About the band

Gwendolyn Kilfoyle enjoys singing everything from soulful ballads to raucous drinking songs, traversing the varied emotional pallet that is Irish music. Her introduction to Celtic music came at an early age through her mother’s record player, but it was in learning to play the bodhrán that she discovered her own passion for the music. She enjoys the combination of structure and freedom that playing the bodhrán provides, as well as the opportunity to keep discovering and drawing out the voice of her instrument. With a background in Community Song Leading, Gwendolyn is passionate about the role that music plays in creating culture and community and is known to encourage the audience to sing along and participate in the songs she shares. While fairly new to the Irish music scene, Gwendolyn’s ancestral roots in both Ireland and Scotland have translated into a natural affinity and feeling for the music and it brings her great joy to share this with others.

Elisabeth Gonella has been writing and performing music, covers and original folk songs for over 35 years. She leans primarily on vocals and rhythm guitar playing but recently has enjoyed learning fiddle, mandolin and percussion instruments. Elisabeth finds great joy in collective music making, whether it be at preschools, folk music festivals, community singing events, or any impromptu music making that arises in daily life. She has always gravitated toward folk music traditions, including Irish and Scottish music, and is grateful to add her talents to the longstanding Decent Folk of Santa Barbara. Elisabeth has had the privilege of singing in the Santa Barbara Choral Society and MUSE Cincinnati Women’s Choir where she participated in workshops and performances with Ysaye Barnwell, Holly Near and many other accomplished musicians. She is a graduate of Community Choir Leadership Training in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Karl Burrelsman joined the band from the local Irish session. He is primarily self-taught. Recently retired from construction management, his focus has been on gardening and fiddle music in Irish and old-time styles. As a fiddler with three decades of bowing under his belt, he brings a dry wit and fast-paced Irish fiddle playing to the band. He sometimes plays mandolin, guitar, and tenor banjo. He has performed regularly around Santa Barbara with various musical groups but loves playing fiddle with The Decent Folk.

Robert Winokur plays tin whistle and the flute-like low whistle in the band. Previously a member of the group O’Ryan’s Belt (early ’90’s) and a long-time regular at Irish music sessions, he’s picked up a wide repertoire of tunes over the years. His musical background includes piano, sax, Appalachian dulcimer, and the wire-strung Gaelic harp, which he plays with his fingernails. Robert was attracted to the tin whistle “because it has such a happy sound!”

Gary Jensen has been part of the local Irish music scene for years. His talents include tenor banjo, 5-string banjo, mandolin, octave mandolin, hurdy gurdy, limberjack and bodhrán. Previous groups include Bolt the Door (’70’s), The Back Roads Band (’80’s) and the Foggy Dew Irish Band. He has entertained for the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation’s annual award ceremonies, Santa Barbara Irish Festival, Camarillo Celtic Festival, Tall Ship Festival (Dana Point), Old Time Fiddlers’ Festival, Bobby Burns Night, British Isles Family History Society Convention (on the Queen Mary), and for the rich and famous. Gary will gladly tell you about his Viking ancestry. In his other life, Gary was an architect.