mixing up instrumentals, the vocals and what genres would appeal to this specific audience. I guess you can say it’s almost like ADD.

J.T.: Well, I guess that’s kind of the way everything is now.
Dan: Yeah, but I think there are times for everything, like it would be fun to do something completely out of the ordinary, like an acoustic set or with mellow music, because you don’t want to be pigeonholed, like this is all you can do, so it will be like you show up at a show and you’re like, ‘Man, I wasn’t expecting this!’ I think there needs to be a magnanimity of spirit. I think that’s the key for performers that they need to give of themselves on stage and it’s amazing, as far as classical logic goes, the crowd can sense in an instant if you’re being egotistical or insincere. It’s amazing how quickly you can lose a crowd in the span of a second. They could have been right there with you and then, all of a sudden, you just left them behind because they’re sensing that they’re not the focal point anymore.

J.T.: Yeah, that cuts across any type of entertainment.
Dan: Yeah, that’s been really interesting, learning the psychology of crowds. That’s one of the things that’s kind of nice about all these festivals…I’m not going to label the people that put these festivals on. They are just a bunch of independent people who are in the same boat as us and there’s kind of a hunger, but there’s also a kind of approachability that people have to these artists and I rarely run into people that have egos on these circuits, and that’s nice.

J.T.: Well, another good thing about the festival circuits are the influences that you can run into. You’re not in a vacuum.
Joe: Yeah, you especially see it on like the grassroots festivals. There’s tons of that going on because people really like to sit in with other people. We actually had a guy that sat in with us at one festival. He is a banjo player and a great banjo player at that. He was like, ‘Hey! I want to sit in with you guys.’ so we were like okay, we’ll pick a couple of songs and all of a sudden, we’re like, ‘Oh my Gosh! This is brilliant!’ and we got stretched because of that. At the Celtic festivals, there’s the after parties where everyone jams all night long. It really is a great oasis for musicians.

J.T.: Uh-oh…I just got an email from your publicist saying that she left a message for Mike to track you down so you will call me.
Dan: (Laughing) Yeah! They’re on me!

J.T.: Yeah, when you said your producer told you that forty-three minutes is the longest a person can pay attention to something, I automatically flashed on Amadeus…do you remember that movie?
Dan: I love that movie!

J.T.: When they were telling Amadeus he would have to cut out parts from his masterpiece because, ‘there are too many notes for the royal ear.’
Dan: (Laughing) That’s great…’for the royal ear’…I have to remember that.

J.T.: Well, is there anything that you want out there that I haven’t already asked?
Dan: Well, there is one thing, if you can mention it, is that we’re excited about touring the Midwest for the next month and that we’re coming back to Dayton with brand new product, the live album Vol. II and the live DVD that we just released and the kid’s album and that we’re just coming out of six weeks in the studio, so we’re really taken what we’ve learned in the studio and we plan to hit the road running.

You can catch Scythian performing live at the Dayton Celtic Festival on the WDTN Stage on Friday, July 30th at 10 pm, Saturday July 31st at 2:20 pm and Sunday August 1st at 1:40 pm. They will also be seen on the Guinness Stage on Saturday at 8:00 pm. For more information about Scythian, go to their website, which has their whole history and their current projects, tour dates, pictures and a collection of their music. For more information about the upcoming Celtic Festival, go to the United Irish of Dayton’s website for a list of scheduled events and musicians slated to perform.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Alexander Fedoryka, Bill Russell, Celtic, Danylo Fedoryka, Dayton Celtic Festival, Dayton Music, Gaelic, Ireland, Irish, Josef Crosby, Middle East, Mike Ounallah, rhythms, Scythian, Ukrainian, Untied Irish of Dayton

Primary Sidebar

Submit An Event to Dayton937

- Featured Events -

Loading view.
  • Previous week
  • Next week

Clark County Fair

8:00 am
clark county fairgrounds

Shelby County Fair

8:00 am
Shelby County Fairgrounds

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

1:00 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Huber Heights Branch

$3 Burger Night

5:00 pm
Bullwinkle's Top Hat Bistro

Then and Now Dayton History with Andrew Walsh, Part 3

5:30 pm
Trolley Stop

Justin’s LOTD Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament

7:30 pm
Miami Valley Sports Bar

Monday Night Laughs!

