The Monkey Barrel is known for featuring an eclectic brand of rock music.

And on Friday, the local music venue expands even further by adding a night of Celtic music to its history books.

Local Celtic folk rock band Emerald Rose and Florida-based Seven Nations, a Celtic rock group, are set to take the stage for the unique event.

"I didn’t know it would grow into such a big thing so fast," said Colin Blackledge, the event’s promoter along with local photographer Fox Gradin. "You actually can call there (the Monkey Barrel) and buy tickets in advance ... as far as right now we have availability left, we are about halfway there.

"I took it as a challenge a little bit to put the whole thing together."

Arthur Hinds, vocalist and guitarist for Emerald Rose, said he thinks the two Celtic bands should provide a great night of entertainment.

"We really like Seven Nations a lot," he said. "They play pretty much Celtic rock ‘n’ roll, bagpipe-based, and they also play some traditional jigs and reels as well. We are a fusion band and they are a fusion band. We are a pretty good pairing I think."

The four-member Emerald Rose hasn’t played a show in Gainesville for two years but plan to mix it up for the fans on Friday.

"We are going to play some very straight traditional as well as some rock music that springs from Celtic roots," Hinds said. "(We play) everything from traditional jigs and reels all the way to more modern music that deals with Celtic mythology."

The band formed in 1996 and released their first self-titled CD in 1998. Since then they have released four independently produced CDs; their most recent, "Archives of Ages to Come," came out in 2005.

In 2003, the band was the headline act at the Oscars cast party for "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and again in 2004 for "Return of the King."

Brian Sullivan sings and plays guitar — including a mandola — for Emerald Rose.

"It’s like a mandolin but a lower register," Hinds said of the instrument.

Hinds, along with playing guitar and singing, plays an Irish drum called a bodhran. Larry Morris plays the pennywhistle, the Uilleann pipes and percussion, and Clyde Gilbert adds his bass and percussion skills.

Seven Nations also has an array of instruments in their performances, with an emphasis on bagpipes and the fiddle.

"They have a huge Celtic following and I find it amazing that they never broke through to mainstream," said Blackledge, who had a short stint as Seven Nations’ road manager several years ago. "But I guess they never needed to. When they do a Highland games (event) or something like that, I’ve seen as many as 10,000 people come out."

The Orlando-based band is made up of lead singer Kirk McLeod, James "Struby" Struble, Scott Long, Don Stacey and Crisco.

Their current album, "Tribute to The Cure," and a 2005 release, "Thanks for Waiting," are expected to be featured at the performance.