In this issue:
* Chulrua concert and dance this Saturday
* Set dance classes start tonight
* Andy Irvine in Columbia, March 19 & 20
* Help wanted!
* Harmony singing class starts
* Highlights of upcoming regional eventsRecent newsletters:
January 7, 2008
Nov. 28, 2007
October 31, 2007
October 10, 2007
August 30, 2007
August 10, 2007
July 31, 2007
June 6, 2007
May 11, 2007
April 13, 2007
March 29, 2007Ya wanna see more?
Here's the whole archive.
Let's kick off the season of St. Patrick!
Concert and Ceilidh (Dance) Saturday, March 1 featuring the music of Chulrua
Concert begins 7:30 p.m., dance begins by 9:30 p.m. First Christian Church, corner of Tenth and Walnut Streets in downtown Columbia, MO Admission is only $5 (Thanks to a grant from the City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs!) kids 12 under are admitted free.
Refreshments! You are welcome to bring some goodies to share after the concert. Plates,napkins, cups, etc will be supplied.
If you can come a little early to help set up chairs, e-mail kakers@chivalry.com.
Jim Thaxter and Christine Harker will call American and Irish group dances (contra, ceilidh, and maybe a few other fun things thrown in!)
This is a welcome return appearance for Chulrua, who have performed in Columbia several times, including at First Night Columbia 2001. Here's a bit about them: Chulrua plays the old music of Ireland, in keeping with the tradition as it was handed down from generation to generation. Paddy O'Brien on button accordion is an acknowledged master, Uilleann piper Tim Britton is foremost in an innovative younger generation, and Tipperary man Pat Egan sings with a voice as smooth as foam on a pint of Guinness. Together they will lift your spirits, touch your heart, and send you dreaming to the land of turf smoke and green fields.
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DANCE CLASSES
Beginning and Advanced ceilidh/set dance classes start tonight (Wednesday, Feb 26). The beginning class will be at the Tiger Columns ballroom from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. (register through www.career-center.org) and the advanced class will be at Kate's house, 1411 Anthony St., 8:15 - 9:45. There is still room in the advanced class if you have taken any Irish dancing before. $40 for 8 weeks. Open to ages 13 & up
If you are interested in children's Irish dance classes, contact Ellie Grace egrace@coin.org
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March 19 & 20 -- Andy Irvine in Columbia
Andy Irvine, one of the perennial figures in Irish music for the last 40 years, will be in Columbia March 19 and 20.
In Ireland, Irvine is a legend and inspiration as recognizable as Woody Guthrie is to American folk singers. To U.S. audiences, Irvine is best known as the voice of Patrick Street, the renowned Irish band that has been touring American since 1987. His bands Planxty and Sweeney's Men were forefront in the Irish folk revival of the 60s and 70s.
Andy has been hugely influential in traditional music, in the often credited for gaining acceptance of the bouzouki in Irish music and for bringing Balkan and Eastern European musical influences into modern Celtic music. Bill Whelan produced Andy's album of Balkan music "East Wind", and was inspired by the Eastern and Celtic blendings to use them as major themes when he wrote the score to Riverdance. The dedication for the Riverdance album reads, "To Andy Irvine, whose pioneering enthusiasm for and love of Eastern European music became totally infectious to any of us lucky enough to come into his line of fire."
Typical of Irvine, he wouldn't tout that connection, preferring instead to stand on the merit of his own music. The trademarks of his repertoire include self-penned songs that document the unsung heroes of history, obscure traditional Irish songs that are poignant or humorous, and dance tunes from the far east and west of Europe. He's been a world Such diversity has combined with immense creativity has He's been called "a tradition in himself" because his music doesn't fit any one category, but has certainly stood the test of time.
March 19, 7 p.m. Song workshop with Andy Irvine, $25
March 20, 2 p.m. presentation for the MU history department on the inseparable relationship between Irish music and Irish history. Open to the public. Jesse Wrench Auditorium, MU Memorial Union
March 20, 7:30 p.m. concert, Sacred Heart Church Activity Building, 1115 Locust St in Columbia $12 public/$10 CMCAA members, kids 14 & under attend free.----------------------------------------------
Help wanted!
If you enjoy and appreciate having Celtic music events in central Missouri, please consider whether you have some skills, energy and time to contribute to keeping our momentum going. We're looking for a few reliable and responsible people to help with the following tasks:
* Concert planning -- maybe you've done this before or maybe you'd like to learn what goes into planning and running a live music concert. We're looking for two or three people to assist with concert planning, either for coordinating individual events start-to-finish or helping with overall planning for the a series of shows. what's involved: Listening to demos, communicating with the musicians, arranging the venue and technical needs
* Publicity coordinators for events -- help get the word out by contacting media, sending press releases, arranging distribution of flyers
* Coordinating the Summer Arts Program -- we plan to have 2 college students here from Ireland again this summer to teach music and dance, and have classes taught by local teachers. We need help setting up a schedule, arranging locations for classes, setting up collaborative activities with other community groups.
Want to know more? E-mail or call Kate kakers@chivalry.com 442-2048
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Harmony Singing classes with Leela Grace -- new 5-week sessions begin March 10 & 11. For more info, contact Leela Grace, lgrace@coin.org
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Highlights of upcoming regional events
Friday, Feb 28 -- Paddy Reilly in St. Louis, presented by The Irish Connection Danny O'Toole's Pub and Grill, 620 Westport Plaza, Maryland Heights, Mo. For Details call 314-434-9600 or 636-225-2204, $20.00 Paddy is one of the foremost balladeers in Ireland. He has a rich baritone voice and is know for such number 1 hits in the Irish charts as "The Fields of Athenry", "The Town I loved so Well", and "The Flight of Earls".
Sunday, March 9, Dervish performs in Kansas City www.mvfs.org
Saturday, March 15, 8:00 p.m. St.Patrick's day ceilidh at Focal Point in Maplewood on Saturday, March 15th at 8PM. Christine Harker will be calling/teaching and the band will be Phuca. Should be a fun evening. The Maya café is next door for food and refreshments. For more info, see www.thefocalpoint.org
March 25-27 St. Louis Tionol and Mississippi River Celtic Festival REGISTER EARLY!
Friday evening - ceilidh and sessions Saturday -- workshops all day, beginning through expert levels, taught by master musicians (fiddle, Uilleann pipes, whistle, bodhran, flute, guitar, harp, ballad singing and session playing) Saturday evening - Concert with all the master musicians who taught during the day Sunday -- Sessions and ceilidhs at various locations. www.tionol.orgGet your registration form online, or pick one up at the Chulrua or Andy Irvine concerts in Columbia.