8:00 pm
Oregon Express

Clark County Fair

8:00 am
clark county fairgrounds

Shelby County Fair

8:00 am
Shelby County Fairgrounds

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

12:00 pm
O Reilly Auto Parts

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

2:30 pm
The Neon

Half Price Wine every Tuesday at Whisperz Speakeasy

4:00 pm
Whisperz Speakeasy

Free Concert: ThunderBeard–Tribute to ZZ Top

7:00 pm
North Park Amphitheatre

Trivia with Rob

7:00 pm
The Phone Booth Lounge

Progressive Euchre Tournament

7:00 pm
Star City Brewing Company

Clark County Fair

8:00 am
clark county fairgrounds

Shelby County Fair

8:00 am
Shelby County Fairgrounds

Fairborn Farmers Market

10:00 am
Fairborn Farmers Market

Beckers SMASH-tastic Burgers

11:00 am
Win Supply

Beginner’s Pilates

1:00 pm

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

3:00 pm
Old Salem Mall

Miamisburg Farmers Market

3:00 pm
Miamisburg Christian Church

Lilia’s Outside Cafe

4:00 pm
Pins Mechanical

Timeless Tacos Food Truck

4:30 pm
Courtyard Lounge

Great Lakes Pint Night

5:00 pm
Dorothy Lane Market Washington Square

The Lumpia Queen

5:00 pm
Vandalia Market

Vive La France Wine Dinner

6:00 pm
Salar

Pound + Pour

6:00 pm
Bock Family Brewing

Live Music from Danny Voris at Whisperz Speakeasy

6:00 pm
Whisperz Speakeasy

Beginners’ Pilates

6:30 pm
Franklin-Springboro Public Libary
+ 10 More

Clark County Fair

8:00 am
clark county fairgrounds

Shelby County Fair

8:00 am
Shelby County Fairgrounds

Claybourne GRILLE

11:00 am
Dayton Va Farmer's Market

Lebanon Farmers Market

4:00 pm
Bicentennial Park

The Naughty Lobstah

4:00 pm
The Barrel House

$10 Tini Time every Thursday

4:00 pm
Whisperz Speakeasy

Yummy Gyro

5:00 pm
Devil Wind Brewing

Matilda: The Musical

6:00 pm
La Comedia

Christmas In July – Summer Wine Show

6:00 pm
Bodega Wine and Specialty Foods Market

Art in Bloom

6:00 pm
The Dayton Art Institute

Live Music from Lee McKinney Trio at Whisperz Speakeasy

6:00 pm
Whisperz Speakeasy

Artist Talk: Scarlett Trust

6:30 pm
The Contemporary Dayton

Fun Trivia! Prizes!

7:00 pm
Bock Family Brewing
+ 5 More

Clark County Fair

8:00 am
clark county fairgrounds

Shelby County Fair

8:00 am
Shelby County Fairgrounds

Annie Oakley Days Festival

9:00 am
Darke County Fairgrounds

ShowDogs HotDogs

11:30 am
Dayton Children's South

Brookville Community Picnic

12:00 pm
Golden Gate Park

Youth Business Fair

4:00 pm
Huber Heights Athletic Center

Godown’s Fixins

4:00 pm
Xenia Food Truck Rally

What The Taco?!

