This year, Indy’s Irish Festival and NUVO partnered to create the NUVO People’s Choice Award for favorite band at the 2005 festival which took place downtown at Military Park Sept. 16-18. The estimated 17,000 attendees were given ballots and asked to choose their favorite band as well as suggest bands they would like to see at future festivals.

Gael Sli garnered the most votes as the 2005 NUVO People’s Choice Band Award and will receive a $500 award. Gael Sli is a Dublin, Ireland-based band formed in 2002. It consists of Siobhan Warfield, singer songwriter; and Robin Hurt, guitarist, mandolin player and singer; Dave Keegan, Djembe player, drummer, guitarist, songwriter; and fiddler Adrian Hart. This is their third year at the festival, where they have steadily developed a loyal following.

Rounding out the top five in garnering votes included longtime festival favorite Brigid’s Cross from Cleveland, Ohio, and two bands which were newcomers to the festival. They included Gaelic Storm, featured in the movie Titanic, and Searson, from Ontario, Canada. New Celtic rock band Siochain just missed the top five, but garnered the most votes for local bands. You can find out more about these bands and the festival by going to www.indyirishfest.com.