Verified Bookings

Rapid Responder

Lifetime

One of the most outstanding members of The Bash for 2025!

Best of 2025

One of the most outstanding members of The Bash for 2024!

Best of 2024

One of the most outstanding members of The Bash for 2023!

Best of 2023

One of the most outstanding members of The Bash for 2022!

Best of 2022

One of the most outstanding members of The Bash for 2021!

Best of 2021

One of the most outstanding members on The Bash for 2017!

Best of 2017

One of the most outstanding members on The Bash for 2016!

Best of 2016

Top World Band

Bethlehem

Pennsylvania

**Please Note**: Our rates range from $650 - $15,000 per event.

Poor Man's Gambit is the musical collaboration of Corey Purcell (button accordion, cittern, guitar, vocals, bodhran, dance), Federico Betti (guitar, fiddle), and Deirdre Lockman (fiddle, vocals, dance). Steeped in the traditions of Irish, Scottish, and Americana folk music, Poor Man's Gambit is one of the hottest new trios on the East Coast. 

PMG has performed at hundreds of events since their inception in 2015, and regularly performs at festivals, concerts, weddings, funerals, birthday parties, receptions, cocktail hours, wakes, bars, after parties, etc.



Individual Bios

Corey Purcell
Having been introduced to Irish culture at a very young age, Corey quickly grew to love the Irish music and dance which surrounded him. Advancing rapidly through the ranks of the competitive Irish dancing scene, Corey soon found himself on the National, then World stage of competition. After competing for 14 years, and discovering that he preferred his own artistic and rhythmic approach to the strict form required by the judges, Corey transitioned from competitions to stage productions and performance. He now dances with several notable bands including the esteemed Irish group Danú.
 
Corey's musical talents began developing when he was 16, and started teaching himself tunes on the Irish style button accordion which he bought himself for his birthday. Progressing quickly, he was soon studying under 7-time All Ireland Champion John Whelan, and began honing his technique under John's tutelage. Corey found his true calling in traditional Irish music, and rapidly branched into other instruments including cittern, guitar, bodhran, and voice. In addition to 'Poor Man's Gambit', Corey also tours with 'Ireland – The Show'.


Federico Betti
Federico grew up in Milan, Italy, and it is there where he first learned to play the fiddle and fell in love with traditional Irish music. In 1996 he co-founded the trad band Inis Fail, a group that would become a leader of the Italian Irish music scene. After sharing the stage at music festivals in Italy with various Irish musicians and bands such as Altan, Dervish, and Lunasa, he decided to move to Ireland in 1999 to further pursue his passion and ended up living there for 20 years. In Ireland, Federico immersed himself in the Galway trad music scene, learning from a range of fiddle players and traveling to trad festivals all over the country. His most influential teachers were Australian fiddle player Rob Zielinski and Breda Keville from Galway. 

He also began listening to guitar played in DADGAD tuning and was captivated by the sound. He started teaching himself in earnest. In 2009 he co-founded the Galway band Sumbrellas which played in and around Ireland, also touring in Italy, Germany, and the U.S.A. The band was featured playing one of their original songs in the first episode of Jack Taylor, an Irish television series now on Netflix. In 2010 Federico began teaching fiddle at the Galway City branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

In 2017 Federico moved with his wife and four children to Chalfont, Pennsylvania where he firmly planted himself in the Philadelphia Irish music community. Soon after, he met Corey and Deirdre and was delighted to join them in Poor Man's Gambit. 


Deirdre Lockman
Deirdre (fiddle, vocals, dance) has been pursuing her passion for Irish music and dance since the age of four when she was first introduced to the fiddle. Born into a musical family, she was soon performing with her family band, in addition to numerous orchestras and ensembles including the Junior String Philharmonic, and the Lehigh University Philharmonic Orchestra. A quick study, Deirdre began competing in fiddle competitions at an early age, and holds several regional fiddle titles.

Deirdre began Irish step-dancing at the age of 5, and competed at the regional and national level with the DeNogla School of Irish Dance out of New Jersey for eleven years, before focusing her full attention on traditional music.

This band was very professional, sounded impeccably good and very easy to work with

Poor Man's Gambit was an absolute delight to work with. They were very accommodating and executed everything with professionalism and class. They made our wedding day feel special and perfectly set the mood for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. The guests could not stop talking about how much they loved the band. Poor Man's Gambit also included some instructions for guests to dance and everyone had a blast. I would highly recommend these guys to play your wedding or any special event. I could not have asked for a better performance. 11/10 stars. 

The Land of Sunshine

Poor Man's Gambit at Longwood Gardens

Poor Man's Gambit - LIVE - Austin Celtic Festival 2018

The Purple Fiddle - Poor Man's Gambit - Pass the Baby

The Rocky Road to Dublin

Bee's Wing

The Sweetness of Mary

The Ballad of Accounting

La Ridee Six

Irish Band

Celtic Band

Americana Band

World Music Band

Folk Band

Wedding Band

The Mary Ellen Carter

Whiskey in the Jar

The White Cockade

The Newry Highwayman

The Black Velvet Band

Mormond Braes

Donegal Danny

The Silver Dagger

The Bonny Light Horseman

Both Sides the Tweed

Paddy's Lamentation

Kilkelly Ireland

Willy McBride

Wild Mountain Thyme

Each Coming Night

Arthur McBride

The Maid of Culmore

Jock Stuart

Caladonia

Genevieve and Dylan came to plat for our dad's surprise 60th birthday. They were just amazing. They were the perfect addition to an Irish themed party. They took every request we had (even if they had to look it up quickly before hand). They played the guitar and fiddle, and Genevieve sang (her vocals are amazing). They got all the guests involved in singing and clapping, and everyone just loved them. We will definitely be calling them again next time we need an Irish band! 

Profile Reviews

Party Planning

Services

Poor Man's Gambit Reviews

51 Reviews for Poor Man's Gambit