For The Wintery Mix, Music is All in the (Irish) Family 

The Wintery Mix is a regular crowd-pleaser at River Junction Brewing. 

Photo: Peggy Greer 

By Brian Boisvert 

You know a band is from Maine when their name doubles as a weather warning. But like the state’s famously unpredictable skies, The Wintery Mix has a way of rolling in and leaving everything brighter than before. On Saturday, March 14, they’ll take the stage at the River Junction Brewing Company (1491 Main St., Sanford) starting at 6:30 pm for what promises to be a night of pub songs, family sing-alongs, and the kind of fun that only comes from watching close friends play music together. 

The core lineup — Charlie Sichterman on drums, Jess Greer on lead guitar, Jarlath McGuckin on guitar, bass, and vocals, and James Welsch on guitar, bass, and vocals — has roots that go back decades. Jess and James first played music together as teenagers. Jess and Jarlath met through mutual friends in the early 2000s, and when James finished school, the three joined forces in a band called MegaCity. Then life took them in different directions for a while. Jarlath spent several years abroad, playing in a power trio called The Dudes, while Jess and James stayed active in Southern Maine’s music scene, eventually crossing paths with drummer Charlie while recording with the band Peddle Steal. When Jarlath returned to Maine in 2013 with his wife, all the pieces finally clicked into place. 

“We have always enjoyed playing music together and love being able to spend time together as best friends and entertain people,” the band says. That sentiment shows in every performance. 

The Irish connection runs deep for The Wintery Mix, though it arrives differently for each member. Jarlath’s family heritage is largely Irish, and music has always been central to his family’s culture. James, not Irish himself but married to Jarlath’s sister, has been welcomed into that tradition through years of family sing-alongs. Jess came to Irish music through the mandolin, learning reels and jigs while jamming at the library in Alfred. Together, they’ve developed a genuine love for the music. “Irish music is irresistible in its rhythm, melody, and the power of its lyrics,” they explain. “The balladry, history, and the humor have a way of grabbing you.” 

Their St. Patrick’s Day sets reflect that breadth. Rather than sticking to a rigid script, the band reads the room and navigates between pub songs, freedom songs, traditional music, and broader influences as the night unfolds. “The key to any set list is to not lose sight of the fun,” they say. Expect a few special guests as well: Jarlath’s father, retired physician John McGuckin, is a St. Paddy’s Day staple, typically the only authentic Irishman in the house (“he doesn’t have to fake the brogue like the rest of us”), and Jarlath’s sister Neisha regularly joins on vocals alongside James’s children. For The Wintery Mix, a St. Patrick’s Day show is a family affair. 

River Junction Brewing has become something of a home base for the band, and it’s easy to see why. “Mike and his staff have really committed to making a place where musicians can feel at home and where people that like to listen can come relax and enjoy,” the band notes. The audience also gets to experience the brewery’s new food menu from Shain’s of Maine that leans heavily on local seafood and classic New England comfort fare. 

When asked what they hope audiences take away, the band’s answer focused on the sense of connection. “We always hope that the people that come to see us are able to feel like they were in the band for a night, having as much fun as we were. We are family and we hope that people can feel a part of that in the way that they need that night.” 

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