Fast-paced family fun

Fasten your seat belts everyone.

ShaeLaurel's action-packed performance is coming to town for a one-night show at the Hernando High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday.

ShaeLaurel is a family band with Irish roots, and consists of mom and dad, Janet and Andrew Witchger, with their four kids, Andy, Jessica, Kathryn and Christian, ranging in age 18 to 22, which is definitely where they get all the energy for their show.

This family has been performing and touring together on a bus for more 10 years and 2,000 shows. They have proven that a family that plays together stays together.

Andrew Witchger explained how the family started performing together. "My wife, Janet, and I wanted to raise our kids in a unique way, give them a chance to see the world and be together as a family. Janet took the kids to music lessons and learned how to play violin with them. They would come home and we would play the pieces they were studying. When the kids started playing fiddle music, Janet and I would join them on the bass and guitar. They were the ones that wanted to play on the streets and have some fun. Once we started seeing people's reactions on the streets and in Irish pubs, we knew we had to continue to perform publicly."

The family has performed at Disney in Orlando, Busch Gardens in Tampa, The Grand Ol' Opry in Nashville, numerous festivals and fairs across the country, and even in far away places like China and Ireland.

Each member of the family can play multiple instruments, sing and dance.

Andy, age 22, plays the violin, guitar, banjo, mandolin, drums, flute and drums. His sister, Jessica, age 21, plays the violin, guitar, viola, piano and cello, and is the lead vocalist for the group. Kathryn, age 20, is the lead fiddler and Celtic harpist. Christian, the baby of the family at age 18, plays the drums and sings, while mom, Janet, holds down the groove on acoustic bass and dad, Andrew, plays jazz piano, bagpipes and guitar.

What a line-up!

And they all manage to play their instruments flawlessly while dancing at the same time! They combine dance moves from Irish Step and American clog dancing, and add a little swing and salsa for some added flair to the show.

"You can expect a lot of Irish and American tunes at our performance. Everything from 'I'll Tell Me Ma,' 'Danny Boy' to Irish jigs and reels and American favorites like 'Rocky Top' and 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia.' The difference you'll see and experience is the energy and fast dancing like you've never seen before! So rest up before the performance," chuckled Andrew.

Beverly Lewis, a member of the board of directors for the Hernando Performing Arts Guild was enthusiastic, "We are so excited to have them. We have heard such a good report about them."

Tickets to this fast-paced and high-energy night of fun are $25. Tickets can be purchased at the door, cash or check.

The show will be held at the Hernando Performing Arts Center at Hernando High School, 700 Bell Ave., Brooksville, on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

All proceeds from ticket sales go toward scholarships for the performing arts. The show is sponsored by Brooksville Natural Foods/Chef Audrey's Cafe, Merritt Funeral Home, A & R Tree Service and McDonald's Hernando County restaurants.

For more information, contact the Hernando Performing Arts Guild at 352-799-5577 or visit hpag.org.