ABOUT
We are not currently looking to add any more members
CrossBow is Michigan's premiere high-energy Celtic band. We’re primarily a festival band, which means we all have day jobs and perform at Scottish/Irish/Celtic festivals around the state on weekends, with the occasional out of state gig. We started building the band back in 2011 and now have a strong following, particularly around the Grand Rapids area. We’ve been extremely fortunate to perform on some of the largest stages in our circuit and are close friends with some of the best Celtic bands in the world. We’ve learned a lot from them, including what it takes to be a full time-tour band, which has taught us that we’re happy with right where we’re at. We’re not “trying to make it big,” but we put in 100%. The Midwest Celtic circuit is a close group and it’s been a blast to be a part of. In a world where so many rock groups exist, it can be really refreshing to just have a chance to stand out with something different. If this is something you might be interested in, we’d love to hear from you and listen to your demos! You can contact us at xbowmusic at g mail dot com.
More on the band:
From a casual jam session in Grand Rapids, MI, to becoming a popular favorite at Celtic festivals across the Midwest, CrossBow has been humbled and excited by every turn on their musical journey.
Co-founding fiddlers, Steve Lesko and Carly Meloche, met in their high school Celtic band, the Chelsea House Orchestra. This extracurricular group also produced fiddlers, Diana Ladio (The Moxie Strings and The Elders), Kiana Weber (formerly of Gaelic Storm) and Wes Fritzemeier (The Kreellers and Thunderwüde). In 2011, Steve and Carly, along with vocalist/guitarist, Clare McMillan, founded CrossBow in a small music practice room. With just two violins and a guitar, the three young musicians never expected to showcase their traditional Irish music much beyond campus hallways and local pubs. Yet they were immediately met with overwhelming enthusiasm and the trio quickly realized they were onto something special.
Next to join the group were percussionist, Ethan Noga, and woodwind player, Adam McMillan. Through playing private parties, local fundraisers, and wherever they could find a stage, this new and quirky group generated a following and soon ventured to share their music throughout much of Michigan. To date, CrossBow has performed in every major Celtic, Scottish and Irish festival in the state, and has been featured in festivals and venues in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York.
As CrossBow grew in numbers, so did its repertoire. In 2016, Mike Spencer joined Ethan on a variety of drums and rounded out the band's percussion section. Lastly, the talents of bassist Joe VanderBroek were enlisted in 2020, and the current group was complete. By incorporating pop, rock and folk sounds into their set list, CrossBow delivers a distinct, eclectic vibe that still remains true to their Celtic roots, appealing to audiences of all ages.
Much of the thrill in experiencing a CrossBow performance actually transcends the music itself. This excitement stems from the contagious joy and camaraderie shared between the players, and communicated directly with their audience. Apparent from the moment they hit the stage – these high-energy musicians naturally feed off of one another, creating a toe-tapping, shenanigan-filled, dynamic, wholly unique performance that shouldn’t be missed.
Fall of 2021 marked an important milestone for Michigan’s premier high-energy Celtic band, as they celebrated their TENTH year of music-making. Like a fine whisky, they filtered, honed in on and matured the essential pieces, and are now ready to share their best version yet. And they’re just getting started!
If you'd like more info, you can find our Electronic Press Kit (EPK) on our website at xbowmusic dot com. Inside, you’ll find information on the group’s origins, member biographies, a list of our past performances, testimonials, and our contact information.
- Screen name:
- CrossBow Celtic band
- Member since:
- Mar 18 2020
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Committed
- Years together:
- 11
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Age:
- 31 years
Members Of Band
Steve Lesko - Frontman, fiddle, manager
Carly Meloche - Fiddle, backup vocals
Clare McMillan - Acoustic guitar, lead vocals, keys
Adam McMillan - Penny Whistle, backup vocals, clarinet
Ethan Noga - World percussion
Joe VanderBroek - Bass guitar