4:00 pm
Miamisburg High School

Briella’s Hot Dogs

4:00 pm
Kil-Kare Raceway

Cruise In at the Roadhouse

4:00 pm
Rip Rap Roadhouse

Matilda: The Musical

6:00 pm
La Comedia

LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark

6:00 pm
Miami Valley Sports Bar

Epic Eagles Tribute Band

6:30 pm
The Mayflower- The Encore

Centerville Pops! The Music Man Experience

7:00 pm
Stubbs Park

Star City Free Concert Series

7:00 pm
Riverfront Park

Caesar Ford Summer Fest 2025

8:00 pm
Caesar Ford Park

Kim Kelly Band with Felita LaRock live at Whisperz Speakeasy

8:00 pm
Whisperz Speakeasy
+ 9 More
All Day

Preble County Fair

Preble County Fairgrounds

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

8:00 am
John Bryan Community Center

Shelby County Fair

8:00 am
Shelby County Fairgrounds

Brookville Community Picnic

8:00 am
Golden Gate Park

Grand Opening – Pickleball Kingdom Centerville

8:00 am
Pickleball Kingdom Centerville

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

8:30 am
Franklin Farmers Market

Oakwood Farmers Market

9:00 am
Oakwood Farmers Market

Greene County Farmers Market

9:00 am
Beavercreek Farmers Market

Shiloh Farmers Market

9:00 am
Shiloh Church

Annie Oakley Days Festival

9:00 am
Darke County Fairgrounds

Farmers Market at The Heights

10:00 am
Eichelberger Amphitheater

New Carlisle Farmer’s Market

10:00 am
Downtown New Carlisle

Cars & Cuts

10:00 am
Michaels Salon & Spa

Sports Card & Memorabilia Show

10:00 am
Dayton Mall

Warped Wing Brat Cookout

11:00 am
Dorothy Lane Market

Underground Railroad Walking Tour

11:30 am
Springboro Area Historical Society

Afternoon Tea

12:00 pm
Manna Uptown

Rose Wine Tasting

1:00 pm
Arrow Wine Far Hills

The Food Pitt

1:00 pm
Miamisburg Christian Church

Freakin Rican

3:00 pm
Full Circle Brewgarden

Lilia’s Outside Cafe

3:00 pm
Austin Landing
+ 18 More

Summer Restaurant Week

8:00 am

Greene County Fair 2025

8:00 am
greene county fairgrounds

Grand Opening – Pickleball Kingdom Centerville

8:00 am
Pickleball Kingdom Centerville

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

9:00 am
Downtown Troy

Annie Oakley Days Festival

9:00 am
Darke County Fairgrounds

Behind the Scenes Brunch Benefitting Halcyon Daze

10:00 am
AC Hotel Dayton

Galactic Flats

1:00 pm
Yellow Springs Brewery

Timeless Tacos Food Truck

5:00 pm
Stubbs Park

Claybourne GRILLE

5:30 pm
Stubbs Park

Matilda: The Musical

6:00 pm
La Comedia

Genesis ReTouched: A Tribute to the Phil Collins Era of Genesis

7:00 pm
Stubbs Park

Stop 741

7:00 pm
Wright Station

Bevercreek Free Summer Concert Series

7:00 pm
Dominick Lofino Park

Becca’s LOTD Dart Tournament

7:30 pm
Miami Valley Sports Bar

Sunday Funday Karaoke

9:00 pm
The Barrel
+ 7 More

Week of Events

Mon 21

Tue 22

Wed 23

Thu 24

Fri 25

Sat 26

Sun 27

July 26

Preble County Fair

Preble County Fair

July 26

Preble County Fair

Memories that will last a lifetime... Camping, County Idol, Demolition Derby, Tractor Pull, ATV Drag, Rodeo, Tug a Truck, Lawn...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

July 21 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides, Antique Show, Livestock Show, Home Brew Contest, Truck Tug-O-War, Truck Pull, Demolition Derby, O.S.T.P.A. Tractor Pull,...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

July 21 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

Join us for the 165th Annual Shelby County Fair, located right here in Sidney, Ohio July 20 - 26, 2025.  We...

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

July 21 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

Each session of this freeform art class will focus on a different children's book illustrators' works and provide children an...

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

$3 Burger Night

July 21 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

$3 Burger Night

From 5-10pm you can choose from the following: for $3 - it's a plain burger on a bun, $4 -...

$3
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Then and Now Dayton History with Andrew Walsh, Part 3

July 21 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Then and Now Dayton History with Andrew Walsh, Part 3

Join librarian and local history author Andrew Walsh for an engaging presentation covering Dayton's history and revitalization with plenty of...

Free
7:30 pm - 11:30 pm Recurring

Justin’s LOTD Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament

July 21 @ 7:30 pm - 11:30 pm Recurring

Justin’s LOTD Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament

EVERY MONDAY NIGHT at Miami Valley Sports Bar - Justin's Famous Luck of the Draw Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament!!! Each...

$10.00
8:00 pm Recurring

Monday Night Laughs!

July 21 @ 8:00 pm Recurring

Monday Night Laughs!

  Join us every Monday at Oregon Express for Comedy Open Mic hosted by the hilarious G-Money! Sign-ups at 8:00PM...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

July 22 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides, Antique Show, Livestock Show, Home Brew Contest, Truck Tug-O-War, Truck Pull, Demolition Derby, O.S.T.P.A. Tractor Pull,...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

July 22 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

Join us for the 165th Annual Shelby County Fair, located right here in Sidney, Ohio July 20 - 26, 2025.  We...

