Bio

The Celtic Martins, a family band from south-eastern Pennsylvania, is an exciting, energetic group that features traditional Celtic music as well as Irish step dancing.

A performance by the Celtic Martins will feature the musical ability of five of the Martin children, ranging in age from 18 to 9, accompanied by their parents on guitar and bass, and drummer, Earl Pyles. Although the fiddle is the dominant instrument in a performance by the family, shows also include several other instruments such as the Irish whistles, concertina, mandolin, bagpipes, and percussion. Their shows also feature some Irish step dancing by the Martin sisters, which is always a crowd favorite.

Previously known as the Martin Family Band, the family has been performing music since 2004 and has quickly become a musical sensation, performing throughout the region at various fairs, festivals, and other venues such as Bethlehem Musikfest, McLain Celtic Festival, Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival, Kutztown Folk Festival, Southern Maryland Celtic Festival, and at theaters such as the Miller Center in Reading PA, and the Kirkland Arts Center in Clinton, New York.

The Celtic Martins are:

Nelson- guitar

Elaine- bass guitar

Emily-fiddle/concertina/bagpipes/Irish dance

Melissa- fiddle/mandolin/Irish whistles/Irish dance

Brian- guitar/percussion/Irish dance

Christy- fiddle/Irish dance

Zach- fiddle

Earl Pyles- drums

Name: Nelson Martin (Dad)

Instrument: Guitar

Favorite Pastime: Canoeing, hiking, camping, playing music with my family, reading James Herriot Books, riding bike

Vacation Spot: Adirondacks

Food: Beef!

Restaurant: The Black Dog Cafe

Book of the Bible: Ephesians

Football Team: The Phillies

Musicians: Larry Carlton, Phil Keaggy, and Eric Johnson

Season: Spring

Little Known Fact: My first language was Pennsylvania Dutch

Occupation: Painter, siding installer, and musician

Name: Elaine Martin (Mom)

Instrument: Bass guitar

Favorite color: Today it's burnt orange

Pastime: Rug braiding, drawing, hiking the Appalachian Trail with Brian, going on walks, playing bass guitar, homeschooling the kids, canoeing, camping, gardening, reading, going out on dates with Nelson, scrapbooking, and hanging out with my goofy family.

Vacation Spot: Adirondack canoe area

Band: Gamut

Food: Korean Steak

Game: Probe

Season: Spring

Book of the Bible: Galatians

Music I've been listening to lately: I don't.

Other Musical Ventures: I play music with my family and that is an adventure!

Little Known Fact: I walked through the drive-thru at the bank once.

Occupation: I pull double shift as a mom

Name: Emily Martin

Age: 20

Instruments: fiddle, bagpipes, concertina, banjo

Favorite color: yellow and orange

Pastime: inventing cookie recipes, sleeping, being a private pilot, flying airplanes (especially the stunt plane!), dates with Elijah, going to Bible study with my goofy friends, bicycle rides, cooking, reading Nancy Drew books, performing, having parties in the back yard, playing and dancing in hoedowns...

Musicians: Eileen Ivers, James Riley, and Micheal Cleveland

Food: Chocolate

Game: Dutch Blitz

Awards: 2009 and 2010 Berks County Fiddle Champion

Little known fact: played fiddle and recorded with a punk band when I was about 11

Current Occupation: Musician, painter, webmaster

Name: Zach Martin

Age: 11

Instrument: fiddle

Favorite Color: Blue

Pastime: Playing in the sandbox, shooting bb guns and bows and arrows, hiking, swimming, wrestling with Brian, fishing, swinging, playing in the cabin, gardening, reading, playing cowboys...

Vacation Spot: Camping almost anywhere

Musician: Charlie Daniels

Food: Hotdogs (especially when they are made over a fire)

Game: Piggy wants a motion

Season: Spring

Book of the Bible: John

Awards: 2011 1st place winner in the 10 and under in the Berks County fiddle competition

Book: The Hatchet

School: I'm homeschooled and in the 4th grade

Name: Melissa Martin

Age: 18

Instruments: fiddle, mandolin, Irish whistles, accordian

Favorite color: Yellow and pink

Pastime: crocheting, reading, listening to polka, pesting Alex, writing mysteries, reading old band journals, taking Pennsylvania Dutch lessons, watching the Lawrence Welk Show...

Vacation spot: “The gray cabin”

Musician: Butch Imhoff and Joanie Madden

Food: Stir-fry

Dessert: Peanut Parfait Pie

Game: Dutch Blitz

Book: Little Women

Music that I've been listening to recently: Myron Floren, basically just Myron Floren. I listen to lots and lots of accordian music!

Little known fact: Played the National Anthem with a Suzuki class at a Reading Phillies game

School: 2010 graduate from homeschooling.

Awards: 2009 2nd place winner in the Berks County Fiddle Competition

Current Occupation: fiddle and Irish dance teacher

Name: Christy Martin

Age: 13

Instruments: fiddle, piano, djembe

Favorite Color: yellow, green, and orange

Pastime: Playing dolls, shooting Brian's bow and arrow, canoeing, swimming, listening to ice cream trucks, Irish dancing, crocheting, camping, playing with Faith, Emme, and Lydia, ice skating and sledding...

Vacation Spot: The cabin

Band: Leahy

Food: Seafood salad

Game: Can't Stop

Season: Spring

Book of the Bible: Genesis

School: I'm homeschooled and in the 7th grade

Awards: 2009 1st place 10 and under winner in the Berks County Fiddle Competition

Earl Pyles, a.k.a. Gramps, enjoys all styles of music and plays guitar and drums. A drummer since the age of 10, he prefers playing Roland TD-20 digital drum kits for their versatility and he brings a wide variety of musical styles from rock, jazz, folk, and blues to the band's performances. Earl lives with and cares for his Father in Lebanon County and volunteers with On-Fire Youth Ministries, a local ministry outreach program in Myerstown, PA. In his spare time, Earl's other interest is trying to eat Brian's chickens (YUM!!!!!)

Name: Brian Martin

Age: 15

Instruments: Guitar, drums, fiddle

Color: Blue

Pastime: Fishing, hunting, yard work, raising chicks and rabbits, hanging out with Calvin and Bryce, woodworking, wrestling with Zach...

Vacation Spot: The cabin

Musician: Earl Scruggs

Food: I like almost any food

Game: Can't Stop

Season: Springtime

Book of the Bible: Matthew

School: I'm homeschooled and I'm in 9th grade

Little Known Fact: I like bluegrass better than Celtic

Other Musical Ventures: I'm a drummer with the Quittapahilla Highlanders

Name: Alex Martin

Age: 6

Instrument: I'm working on the fiddle

Favorite Color: Yellow

Pastime: Playing, playing toys, working, coloring, running, trying to play the fiddle, riding bike on the road with Brian and Zach, building stuff in the sandbox and reading books.

Song: Up Kitty Down Kitty

Book: Stories about Thomas the Tank Engine

Food: Cookies

Game: Checkers

Photo by Matt Wlasniewski