I'll tell you a story that happened to me.....

Blame Not the Bard is on a mission: to bring alive the songs and stories of Ireland. Expertly blending their captivating storytelling and historical knowledge with fiery instrumentals and musical prowess, Blame Not the Bard’s high-energy show will get your hands clapping and feet tapping through a night of down-to-earth entertainment you won’t soon forget!

Blame Not the Bard was formed in 2015. Since then, they have played hundreds of shows across the midwest, lighting up the stages in intimate lounges and major festivals including the Kansas City Irish Fest and main stage appearances at the Iowa Irish Fest. Boasting multiple media appearances, including a 2021 feature in Little Village Magazine, an artist feature on KDEC 100.5 and numerous appearances on the award-winning Irish and Celtic Music Podcast, Ceolplay with Colum King, and a 2022 full-length Greetings from Iowa PBS special, Blame Not the Bard is sharing their songs and stories around the world. They have shared festival line-ups with the likes of Gaelic Storm, Scythian, Talisk, Aoife Scott, The Dublin City Ramblers, The Elders, The Red Hot Chili Pipers, Jig Jam, and the High Kings.

In August of 2023, Blame Not the Bard released their sophomore album "Now and Again," which features their current lineup of Andrew Philbrick, Corey Baker, Nicole Philbrick, along with their newest member, Dan Vaughn. Having performed for years as a trio, this album is a rest stop between old and new, reimagining the songs that Blame Not the Bard fans know and love before venturing further into their sound as a quartet.

I've traveled all over this world.....

Blame Not the Bard has had the pleasure of performing over a hundred shows at several wonderful locations. Some of our performance locations include (+ denotes repeat engagements)

Festivals

• Amana Arts Fest - Amana Iowa
• Beef Days - Solon Iowa
• Brookings Summer Arts Fest - Brookings South Dakota
• Charles City Friday Night Concert Series - Charles City Iowa
• College Hill Arts Fest - Cedar Falls Iowa+
• Fest at the Farm - Williamsburg Iowa
• Harvest Festival - Estherville Iowa
• Iowa Irish Fest - Waterloo Iowa+
• Kansas City Irish Fest - Kansas City Missouri
• Lawler Irish Fest - Lawler Iowa+
• MacNider Arts Fest - Mason City Iowa
• Maifest - Amana Iowa+
• My Waterloo Days - Waterloo Iowa
• Nordic Fest - Decorah Iowa
• Ragbrai - Charles City Iowa
• Sleepy Hollow - Des Moines Iowa
• Rhythm of the River - Jackson Minnesota
• Summerfest - Grinnell Iowa

Auditoriums

• Bart Howard Room - Burlington Iowa+
• Bettendorf Public Library - Bettendorf Iowa
• Coggon Opera House - Coggon Iowa
• Creative Commons - Biship Hill Illinois+
• First Street Community Center - Mount Vernon Iowa
• Hotel Grinnell - Grinnell Iowa
• Mills Seed Co - Washington Iowa
• Raven Wolf Stage - Williamsburg Iowa+
• Riverland Community College - Austin Minnesota
• Saint Ambrose University - Davenport Iowa
• The James - Iowa City Iowa

Public Houses

• Bent River Brewing Company - Burlington Iowa+
• Cerno's - Kewanee Illinois+
• Corked 101 - Burlington Iowa+
• Doc's Taproom - Williamsburg Iowa
• Dubliner - Omaha Nebraska
• The Dubliner - Saint Paul Minnesota+
• Fiddle and Whistle - Marshalltown Iowa+
• Fiddler's Hearth - South Bend Indiana
• Finnegan's - Minneapolis Minnesota
• Forager Brewery - Rochester Minnesota
• Frank O'Dowd's Pub - Galena Illinois+
• Georges Buffet - Iowa City Iowa+
• Hill Side Inn - Fort Madison Iowa+
• Horan's Cabaret - Fort Madison Iowa+
• Jameson's Public House - Waterloo Iowa+
• Katfish Katy's - Columbia Missouri+
• Kalona Brewing Company - Kalona Iowa+
• Little Swan Lake - Estherville Iowa+
• Maloney's - Council Bluffs Iowa
• Morse Community Club - Morse Iowa
• Morse General Store - Morse Iowa
• Olive Wine - Burlington Iowa+
• Patrick's - Saint Peter Minnesota+
• Rocky O'Brien's - North Liberty Iowa+
• Tellurian Brewing Company - Charles City Iowa+
• Shakespeare's - Iowa City Iowa+
• South Side Boat Club - Keokuk Iowa+
• The General Store - Stone City Iowa+
• The Supper Club - Iowa City Iowa
• West O - Okoboji Iowa+
• Wilson's Orchard - Iowa City Iowa

We would love to add your venue to the list!

We will roam the country over and together we'll face the world.....

We have met many wonderul people during our travels and a few of them have some nice things to say about us.

Blame Not the Bard, an Irish band from Iowa, is one to keep an eye on. Every time they play at our Iowa Irish Fest, they bring a genuine authenticity to the Irish music they present as if they were from the Emerald Isle itself. With strong vocals, some fancy fiddling and even a dance step or two. BNTB never fails to entertain and leave you with an Irish smile on your face and in your heart.”

Greg Tagtow - Iowa Irish Fest Entertainment Chair

When Nikki is playing with BNTB, she could walk out the door, play all the way to the nearest river, walk in and the crowd would follow her right in. She is completely captivating and the ensemble is more fun to listen to than any other group in the region.

Eric Renteria - Owner - Olive Wine

True entertainers! Blame Not the Bard has played here for us several times. They do not disappoint! ...They will entertain you with their lively, spirited music.

Diane Spiekermeier - Owner - Hill Side Inn

Blame Not the Bard stomped and clapped on the Lincoln Savings Bank stage, leading the crowd in song.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier August 5th 2019

[Blame Not the Bard is] the best, young, high energy Irish Music group I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. If you like high energy Irish music, this is where you want to be.

Conrad Ramsey - Owner - Ramsey's Wine Bistro