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

July 22 @ 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

2:30 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

July 22 @ 2:30 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

Tuesday at the Neon in Downtown Dayton movies are just $6.50

$6.50
4:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Half Price Wine every Tuesday at Whisperz Speakeasy

July 22 @ 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Half Price Wine every Tuesday at Whisperz Speakeasy

We're pouring amazing boutique wines from independent winemakers around the world at Whisperz Speakeasy, join us for a glass at...

Free
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Free Concert: ThunderBeard–Tribute to ZZ Top

July 22 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Free Concert: ThunderBeard–Tribute to ZZ Top

ThunderBeard is the most authentic ZZ Top Tribute Band, recreating the live experience of “That Little Ol' Band from Texas."...

Free
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Trivia with Rob

July 22 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Trivia with Rob

Come test your brain, enjoy great food and drinks, and have some fun!

7:00 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Progressive Euchre Tournament

July 22 @ 7:00 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Progressive Euchre Tournament

Are you ready for a fun, social evening with fellow Euchre enthusiasts? Look no further! Our progressive Euchre tournament is...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

July 23 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides, Antique Show, Livestock Show, Home Brew Contest, Truck Tug-O-War, Truck Pull, Demolition Derby, O.S.T.P.A. Tractor Pull,...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

July 23 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

Join us for the 165th Annual Shelby County Fair, located right here in Sidney, Ohio July 20 - 26, 2025.  We...

10:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Fairborn Farmers Market

July 23 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Fairborn Farmers Market

The Fairborn Farmers Market was established with the intent to provide the Fairborn community access to fresh and wholesome products...

Free
11:00 am - 1:30 pm

Beckers SMASH-tastic Burgers

July 23 @ 11:00 am - 1:30 pm

Beckers SMASH-tastic Burgers

Single Single smash patty on a brioche bun $9.00 Single with Bacon Single smash patty and bacon on a brioche...

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Beginner’s Pilates

July 23 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Beginner’s Pilates

In this Pilates class you will learn basic Pilates principles, how to change your posture to improve pain syndromes, strengthen...

Free
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

July 23 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

A celebration of locally sourced foods and products from small businesses in Trotwood and the surrounding communities! Stop by and...

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Miamisburg Farmers Market

July 23 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Miamisburg Farmers Market

Miamisburg Farmers MarketAt Miamisburg Christian Church parking lot.1146 E. Central Ave in Miamisburg.Fresh Produce, sweet treats, food trucks and more..

4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Lilia’s Outside Cafe

July 23 @ 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Lilia’s Outside Cafe

Dayton area food truck serving Pork, Chicken, Steakburgers, Gourmet salads, Tacos, our 4 different Loaded fry meals, and our famous...

+ 10 More
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

July 24 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides, Antique Show, Livestock Show, Home Brew Contest, Truck Tug-O-War, Truck Pull, Demolition Derby, O.S.T.P.A. Tractor Pull,...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

July 24 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

Join us for the 165th Annual Shelby County Fair, located right here in Sidney, Ohio July 20 - 26, 2025.  We...

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Claybourne GRILLE

July 24 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Claybourne GRILLE

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Lebanon Farmers Market

July 24 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Lebanon Farmers Market

The Lebanon Farmers Market is open 4 pm to 7 pm every Thursday mid-May through mid-October.  We are located in...

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Naughty Lobstah

July 24 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Naughty Lobstah

We are so excited to finally be rollin' back into one of our favorite spots, the first place to allow...

4:00 pm - 11:00 pm

$10 Tini Time every Thursday

July 24 @ 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm

$10 Tini Time every Thursday

Every Thursday night at Whisperz Speakeasy we'll be handcrafting an array of different fabulous martinis for just $10 each. Come...

Free
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Yummy Gyro

July 24 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Yummy Gyro

6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

July 24 @ 6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

Winner of 47 International Awards! Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and special powers. She's unloved by...

$39 – $79
+ 5 More
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

July 25 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides, Antique Show, Livestock Show, Home Brew Contest, Truck Tug-O-War, Truck Pull, Demolition Derby, O.S.T.P.A. Tractor Pull,...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

July 25 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

Join us for the 165th Annual Shelby County Fair, located right here in Sidney, Ohio July 20 - 26, 2025.  We...

9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Annie Oakley Days Festival

July 25 @ 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Annie Oakley Days Festival

A family-friendly festival featuring live entertainment including western arts, cowboy mounted shooting, musical performances and more.

Free
11:30 am - 1:30 pm

ShowDogs HotDogs

July 25 @ 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

ShowDogs HotDogs

American  Choice of Relish, Onion, Mustard and Ketchup $4.00 The German  Kraut, Onions, Mustard $5.00 Memphis Bacon, BBQ Sauce, Cheese,...

