Headquartered in Sacramento, California, the band Nine-8ths Irish has received a lot of attention within the traditional Irish music community since forming at the beginning of 2007. The all-instrumental quartet describes its style of music as “Irish and a wee bit more,” the wee bit coming from the bluegrass, old-time country music and jazz the band members had played before coming together to pursue their shared love of traditional Irish music. Nine-8ths Irish—the band is Chris Dunlap (bodhrán), Linda Relph (a four-time winner of the California Ladies Fiddle Championship), well-known bluegrass musician Kathy Barwick (guitar) and Bo Bowen (whistles)—has recorded one album, West of Ireland, and is currently recording its second. Armed with a vast repertoire of traditional tunes from Ireland (and also Scotland, Brittany, Cape Breton and the U.S.) and a smattering of sparkling originals by Relph, the band has played Irish festivals, clubs, concerts and contra dances—and even a wake—throughout northern California and Nevada.