Saturday, Dec 12

Program

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Bios

Irish Pub Night featuring On the Lash

Raise a glass to the Franke Center’s Irish Pub Night filled with mirth, story, and song from one of our favorite Celtic bands.

On The Lash formed in early 2022, with their very first set of shows being a tour through PA and
DE. Since then, OTL has been busy performing at festivals and concert venues across the US,
as well as sharing their unique background and experience in the genre through educational
workshops. Some notable festivals include the KVMR Celtic Fest in Grass Valley, CA; the
Yachats Celtic Fest in Yachats, OR; the Longs Peak Highland Fest in Estes Park, CO; the Celtic
Classic in Bethlehem, PA; and the Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon, MI. During their
travels, On The Lash has had the opportunity to share the stage with renowned artists such as
Jeremy Kittel, Talisk, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Hass, as well as opening for Altan within their
first year of performing.
All graduates of Western Michigan University’s music program, each member of On The Lash
has a unique, yet complementary background in folk and classical styles. Elizabeth June
(flute/vocals) grew up learning classical flute, but she also had the unique experience of having
a large family full of passion for folk music. With her dad on the banjo, mom on the upright bass, and
10 siblings covering practically every instrument in between, she began singing and playing from
a very young age with her family’s bluegrass band. Going on to earn a master’s degree in flute
performance from the University of Michigan, OTL has allowed her to exercise her passions
for flute, voice, and folk music. Joel Tyrone Myers (mandolin) started on fiddle as a young lad
playing with the Chelsea House Orchestra, gaining a love and admiration for Irish music at the
outset of his music career. Over the years, he discovered a passion for composition and
songwriting, which has led to his writing and arranging a majority of the music for OTL. John
Robey (fiddle/stomp) began learning classical violin around seven years old, and it wasn’t until
he was fourteen that he began diving into modern styles and improvisational techniques in his
church’s worship band. It was this development that first kindled a desire for a non-classical
music career, which manifested into his current trajectory in Celtic music. Patrick Hartson
(guitar/bass) started out in music playing cello, not only classically, but also in a fiddle club, learning
various styles of Irish dance tunes. He then went on to earn multiple advanced degrees in cello
performance from DePaul University following his time at WMU. Along the way, he picked up
guitar as a secondary instrument, opening the door to playing in bands in genres from metal to
rock and ultimately back to his roots in Celtic.