The Pacific Northwest may not be the first place you would expect to hear rollicking Celtic, folk or world music, but The Town Pants are determined to change that. The Vancouver, Canada–based band combine aspects of Irish traditional, acoustic pop, roots Americana, even Australian and Mexican influences, to create their own unique brand of “West Coast Celtic.” Armed with a pawnshop’s worth of musical instruments, The Town Pants play songs that appeal to young and old alike, remaining in the heart and head long after the music stops.

The Keogh brothers, Dave and Duane, lead the band in vocals and instrumentation with banjo and acoustic guitar, teamed with Aaron Chapman on tin whistle, harmonica and vocals, and fiddle maven Virginia Schwartz, who weaves a fiery thread through the songs. Together they generate a rare blend of passion, energy, animation and spirit. With the added musical touch of a hand percussionist and bass player, the Town Pants are unsurpassed for their fast-paced West Coast Celtic style.

Feverish, stampeding, The Town Pants’ lively renditions of traditional and contemporary Celtic-influenced tunes, combined with the group’s original compositions, create a distinctive sound that has attracted fans around the world. At home, Vancouver fans selected The Town Pants as one of their favourite National Celtic/Traditional Acts in Vancouver’s Georgia Straight entertainment- weekly annual “Best of Vancouver” readers’ poll, where they were shortlisted with such groups as Great Big Sea and Natalie MacMaster.

The Town Pants are a busy band, wrapping up a 3-month, 43-show North American tour in September. They’ve already booked spring gigs in Texas and New York that far into 2008.

The band will be in Powell River briefly to play McKinney’s Pub and Eatery at the historic Rodmay Hotel on Friday November 23rd, and then will be off to play the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver the following night.

The Town Pants are sure to be one of the best live music events of the season -don’t miss it!