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In Canton, it's a weekend for wearing of the Green

By Sean Smith, special to the BIR, June 4, 2012

Boston Irish Festival begins Friday at ICCNE, Canton
Gaelic Storm, the irrepressible Celtic folk-rock quintet, headlines this year’s Boston Irish Festival, set for this weekend, June 8-10 at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England in Canton. Other performers slated to appear at the festival include The Prodigals, The Glengarry Bhoys, and The Screaming Orphans, as well as popular local acts such as The Gobshites, Devri, The Great Whiskey Rebellion, The Silver Spears, Erin’s Melody, and the Andy Healy Band. Read more

Riverdance plays final five shows this weekend at Boston's Opera House

By Sean Smith, special to the BIR, April 6, 2012

Riverdance in farewell visit to Boston- Don't miss it!
In 1996, Bill Clinton was president, William Weld was governor of Massachusetts, the old Boston Garden was still standing, the Red Sox were still in search of their first world championship since 1918 – and a show called "Riverdance" began touring cities in the United States, including Boston, hoping to duplicate its success in Ireland.
Long story short? It did. Read more

40 countries, 4 continents, 350 venues- ‘Riverdance’ legacy – so far

By R.J. Donovan, special to the BIR, April 6, 2012

The international sensation known as "Riverdance" has played in 40 countries across 4 continents in more than 350 venues to a worldwide audience surpassing 22 million people. That's astounding when you consider that the two-hour celebration of Irish music, song, and dance began life as a seven-minute intermission entertainment for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest televised throughout Europe.
After touring America for the past 16 years, "Riverdance" returns to Boston one final time, from April 13 - 15, for five performances at The Opera House. (The Farewell Tour comes to a close on June 17 in Virginia.) Read more

Dan Gurney enrichs status of the accordion

By Sean Smith, special to the BIR, March 6, 2012

There are the recording projects that try a musician’s soul: long, exhausting hours in the studio spent doing take after take of the same track; fretting about various post-production details; squabbling with accompanists about this or that artistic aspect.
And then there is Dan Gurney’s new album. Read more

Liam Harney: Dancing Man He’s in Reagle’s revue, ‘A Little Bit of Ireland’

By R.J. Donovan, special to the BIR, March 6, 2012

Reagle Music Theatre’s popular revue “A Little Bit of Ireland” returns on March 17 and 18 for its 14th season. The show is a colorful celebration of Irish music, dancing, and light-hearted comedy based on what Reagle’s Producing Artistic Director and Founder, Bob Eagle, modestly calls “a little idea I had.” Read more

Irish music calendar for March – it’s busy, as always

By Sean Smith, special to the BIR, March 6, 2012

The Greater Boston area resounds with Irish and other Celtic music all year round, of course, but March seems to be a particularly active period – perhaps because of a certain holiday that falls on the 17th. Here’s a look at some of the events taking place in the next few weeks: Read more

The sound of ‘music in the air,’ and the sight of ‘feet on the floor’

By Bill Whelan, special to the BIR, March 6, 2012

It seems like yesterday that Moya Doherty and I sat down in the chill winter of 1993 in a small café on Dublin’s Baggot Street to discuss the germ of an idea that was to become Riverdance. Little did we dream that by 2012, this small germ would have sprouted into a two-hour show that would be seen by 22 million people around the world. Now it is making its return visit to Boston, where Riverdance has previously performed on seven very happy occasions. Read more

Fiddler Conway learned his music ‘pure’ – Sligo style

By Sean Smith, special to the BIR, February 2, 2012

Brian Conway makes no bones about it: He understands that his particular tutelage in the Irish music tradition was a profoundly rare thing, and he feels very fortunate as a result.
“I think that, in my upbringing, I definitely got the music pure,” says Conway, who will bring his widely admired fiddle-playing talents to the Boston area later this month. Read more

Conner’s passions: Perform, preserve Great American Music

By by R.J.Donovan, special to the BIR, February 2, 2012

Baritone, pianist, and conductor Bradford Conner is on a mission. He sincerely hopes you’ll love great American music as much as he does. One conversation proves he has a devotion and an insight for it that few others possess.
Classically trained, Brad and partner Benjamin Sears have become the “go-to” guys in terms of impeccable musical research. Together they helped found the critically acclaimed American Classics, “devoted solely to the performance of American music, giving voice to forgotten gems and newly discovered musical treasures.” Read more

Letting the younger set know the feeling when a house party turns into a session

By Sean Smith, special to the BIR, January 17, 2012

BY SEAN SMITH
SPECIAL TO THE BIR
It seemed like most any typical all-ages holiday gathering, and in many ways, it was.
A Christmas tree stood in the corner of the living room, right by the entry to the dining room. Christmas decorations graced the fireplace mantel and other parts of the house, and an assortment of various treats, including Christmas cookies, was laid out on the dining room table. Read more

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