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Brookville Community Picnic

July 25 @ 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Brookville Community Picnic

Join us for the 74th Family Friendly Brookville Community Picnic! Rides, Games, Bounce Houses, Music, Food, Fun! Saturday we will...

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Youth Business Fair

July 25 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Youth Business Fair

This is an opportunity to highlight your talent and also sell your products. We look forward to hearing from you....

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Godown’s Fixins

July 25 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Godown’s Fixins

We serve waffle bun sandwiches, dessert waffles and our specialty is deep fried mashed potatoes!

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

What The Taco?!

July 25 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

What The Taco?!

Chipotle Chicken Taco GRILLED CHICKEN, SHREDDED LETTUCE, PICO DE GALLO, CILANTRO SOUR CREAM & MONTEREY JACK $10.00 Ground Beef Taco...

+ 9 More
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

July 26 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

For over 20 years this market has been made up of a hardworking group of men, women and children, dedicated...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

July 26 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Shelby County Fair

Join us for the 165th Annual Shelby County Fair, located right here in Sidney, Ohio July 20 - 26, 2025.  We...

8:00 am - 10:00 pm Recurring

Brookville Community Picnic

July 26 @ 8:00 am - 10:00 pm Recurring

Brookville Community Picnic

Join us for the 74th Family Friendly Brookville Community Picnic! Rides, Games, Bounce Houses, Music, Food, Fun! Saturday we will...

8:00 am - 11:00 pm

Grand Opening – Pickleball Kingdom Centerville

July 26 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

Grand Opening – Pickleball Kingdom Centerville

Get ready, Centerville! Pickleball Kingdom is officially opening, and you’re invited to celebrate with us!  FREE Open Play all day...

8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

July 26 @ 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

Join us every Saturday through Sept 13, 8.30 a.m. - 12 p.m. for local products including fresh produce, honey/jams, and...

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Oakwood Farmers Market

July 26 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Oakwood Farmers Market

The 2025 Oakwood Farmers’ Market will be held Saturdays, June 7th thru October 11th, from 9 am until 12pm. The...

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

July 26 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

The outdoor Farmers Market on Indian Ripple Rd. in Beavercreek runs Saturdays, 9-1 even during the winter months. Check out...

9:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Shiloh Farmers Market

July 26 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Shiloh Farmers Market

The farmers’ market is located on the corner of Main St. & Philadelphia Dr, in the parking lot of Shiloh...

+ 18 More
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Summer Restaurant Week

July 27 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Summer Restaurant Week

Try unique menus at many of Dayton’s classiest places for reduced prices, all while raising money for charity. July 20-27,...

8:00 am - 10:00 pm

Greene County Fair 2025

July 27 @ 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

Greene County Fair 2025

Prepare for a safe and fun-filled week at the Greene County Fairgrounds! Rides, Kiddie/Calf Scramble, Tug-a-Truck, Harness Racing, Demo Derby,...

8:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Grand Opening – Pickleball Kingdom Centerville

July 27 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Grand Opening – Pickleball Kingdom Centerville

Get ready, Centerville! Pickleball Kingdom is officially opening, and you’re invited to celebrate with us!  FREE Open Play all day...

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

July 27 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

Downtown Troy Farmers' Market will run Saturday mornings 9:00 am to 12:00 pm from June 22nd, 2013 through September 21st,...

9:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Annie Oakley Days Festival

July 27 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Annie Oakley Days Festival

A family-friendly festival featuring live entertainment including western arts, cowboy mounted shooting, musical performances and more.

Free
10:00 am - 1:30 pm

Behind the Scenes Brunch Benefitting Halcyon Daze

July 27 @ 10:00 am - 1:30 pm

Behind the Scenes Brunch Benefitting Halcyon Daze

It’s time to go Behind the Scenes!  Be among the first to have a special first look at the latest...

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Galactic Flats

July 27 @ 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Galactic Flats

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Timeless Tacos Food Truck

July 27 @ 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Timeless Tacos Food Truck

Fresh tacos made with great recipes. We will have you coming back time and time again!

+ 7 More
View Calendar

Join the Dayton937 Newsletter!

Trust us with your email address and we'll send you our most important updates!
Email:  
For Email Marketing you can trust
Back to Top

Copyright © 2025 Dayton Most Metro · Terms & Conditions · Log in