About the musicians

About the musicians:

    Patricia Casey is the lead vocalist, doubling on tin whistles and didgeridoo. Classically trained, she has been performing as a soloist and ensemble singer for over 15 years in styles such as classical, jazz, folk and blues. She has a special love for the Celtic ballads, delighting audiences with her pure, clear voice which has earned her comparisons with such artists as Loreena McKennit.

    Greenhouse founder Michael Rofkar was first exposed to Celtic music through Fairport Convention records and a Furey Brothers concert, but came to playing the music via a round about route which included rock, country, and bluegrass. In addition to singing and playing acoustic and electric guitars, he performs on octave mandolin and tin whistles, and writes original songs. His vocal harmonies with singer Casey are one of the highlights of Greenhouse’s set.

    Daniel Kahane is an award-winning fiddler with deep roots in the folk music of both the New and Old Worlds. He has played with Southern California-based band Hot Lips And Fingertips since 1975, with countless live performances, numerous television appearances, and an extensive recording career. Playing fiddle as well as mandolin with Greenhouse, he continues to develop repertoire in the various Celtic styles along with Cajun, Western Swing, traditional American, bluegrass and blues.

    Born and raised in San Francisco, Tony Blake has been studying and performing percussion since the 1960s. His resume encompasses diverse styles including work with the UC Berkeley symphony, the bands Alexander Battery, The Dub-A-Lites, Project Bandaloop, and other awesome ensembles. Celtic Fusion is a natural musical statement allowing Tony to conjoin ancient and contemporary rhythms, and he really likes to bang on the drum all day.

    Alternating on percussion is Gary Palmatier. Since first getting his hands on a conga drum in high school, Gary has enjoyed playing hand drums and other percussion instruments from around the world. He has performed a wide variety of musical genres including folk, rock, Latin, and jazz and now, Celtic Fusion.

    Playing the accordion and Celtic harp, Roxanne Oliva is a frequent Greenhouse collaborator in the studio and onstage. A well-regarded Bay Area musician who has appeared on albums by Tom Waits and Sonya Hunter, her duets with fiddler Kahane fire up Greenhouse’s instrumental sets.

    Jon Berger (fiddle, melodeon) has played music for Morris, English country, and contra dances since 1976. A former musician for Berkeley Morris, he now plays for Apple Tree Morris in Sebastopol, and in the dance bands Flashpoint and Midnight Smorgasbord. He is well-known for his powerful playing. A regular musician at Bay Area and North Bay English country dances, Jon is also a former member of Tempest, a Celtic rock band that plays for an entirely different style of dancing.

		Patricia Casey is the lead vocalist, doubling on tin whistles and didgeridoo. Classically trained, she has been performing as a soloist and ensemble singer for over 15 years in styles such as classical, jazz, folk and blues. She has a special love for the Celtic ballads, delighting audiences with her pure, clear voice which has earned her comparisons with such artists as Loreena McKennit. Greenhouse founder Michael Rofkar was first exposed to Celtic music through Fairport Convention records and a Furey Brothers concert, but came to playing the music via a round about route which included rock, country, and bluegrass. In addition to singing and playing acoustic and electric guitars, he performs on octave mandolin and tin whistles, and writes original songs. His vocal harmonies with singer Casey are one of the highlights of Greenhouse’s set. Daniel Kahane is an award-winning fiddler with deep roots in the folk music of both the New and Old Worlds. He has played with Southern California-based band Hot Lips And Fingertips since 1975, with countless live performances, numerous television appearances, and an extensive recording career. Playing fiddle as well as mandolin with Greenhouse, he continues to develop repertoire in the various Celtic styles along with Cajun, Western Swing, traditional American, bluegrass and blues. Born and raised in San Francisco, Tony Blake has been studying and performing percussion since the 1960s. His resume encompasses diverse styles including work with the UC Berkeley symphony, the bands Alexander Battery, The Dub-A-Lites, Project Bandaloop, and other awesome ensembles. Celtic Fusion is a natural musical statement allowing Tony to conjoin ancient and contemporary rhythms, and he really likes to bang on the drum all day. Alternating on percussion is Gary Palmatier. Since first getting his hands on a conga drum in high school, Gary has enjoyed playing hand drums and other percussion instruments from around the world. He has performed a wide variety of musical genres including folk, rock, Latin, and jazz and now, Celtic Fusion. Playing the accordion and Celtic harp, Roxanne Oliva is a frequent Greenhouse collaborator in the studio and onstage. A well-regarded Bay Area musician who has appeared on albums by Tom Waits and Sonya Hunter, her duets with fiddler Kahane fire up Greenhouse’s instrumental sets. Jon Berger (fiddle, melodeon) has played music for Morris, English country, and contra dances since 1976. A former musician for Berkeley Morris, he now plays for Apple Tree Morris in Sebastopol, and in the dance bands Flashpoint and Midnight Smorgasbord. He is well-known for his powerful playing. A regular musician at Bay Area and North Bay English country dances, Jon is also a former member of Tempest, a Celtic rock band that plays for an entirely different style of dancing.