Whirled Peas.

   Bob Altman   Patty McCollom    David James     

(Photo by Rob McCollom)              

For bookings, please call Patty

at (714) 267-4567

or send  e-mail to:  mccollomp@sbcglobal.net

 

Click Here To See Our Schedule

This Page Contains:

Band Description and Biography:

Whirled Peas Band was started in 2007 by Patty Mc Collom and Bob Altman, two musicians, who along with their spouses, first met as dancers, over 25 years ago, in the International folk music group, Dunaj.  The Whirled Peas Band does a variety of shows, from 1890s Old Time American music, Victorian Balls, to Celtic favorites.  Lately, the Whirled Peas Band has been playing for contra dances and Civil War Reenactments.  In 2009, David James joined the band, and this trio has performed for dances and programs throughout the Southland.

The Whirled Peas Band musicians have performed in many festivals, such as the National Acoustic Music Festival in Missouri Valley, Iowa, Octoberfests throughout the Southland, the Museum of Appalachia, in Norris, Tennessee and the Carter Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, as well as Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.  

Internationally, both Bob and Patty toured to Hungary and Croatia with the Dunaj Folklore Ensemble and entertained at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest.

The programs feature music and dance from the Old Time American and Celtic traditions.  Members of the audience are invited to  become part of the show, as either dancers or percussionists.                                                                                                                                                         

Whirled Peas Band plays at Knotts Berry Farm's Annual

Civil War Reeneactment.

Costs vary depending upon travel times and  lengths of desired shows.

                            

Discounts are available for multiple shows, on the same day, in the same area.

 

Celtic Holiday Show:  This show explores the holiday traditions of the British Isles and the Americas. Experience the excitement of Irish step-dancing, while learning about the Celtic holiday traditions. Audience participants will take home an ornament-making activity to remind them of Celtic holiday traditions. Music, dance and storytelling all combine to make this a memorable experience for all ages.  Book early as this show is in great demand during the holiday season.

 

St. Pat’s Favorites:  Popular sing-along Irish music and exciting step– dancing are featured in this show, which is accompanied by live music on such traditional Irish instruments as the tinwhistle and bodhran. Interested members of the audience are invited to join the show, either as dancers or as percussionists.  This is a show which must be booked early as it usually becomes sold out in early March.

Old Time Americana Show: 

     In this show,  the audience is invited to be part of a typical parlor party of the 1800s, in which neighbors gather to sing, dance and tell stories. Bob will demonstrate some American clogging to Patty's fiddle and banjo music.  Our show features the instruments of this time period, including the banjo, keyboard, (substituting for a piano,) fiddle and tinwhistle.  As in our other shows, the audience is invited to become part of the band and sing along with the songs.

    This family-friendly show is suitable for all ages and will provide music, dance and laughter for everyone.  If you would like to experience the toe-tapping fun of traditional music and dance, then please join us for this show.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                               

 

  • Civil War Reenactment Music:

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         Hear the music that was popular during Civil War times, played by authentically costumed musicians. If a formal Civil War era Ball is desired, then Dance Caller, Ginger Alberti joins the program. 

     

     

     

     

     

    Victorian Balls and Tea Music

                 For these shows, the band dons formal or semi-formal attire, and plays period-appropriate music, which is suitable for listening and dancing. 

     

    Performers' Biographies

     Patty McCollom: Patty is a founding member of The Whirled Peas Band  and has been in bands for many years. She has toured with various groups to Hungary and Croatia in Europe, and performed at festivals in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas and Iowa. While in Hungary, she performed for the U.S. Ambassador at the official residence in Budapest.  She has performed at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri and numerous times at the historic Carter Fold in Virginia. Each year, Patty performs at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee with the band, Lilies of the West.  Recently, she played fiddle for a folkdance tour of Greece.  The ultimate thrill, of that tour, was to play, along with other musicians, in the legendary outdoor theater at Epidarus.  Yes, it is true that the theater's acoustics are so good that no amplification is ever needed.                          (On right, Patty at a Dickens Festival in Galveston, Texas)

           

     

     

     

    Bob Altman , a founding member of

    The Whirled Peas Band,  plays the keyboards and sings for The Whirled Peas Band. Bob, a longtime dancer and musician, toured to Hungary and Croatia with Dunaj Folklore Ensemble and performed for the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, while on that tour. He is also a member of the bands, Dunaj, Madison Avenue Folk and Syrtaki, and performs often with these bands.

    David James is a versatile musician, who plays in symphonies, rock and roll bands, as well as traditional and ethnic music groups.  David began learning both the fiddle and guitar at the age of ten and now plays a variety of instruments.  He is in demand as a musician and vocalist for local Morris Dance Groups, English Country Dance Groups and Contradance Groups.  David toured Europe with the American Youth Symphonic Band and has traveled to New Zealand to play for Morris Dances.  David plays mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and sings for Whirled Peas Band.  When not playing in one of his bands, David is an Elementary School Music Teacher.

     

     

     

    Lee Otterholt has lived and worked in Norway as a professional dancer teacher and choreographer.  He founded the Center for International Folkdance in Oslo, and was professor of Dance Folklore at the Norwegian National College of Ballet, and University College of Oslo. Lee has taught at festivals across the United States, in Europe and East Asia.  Lee was a choreographer for the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, in Lilhammer, Norway.  Lee now makes his home in Laguna Beach, CA and teachers and performs throughout the Southland, when he isn’t leading dance tours to Europe and beyond.

     

     

  • Photo Courtesy of Edwin Anderson

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    Meredith Lyons is a world-class Irish step-dancer, having recently competed at the world step-dancing finals, held in Glasgow, Scotland.  Meredith dances in many venues throughout the Southland and conducts classes in step-dancing.  Meredith, along with other accomplished dancers, has been asked to perform at a special St. Patrick's Day celebration, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Instruments

    1. fiddle- this instrument is the same as a violin but is often played with a percussive bowing style to accompany dancers.
    2. keyboard- this electronic instrument substitutes for the parlor piano, which would have been a mainstay of the traditional music that we play.
    3. banjo- formerly the banjar, from Africa, now used extensively in American and Irish music
    4. bodhran- ancient Irish frame drum played in an exciting duet, by our musicians
    5. tinwhistle-a flute-like instrument used in Irish music for several hundred years.