“String Theory one of the Top 5 Irish Bands in Texas”

— Dallas Observer

String Theory Irish Band - Full Bio

String Theory is a Celtic folk band that specializes in high energy Irish trad tunes and songs. Recently ranked one of the top 4 Irish Bands in Texas by the Dallas Observer, the band features Jesse Ramirez on guitar and mandolin, D/FW fiddle legend Linda Relph,  Nathan Kennedy on fiddle, Bill Zauner on upright bass, and Matt Cook on vocals, octave mandolin and bodhran. 

The band premiered in 2015 with performances at The Celt and Trinity Hall and has since had over 60 shows between those two pubs. In 2015 they were selected to open for Celtic Thunder’s Emmet Cahill. They performed at NTIF in 2016 and 2017, Irishfest Atlanta in 2016, the 2015 O’Flaherty Retreat, the 2017 and upcoming 2018 McKinney Celtic Music Festival, 2017 and 2018 Sherman Celtic Festival and 2018 Irving Canal Fest. The band was the headline performer at the 2016 and 2017 City of Allen’s Shamrock Shindig St. Patrick’s festival. They also have an active Celtic wedding and private party schedule.  You can find them at StringTheoryIrish on all social media. Their recently re-released CD self titled String Theory is available at Amazon and iTunes. 

Jesse is a Celtic finger style guitarist and has a masters in guitar performance from UNT and is currently a professor of music at Mount Royal College as well as a high school guitar teacher in the Garland TX ISD. He played in the Celtic Ensemble at Texas Tech with Roger Landes during his 4 year undergraduate degree. Linda Relph is a world class fiddler, and has been a part of some of the most successful Celtic bands in the Southern United States including founding The Kildares. Nathan is a national award winning Irish fiddler who was the first youth from Texas to compete in the world championships of Irish music, the Fleadh Cheoil in Sligo Ireland. He also plays with the TIMES Session Players with Ken Fleming as well as a number of classical orchestras and chamber groups. Nathan was concertmaster of a Texas State winning orchestra, as well as one that won an International championship at the Mid-West clinic in Chicago. 

Bill is an upright bass player and has played in a variety of genres from celtic to jazz and classical. He attended Texas Tech where he performed with Chris Smith and Roger Landes' Celtic Ensemble and graduated with a degree with honors in music performance as well as music education. He was a member of the Lubbock Symphony for 7 years, and Midland Odessa Symphony for 7 years. Bill is an Orchestra Director for the Lewisville ISD. Matt Cook is the bands lead vocalist. He also plays Bodhran, mandolin, and octave mandolin. Matt is also a highly sought after sound engineer and does sound for high profile venues and shows.  

String Theory just re-released a CD self titled. This CD is the inaugural release from the band and is a true musical delight. It features the amazing Celtic finger style guitar of Jesse Ramirez that will remind many of the work of the legendary Randal Bays. It also features world class Irish fiddling from Linda Relph and Nathan Kennedy. Matt provides great vocals and bodhran beats and  Bill kills it on the upright bass and piano. It includes many upbeat Irish dance tunes to get your toes tapping, wonderful folk marches and waltzes that shows the bands impressive classical and Celtic training, and some of the most haunting Irish songs you have heard

Short Bio

String Theory is a Celtic folk band that specializes in high energy Irish trad tunes and songs. Recently ranked one of the top 4 Irish Bands in Texas by the Dallas Observer, the band features Jesse Ramirez on guitar and mandolin, D/FW fiddle legend Linda Relph,  Nathan Kennedy on fiddle, Bill Zauner on upright bass, and Matt Cook on vocals, octave mandolin and bodhran. 

The band premiered in 2015 with performances at The Celt and Trinity Hall and has since had over 60 shows between those two pubs. In 2015 they were selected to open for Celtic Thunder’s Emmet Cahill. They performed at NTIF in 2016 and 2017, Irishfest Atlanta in 2016, the 2015 O’Flaherty Retreat, the 2017 and upcoming 2018 McKinney Celtic Music Festival, 2017 and 2018 Sherman Celtic Festival and 2018 Irving Canal Fest. The band was the headline performer at the 2016 and 2017 City of Allen’s Shamrock Shindig St. Patrick’s festival. They also have an active Celtic wedding and private party schedule.  You can find them at StringTheoryIrish on all social media and www.stringtheoryirish.com. Their recently re-released CD self titled String Theory is available at Amazon and iTunes. 

Sample Tracks

Press links

Review of String Theory with Emmet Cahill of Celtic Thunder

String Theory selected top 5 Irish Band in Texas

New Texas Trio, String Theory launch their debut album

Strings That Sing - CD Review, Ceili Magazine

Sample video