Concerts-within-games on tap for Freejacks in Quincy, starting with Scottish Fish

A group of girls from the suburbs went to summer camp and shared their love of candy and music. When they returned home, perhaps to their parents' surprise, they had become a Celtic band. Now, more than a decade later, Scottish Fish − named after their favorite treat that first summer − continues to be one of the most unusual, yet compelling, Celtic acts anywhere.

Scottish Fish will be headlining the home opener for the New England FreeJacks at Quincy's Veterans Memorial Stadium on March 11. Before the pro rugby team takes on its opponents from Washington, D.C., the Fish will perform as part of a celebration of all things Celtic to commemorate St. Patrick's Day, including a stout festival.  (Check FreeJacks.com for ticket information, and tickets for the games are priced from $35 to $150.)

"It was 2011, and we were − most of us − 11 years old," explained fiddler Ava Montesi of the Scottish Fish. "One girl was five years younger. There was a camp talent show coming up, and so we all got together and tried to get ready for that."

That first talent show led to all the girls beginning to like the idea more and more. But even if adults were amazed and willing to give them more chances to perform, the usual path for Celtic bands − pubs and taverns − was not available.

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"We don't play many bars, although sometimes we will go for jam sessions at Irish bars," said Montesi. "We did play a lot of festivals. But now most of us are 22, and our youngest member, Maggie MacPhail, has graduated high school and is 18. It was tough that, like so many other bands, we basically lost two years to COVID-19, but we're excited now about the chance to play bigger venues."

Besides Montesi and MacPhail, the Scottish Fish include Julia Homa, Caroline Dressler and Giulia Haible. Four of them are from Arlington, while Homa calls Wellesley home. Haible plays piano and cello, and the rest normally play fiddle, although Homa and MacPhail can step in on piano when needed.

Dressler attends Brown University, while Haible is studying at the New England Conservatory. The current challenge to their gig schedule is the fact that Homa is studying at Columbia and must commute every weekend to play with her bandmates.

"We're lucky that New York City is not that far away, so Julia is busing up to Boston every weekend," said Montesi. "Back in the fall, we started noticing our social media blowing up and people wanting to hear us. Doing this show at the rugby game seems like an easy way to get noticed by many more music fans."

Scottish Fish has released three records, but their latest CD, "Upscale," was delayed and somewhat overshadowed by the pandemic. While their first two records included some originals, the third album is all cover tunes, but given the Scottish Fish treatment. "Trip to Dingle" features an especially invigorating and textured arrangement.

"Our third album was just released last October, but it was really recorded in 2021," Montesi said. "This latest album is our ode to traditional tunes. The goal was to take these tunes we've known for years and give them our own arrangements. We like to play a very energetic set for our live shows. An early critique we got was that everything we did was fast, so we do try now to mix in a few slow songs. But at the Quincy stadium, we'll have to try and get people excited, so we'll go for the really energetic stuff."

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Montesi and her mates are excited about the show for another reason: It'll be their first rugby game. School commitments have made touring limited, but there's a West Coast tour coming together for the summer. The FreeJacks found Scottish Fish when they asked Somerville's Celtic music mecca, The Burren, for recommendations for their pre-St. Patrick's Day game.

"I don't think any of us have ever been to a rugby game," Montesi said, laughing. "It should be fun."

Freejacks plan season-long music series

The FreeJacks have extended their concept of concerts-with-games to a season-long series this year, so the Scottish Fish performance on March 11 is just the start.

"We've tried to elevate the fan experience in a big way this season," the Freejacks' director of communications, Chris Rucker, said. "From top to bottom, we want to make all eight of our home games have that festival atmosphere, with music, food and beverage options all tied into it. The concerts will be mostly postgame, although Scottish Fish will be performing before our 3 p.m. kickoff. We just want to utilize Veterans Memorial Stadium to give fans a total festival experience. … We have a stout festival happening on March 11 also, and that alone has 106,000 followers on social media, so it's a big deal."

The FreeJacks music schedule is a tasty one. On March 25, disco revivalists Booty Vortex will appear; on April 8, New England folk rockers Orleans; on April 22, ska pioneers The English Beat; on April 30, country thrush Alexandra Kay; on May 21, rockers The Crash Test Dummies; on May 27, the swinging Cherry Poppin' Daddies; and on June 18, the country-rocking Old Crow Medicine Show.

"We feel there is a real synergy between these bands and rugby, in that they all play hard and work hard," Rucker said. "There's a certain spirit around our game, sort of a hockey-football mentality, but it fits right in with rock 'n' roll. The English Beat is one of my favorites, and their appearance is part of a whole 1980s theme day. The Crash Test Dummies are Canadian, and that fits in with our international theme that day. And the Cherry Poppin' Daddies are part of our 'Salute to Service' day. And then we went for a real big blowout with our final one, the Fathers' Day-themed one with Old Crow Medicine Show."

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Of course, the FreeJacks were behind last summer's In Between Days music fest at the stadium, and they're producing another one this August, expanded to two days, Aug. 19-20. It will include 24 bands, topped by Modest Mouse, Lord Huron and Trampled by Turtles.

"We wanted to try that out last year, and I'd say it was a mild success," Rucker said. "We wanted to test the concept and see how it worked, what didn't work, and how to improve it. Now we have expanded it to two days, and stuck to our vision of making it an alternative rock festival. … Fans last year battled the heat and sun during the day, so we are adding a tent-like structure to offer some shade this year."

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THURSDAY: A songwriters night at The Wilbur with Sarah Jarosz, Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin. Pianist Tim Ray's Trio provides tasty jazz at The Spire Center. Soule Monde is a funk band featuring a couple of members of the Trey Anastasio Band at Soundcheck Studios. Chatham Rabbits − from Chatham, North Carolina − harmonize at Club Passim. Country dude Drew Parker at Brighton Music Hall. Country songsmith Niko Moon at The Paradise Rock Club.

FRIDAY: Big night at City Winery, where the Haymarket Lounge has comic J.L. Cauvin, while Best Friend's Girl − a Cars tribute − takes over the main room. One-man band Suitcase Junket is always fun at The Spire Center. Americana sweethearts Brennen Leigh, Kelly Willis and Melissa Carper arrive at The Narrows Center. The Gravel Project rocks Boston Harbor Distillery. Rockers The Fall of Troy at Brighton Music Hall. Cirque du Funk at Soundcheck Studios.

SATURDAY: Norwell singer-songwriter Les Sampou headlines Club Passim. Blues princess Shemekia Copeland tears it up at The Spire Center. It's an all-funk weekend at Soundcheck Studios, and tonight the G-Nome Project brings funk from Jerusalem. Retro rockers Copilot at Brighton Music Hall. Teenage TikTok and YouTube pop sensation Jessie Murph at The Paradise. The smooth sounds of Vanessa Carlton at City Winery. Listen to This is an octet dedicated to playing Miles Davis' electronic music, at Boston Harbor Distillery.

SUNDAY: Sunday's Narrows Center show by bluegrass star Molly Tuttle is sold out. Catch R&B singer Ari Lennox at The House of Blues or The Diane Blue All Stars at City Winery or popsters Meet Me at the Altar at Brighton Music Hall.

MONDAY: Knucklepuck rocks The Paradise.

TUESDAY: Elvis Costello is worth a road trip to Beverly's Cabot Theater.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Scottish Fish among concerts-within-games on tap for Freejacks Quincy