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Ha’Penny Bridge is a Northern California Celtic music band from the Chico area. Its dynamic, vocal-driven sound has been described as “California Celtic” due to the band’s unique repertoire and arrangements of Mark McKinnon’s original songs, its stirring adaptations of classic and contemporary Celtic ballads, and creative infusion of traditional Irish and Scottish tunes.

During its thirteen-year existence, Ha’Penny Bridge has garnered a reputation as one of the Chico area’s most popular bands. The Chico News and Review praised it as one of Chico’s hottest bands.  Since 2009, the band has been a perennial nominee for a Chico Cammie Award as Chico’s best world music band, performing to standing ovations at the Chico World Festival, headlining Sacramento’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, and Feather Falls Casino’s St. Patrick’s Day Grand Opening celebration.  They were honored to open for Irish artists Karan Casey and John Doyle at Sierra Nevada Brewery’s Big Room.

Ha’Penny Bridge’s lineup includes a frontline of Molly Paul and guitarist Mark McKinnon on vocals.  The band includes Jewel Cardinet on mandolin, Vita Segalla on fiddle, Tom Haber on bass, Michael Cannon on keyboards and accordion, Jerry Morano on percussion and Bo Bowen on whistles.

In 2008, Ha’Penny Bridge released its first studio CD album of original songs, The Awakening, which the Chico News and Review praised for “being true to (its) musical roots in sound, structure and lyrics,” and described as “comfort food for Celtophiles…in the key of Van Morrison or Mary Black.” Ha’Penny Bridge released its most recent CD of original, Celtic-style songs and tunes, At Fiddlers Green in April, 2012.  Plans for recording a third CD of new Mark McKinnon compositions are currently in the works.

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“Good music begins with good songs and Mark has an Irish poet’s feel for lyrics and story telling and a California musician’s ability to wrap them in sweet melodies.” – Chico News & Review

“Ha’penny Bridge is a vocal force to reckon with… emotionally charged and lovely…”Chico News & Review

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