Simon Lace Trio to Perform at Mountain City Traditional Arts

Irish music ensemble, The Simon Lace Trio, will perform at Frostburg's Mountain City Traditional Arts (MCTA) on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. 

Based in Boston, the trio delivers high-energy traditional Irish music featuring Simon Lace on banjo, Noah Kelly on fiddle and Eamon Sefton on guitar. Together, The Simon Lace Trio brings their expertise to performances across New England and beyond.

Originally from Northern California, Lace is an award-winning banjo and guitar player, having placed first at the 2023 and 2024 Mid Atlantic Fleadh. In addition, he has taught at programs such as CCÉ Boston Music School and the Baltimore Irish Tenor Banjo Summit. A fixture in Boston's Irish music scene, Lace has also toured internationally with A Taste of Ireland Dance Company.

Kelly, a classically trained violinist, shifted his focus to Irish fiddle after completing his studies at New England Conservatory and earning a Master’s in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick in 2024. He was nominated to compete in the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 2019 in Drogheda, Ireland. Since 2020, Kelly has taught aspiring violinists, fiddlers and improvisors throughout the Boston area and in Ireland.

Sefton is one of the top fretted instrument players in American Celtic music. He has performed globally, appeared on RTE One's Fleadh Cheoil 2023 and leads sessions at Boston’s top Irish venues, including The Burren. In addition to being a master of several acoustic instruments, Sefton is a heartfelt singer/songwriter. He has performed locally and internationally with some of the top traditional musicians inside and out of the U.S., including Liz Carroll, Alasdair Fraser, John Doyle Hanneke Cassel and many others.

Collectively, The Simon Lace Trio brings their expertise to performances across New England and beyond.

Located at 25 E. Main Street, Frostburg, Mountain City Traditional Arts is a program of Frostburg State University and a founding member of Maryland’s Folklife Network. It receives support from the Maryland Traditions Program of the State Arts Council. For more information call 301-687-8040.