Music to the Irish is what yeast is to beer: essential and full of life. The Milwaukee-based, Irish band Blarney knows all about the unyielding connection between Ireland and music.

"I like to say that we play the 'music of Ireland' not Irish-American music," says Blarney band member, Chuck Ward. "We play the songs about love, death, rebels and the fun drinking songs, too."

Ward, Kevin Stapleton and Dennis Murphy combined their musical talents and love of Ireland to form Blarney.

Dubbed "perennial Irish Fest favorites," they have performed annually since the birth of the fest in 1981, and have played as a group since 1975. Blarney performs at the Miller Lite stage at 4 p.m. Friday, 3:15 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

"It is an honor to play at Irish Fest," says Ward. "My brother, (band founder and Irish Fest bigwig Ed Ward), jokes that Irish Fest formed to give Blarney a place to play in August."

Long before Irish Fest and Blarney were created, the three men started listening to and playing Irish music.

"All three of our families are very much steeped in Irish music and history," says Murphy. "We've all been brought up with Irish culture and music listening to the Clancy brothers and Tommy Makem."

Guitar, mandolin, tin whistle, banjo and bass set the tone for their authentic renditions of classic Irish ballads that have pleased their local following and natives during the band's two trips to Ireland.

Blarney has six recordings to date and has performed all over the US and Ireland. Although they have written some of their own music, the vast amount of Irish music already available makes up the bulk of their repertoire. In fact, there is enough Irish music to allow the band to learn 10 to 12 new songs a year.

Blarney does have some tried and true favorites such as "God Save Ireland," "The Moonshiner," and "The Wild Rover" to name a few.

A stop at a Blarney performance includes some story telling, Irish history lessons, and sing-a-longs, which are strongly encouraged.

If you close your eyes while listening to Blarney play, you might forget you are on the festival grounds. Their music transports you to what Stapleton describes as being in a living room where music is the crux of any Irish gathering.

"Our performances are very relaxing," says Stapleton. "We are comfortable with each other. We laugh a lot and tell our stories. We basically invite people into our household when we perform."

Murphy adds, "We try to interact with the audience as much as possible and have them interact with us."

According to Stapleton, you never know who is going to show up on stage with them at Irish Fest. Stapleton admits that they feel like a family and impromptu appearances by other musicians are not uncommon.

The band members agree that part of Irish music's appeal is that it's timeless. Both younger and older generations are listening to and playing the music.

Ward says the band can retire a song for eight years, bring it back, and people still enjoy it. Younger bands playing Irish music are forming all over, including Milwaukee, and they are adding a rock twist to the same ballads the Irish have cherished for years. The messages about Irish culture always stay at the root of each song -- no matter how the tempo, beat, and instruments change.

Even if Irish ballads are not quite your thing, the band offers listeners an element of Irish culture and music that is invaluable to the Irish experience.