Boston Irish Reporter - music

As The Chieftains Prep for Bay State Gigs, It's a Good Time to Chat with Paddy Moloney

irishadmin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:54:01 +0000

Sean Smith

Regaled as the grand "ambassadors" of traditional Irish music, The Chieftains will get St. Patrick's Day festivities started early in Massachusetts with performances at Worcester's Hanover Theater (March 9), the Amherst Fine Arts Center (March 10), and the Lowell Auditorium (March 11). The band also has collaborated with Ry Cooder to produce a new album, "San Patricio," inspired by the story of the San Patricio Battalion of Irish-Americans who deserted the United States Army to join the Mexican side in the Mexican-American War of 1847. Read more

BCMFest: One month to go

irishadmin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:56:18 +0000

Sean Smith

One month to go - Just a few more weeks to go before the 7th annual BCMFest on January 8 and 9, including performances by The Makem and Spain Brothers; Tina Lech and Ted Davis; David O'Docherty; The Gobshites; Liam Hart; Sean and John Connor; Tri; Colm O'Brien; Flynn Cohen and John McGann; Calum Pasqua and Susie Petrov; Kate Chadbourne; Nancy Mulrey; Michael O'Leary; Laurel Martin, Kieran Jordan and David Surette; Bento Boxty; Gordon Aucoin and Lloyd Carr; Cedar Stanistreet and Max Newman; plus a family-oriented musical story, "The Fiddler's Wish," and a special one-of-its-kind ensemble that will evoke Boston's classic big-band Irish sound. Read more

An Intermission Chat with Girsa Can be a Wondrous Thing

irishadmin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:19:13 +0000

Sean Smith

Transcribing an interview with Girsa – the all-female, high school/college-age Irish-American band from Rockland County, NY, that is catching ears and turning heads in ever-increasing numbers – is a prospect only slightly easier than, say, reforming the American health care system.

Members of Girsa enthusiastically, and often not a little mischievously, finish one another's sentences – or quickly weigh in with their assessments of what's been said, or not said, or should be said. And there are more than a few fascinating tangents explored on the way to answering a question. Read more

Shannon Heaton's Passion: 'To Get to Put My Sass On'

irishadmin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:03:10 +0000

R. J. Donovan

Are you one someone who sings at the drop of a downbeat? Aside from the social aspects of sharing a tune, would you like to explore the skills involved in traditional Irish singing? Then the Irish Song Circle Workshop at Springstep in Medford may be for you.

Jointly taught by Shannon Heaton and Liz Simmons, the Song Circle is a six-week course touching on the techniques and emotional connections involved in the art of Irish singing. Read more

His Music Delivers That Special Thing -- 'Pure Radiance'

irishadmin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:45:33 +0000

Ceol Agus Craic and Susan Gedutis Lindsay

One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singin'
You're gonna spread your wings
And fly to the sky...

-- From "Summertime," composed by George Gershwin for Porgy and Bess (1935).

Jerry Holland did just that last month: rose up singing, flew to the sky...after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 54. Read more

The Passing of a Legend: Mourning Jerry Holland

irishadmin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:28:22 +0000

Sean Smith

Local friends and fans of Jerry Holland are mourning the death last month of the Cape Breton fiddling legend, who maintained close ties to both the Greater Boston and Irish music communities.

Mr. Holland, who had been battling cancer the past two years, died on July 16 at the age of 54. A memorial service and celebration of his life was held in Bras d'Or, Nova Scotia, on July 21. Read more

Ivers Promises Some 'Rocking' at Lowell Series

irishadmin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:28:22 +0000

R. J. Donovan

Eileen Ivers ranks as one of the world's premier Irish fiddlers. Although born in the Bronx (her parents are from County Mayo), she spent her childhood summers in Ireland, winning nine All-Ireland Fiddle Championships. Read more

On Being an Irish Entertainer: Seamus Kennedy Takes Questions

irishadmin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:28:22 +0000

Sean Smith

For more than 30 years, Seamus Kennedy has presented his distinctive blend of Irish folk songs and ballads, contemporary and popular songs, and stage patter that invariably elicits belly laughs, chuckles, groans, and the occasional "did-he-really-say-that?" gasp of disbelief from the crowd. Read more

For Childsplay, It's Very Much All in the Family

irishadmin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:31:16 +0000

Sean Smith

Every year for the past two decades and more, Cambridge resident and violin maker Bob Childs has organized a family reunion that is unique in a few ways - including the fact that none of the participants are technically related to him. Read more

Berklee College Forges a Program to Lure More Irish Students to Campus

irishadmin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:34:16 +0000

R. J. Donovan

Founded in 1945, Berklee College of Music was the first school in the United States to offer formal training in jazz. Today its reputation spans all musical genres and its student body is an international melting pot of individuals from more than 70 countries.

Berklee has long maintained a variety of connections with Ireland. Read more