Corey
Eve
Matt
Will
Patrick
Billy
Corey Walden
Electric Violin, Founder
Originally from Oakville, ON, Canada, Corey Walden started violin lessons at the age of five and distinguished himself with rapid advancement through the Suzuki Violin Method. As a student he performed with multiple youth orchestras and was a guest violinist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Corey studied Applied Music at Mohawk College (ON, Canada) as well as receiving his Suzuki teaching certification from Queens University (Kingston, ON, Canada), after which he began his career teaching private classical violin lessons in the Greater Toronto Area. During this time he also performed with various string quartets and chamber orchestras, and soon started to explore different styles of performance including fiddle, rock and electric violin. Corey first started touring the various Celtic and Scottish Festivals of North America with Celtic rock group Hunting McLeod, which he co-founded. He was also invited to perform and tour with other notable Celtic bands as a guest fiddler including Coyote Run and Rathkeltair. Corey has toured the US and Canada extensively as well as performed internationally with The American Rogues in such places as: Japan, Bermuda, Italy, Spain, Guantanamo Bay, Las Vegas, and Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. along with the U.S. Air Force Orchestra. More recently, he toured with the new hit production Rockin’ Road to Dublin, directed by Broadway director and choreographer Jeff Whiting (The Producers- Tour; Bullets Over Broadway - tour) which includes top artists from Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. Corey is an experienced session musician and has contributed to the work of multiple recording artists including Boston based Irish group Boxty, as well as Eddie Mottau (guitarist for John Lennon and Yoko Ono). Corey immigrated to the US and has been teaching private violin lessons in southern New Hampshire since 2013 (The Southern NH Suzuki Association based out of Peterborough, NH) alongside his performance career. A performer who is known for his polish and high energy antics on stage, he is very excited to utilize his vast experience to bring you his latest project, Waking Finnegan.
Eve Pierce
Vocals
Eve Pierce is a vocalist, actress, dancer, and songwriter with the gift of the gab.
A New Hampshire native, Eve grew up singing and performing in the Monadnock Region, developing a great passion for the arts. After graduating from ConVal High School in 2018, she went on to perform with the Peterborough Players Second Company and release her first solo album Save The Bell Tower.
Currently Eve is breaking out her tartan to perform with Waking Finnegan.
Matt LaCroix
Irish Whistle, Accordion, Mandolin and Electric Bagpipes
Matt grew up in a musical family with a father who taught music and tuned piano’s. Matt first learned to read music on his first instrument, the recorder, learning baroque style music and playing in several recorder quartets and quintets around southern New Hampshire. While in school he learned the clarinet and played in school concert and marching bands including: Nashua Catholic Junior High and Bishop Guertin High School. While playing at Bishop Guertin, Matt made the New Hampshire All-State Band playing clarinet in 1992. He also played in the Hollis Town Band (Hollis, NH) and American Legion Band Post 48 Hudson, NH. Matt has diversified his multi-instrument list to include the tin whistle, the piano, the piano accordion, classical guitar, banjo, mandolin and organ. Currently Matt is a member of Waking Finnegan Celtic Rock band playing the tin whistle, piano accordion, mandolin and vocals. He is also involved with the Diocese of Manchester Organ Masterclass. He is also the organist and music minister at Divine Mercy Church in Peterborough, NH.
Will Brewer
Guitar
Born in New Hampshire, Will started playing guitar at the age of 14 when his parents gifted him a Fender Stratocaster for his birthday. One of the first songs Will ever learned on guitar was "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles. From there, Will's love of music continued to grow through his teens and 20's where he found no shortage of musical styles and genres to pique his interest. Whether it was Rock, Metal, Jazz, Country, or Classical – Will would always find something to appreciate in music. When it came to his interest in Celtic music however, Will found something far more personal. One of Will's earliest memories was listening to the Irish performing group, Celtic Thunder, with his Grandmother Anne. Anne had several Celtic Thunder CD's and DVD's which she would share with Will. Anne loved the music because it reminded her of where her family came from: Ireland. Will loved the music because it brought him closer to his Grandmother. It wasn't much longer after that Will began discovering Celtic rock and traditional groups like the Pogues and Dubliners. For a short time, Will even played Bass in a Celtic-influenced folk group out of Southern New Hampshire. A few short years later, Will would begin playing with Waking Finnegan. As the guitarist of Waking Finnegan, Will is drawn to the beauty of Celtic music and fuses it with Rock and Metal guitar chops. With the rest of the members of Waking Finnegan all bringing their unique backgrounds and musical interests, it makes for a truly special blend of music you won't want to miss!
Patrick "Rakish Paddy" LaCroix
Bass
Patrick LaCroix, from Peterborough, NH, has been with Waking Finnegan since the band’s inception. Recently turned twenty-one, he loves gigging with the band. He and his family have had a passion for Celtic folk music their whole lives, having an Irish grandmother, and that passion continues to drive Patrick's enjoyment and commitment to the band. Patrick auditioned and was accepted into the All New England Music Festival in March 2019, and in this ensemble he played the upright bass with the concert band. Another one of his musical accomplishments that same year was auditioning and playing for classical guitar in the New Hampshire All State Music Festival. Patrick takes pride in his knowledge of music theory and loves to lend a helping hand to any band member's questions on rhythm, harmony, and chord structure. Music has always been an integral part of Patrick's life and he is beyond ecstatic to share his love of music with his band mates in Waking Finnegan, as well as every audience he has and may yet encounter.
Billy Brown
Drums and Percussion
Billy is a Missouri native who moved to New Hampshire in 2016. He taught himself how to play the drums at the tender age of 13. Over his years living in the Midwest, Billy has played and recorded with a variety bands covering the wide spectrum of Rock, Progressive Rock, Alternative and even Country. He is the newest member of Waking Finnegan and he is looking forward to employing his vast experience and playing ability to the music of Waking Finnegan!
