Working with Looney's Fortune for our wedding ceremony was a true pleasure. They are talented professionals that sound absolutely incredible live!

In preparation for our ceremony, Patti supplied us with tracks from which we chose tunes appropriate for different parts of the party. A few band members played during the ceremony, and we included, per Patti's suggestion, a musical interlude that created
time for people to enjoy the music and contemplate. The music sounded beautiful and made the wedding unique.

The main event at our wedding was a May Pole Dance that included our guests. Looney's Fortune worked with our caller, Jonathan Southard, to accompany the dancers and it came off splendidly. The band also played during
dinner and for a Contra Dance after dinner. Their music created a wonderful atmosphere and the guests were thrilled. We have beautiful memories and recommend Looney's Fortune whole heartedly for any event.

-- Lynne Henrietta Haas, Bride --

Thank you so much coming to our library yesterday! The performance was wonderful and everyone, both kids and adults, enjoyed the music very much. Your interaction with the kids was great and they were so excited to try all of your instruments after the show. I will definitely pass along your information to the other libraries and I wish you the best of luck.
Thank you again!

-- Sarah Stimson, Children's Librarian, Irvine University Park Library --

We LOVE Looney's Fortune---every year they make our festival a huge success. Not only do they play and sing beautifully together, but they add that authentic Irish seal to everything they do. The audience looks forward to their performance every year because they get to hear the real thing, instead of a "sort-of-Irish" knock-off. When the ceili dancers need accompaniment, there's Looney's Fortune to provide it, and the audience too can hardly stay in their seats.

 Matt Tonge does an excellent job teaching guitar at the guitar workshop; Georgiana Hennessy is an inspiring and very popular fiddle teacher at the fiddle workshop; Patti Amelotte is a very experienced hammered dulcimer teacher and is the only person I've ever met who can demonstrate a tune up-side-down on the instrument so the students can see each move. They relate well to the students and come prepared with hand-outs, as well as great skill and knowledge. They are so dependable and easy to work with, I would be lost trying to run a festival without them. Go to their performance or grab a pint and listen to their CD---you will be instantly transported back to Ireland.

-- Sandi Huckaby, Director of the "Music in the Mountains Festival" --

 Trad for Trócaire launched in 2010 as an innovative fundraising campaign, that takes what is unique, special and at the heart of Irish culture - our traditional music, our ceol traidisiúnta, to transform the lives of those who are most vulnerable and at risk in our world today. It has brought together two of the most recognised institutions in Ireland; Trócaire and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Society of the Musicians of Ireland) to raise awareness about key global justice issues through the accessible medium of music.

Since the inception of Trad for Trócaire in 2010, the members of Looney's Fortune have been an incredible support to the campaign. Through their love of music, they have helped to bring a community in California together, to celebrate Irish traditional heritage, while at the same time providing communities in the Global South with real and lasting hope for a brighter future. To have such support extended from the other side of the world is a wonderful testament to the bonds of Irish friendship. On behalf of all the staff at Trócaire, we would like to wish Patti, Georgiana and Matt the very best with the launch of their fantastic new CD, West Coast Irish!!

-- Jen Murphy, Development Education Officer, Trócaire --

 I had the honor of naming ‘Looney’s Fortune’ – this highly talented, energetic, creative Irish trio. It seemed like a natural to name their band in honor of the place of their Irish musical roots, Looney’s Tavern. They are true professionals in both their day jobs and musical careers. All are seasoned performers and festival music teachers and bring a sense of musical fun as well as a spin on tradition to whatever they do. Patti Amelotte is the Hammered Dulcimer Pro in our neck of the woods, Southern California. A local music festival isn’t complete without her there. She is also expert in button accordion, mandolin, keyboard and vocals. Georgiana Hennessy is a lyrical fiddler who makes it all appear so natural and inviting. Her vocals and accordion also highlight many tunes. Matt Tonge is the envy of local guitarists as he ties everything together in his own unique style. Looney’s Fortune is much more than the sum of its superb musicians. Here’s to more of their great music!

-- Barbara Gershman, Vice President, Southern California Dulcimer Heritage; Co-Artistic Director for the annual ‘Harvest Festival of Dulcimers’ --