First, the local news!

TONIGHT Friday, November 12 - CMCAA ceili, (Irish social dancing) First Christian Church, corner of 10th and Walnut Streets in downtown Columbia. Beginners lesson at 7 pm, dances start at 7:30. Read more about our monthly dances: http://www.moceltic.org/second-fridays.html
Music this month:  Kerry Moran (fiddle), Shannon Spellman (whistle) and Heinrich Leonhard (guitar)
Caller:  Christine Harker

Set dancing club continues to meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Beginners are welcome to come join us.
Set dancing is an ancestor of American square dance, done in sets of 8 dancers. Figures are danced to jigs, reels, polkas and hornpipes.
Learn more about set dancing here: http://www.ceili.wizardisland.org/dance.html

Friday, November 19 - CMCAA concert in Columbia - Randal Bays and Daithi Sproule
Fiddle, guitar and vocals.
Unity Center of Columbia, 1600 W. Broadway. 8 p.m.
$14 public, $12 CMCAA members,  $5 kids age 6 - 16. (kids 5 & under free)
Daithi Sproule is known for inventing and popularizing the DADGAD guitar tuning for Irish traditional music and also as a member of the renowned band Altan. Randal Bays, Indiana native, played in the band Wildgeese in the 1980s and recorded with Martin Hayes and others while living in Portland, OR.
"One of the few Americans to have mastered the complex art of East Clare fiddling." - Gearoid ÓhAllmhurain
"His playing has power and passion...simply a joy to listen to." - Dirty Linen Magazine
"A musician's musician." - James Kelly
http://www.bays-sproule.com

Saturday, November 27, CMCAA concert in Columbia - Úna Ní Fhlannagáin and John Ó Flannagáin, vocals, harp and flute. 
The Chez Chandelle Coffeehouse, 100 Hitt St. Columbia, 8:00 p.m.
$12 public, $10 CMCAA members $5 kids age 6 - 14.
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.
THERE ARE ONLY 10 SEATS REMAINING FOR THIS SHOW. IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND, PLEASE E-MAIL OR CALL KATE ASAP.  kakers@chivalry.com 573-442-2048

Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, CMCAA 2004 summer artist-in-residence, is spending this semester at Wesleyan University in CT. We're very pleased that she is making a return visit over the Thanksgiving holiday, and what's more, her father is coming over from Ireland to visit, too.

John Flanagan is part of the Keane family singing dynasty, which includes his cousins, Delores and Seán Keane, and aunts Sarah and Rita Keane (from whom he first learned traditional singing). Equally acclaimed for both his singing and his traditional flute playing, he has performed with the international elite of Irish traditional music, including Martin Hayes, Christy Moore, Tony MacMahon, Joe Burke, Mary Bergin, and, of course, Dolores Keane and Seán Keane.

Una and her father John have been playing music together since Una was 5 years old. We can thank John for Una's musicianship as he's been her strongest influence and mentor.  We're delighted to have them here for a social visit, as well as hosting this special performance.

Pat Egan  and Patrick Ourceau (both of the traditional band Chulrua)
Saturday, December 4 -- in Jefferson City
co-sponsored by CMCAA and Rosewood Music Store in JC

This will be a house concert at the home of Tom, Nina and Evan Meeks. Tom is the owner of Rosewood music and is excited to collaborate on this concert with CMCAA to present it in Jefferson City.

As with all house concerts, seating is limited, so reservations are requested. You can make a reservation by e-mailing Tom at tmeeks@roseint.com

Chulrua has performed in Columbia many times over the years.  Last year the band adopted French-born fiddler Patrick Ourceau who's masterful Irish fiddle playing has earned him great applause across Europe and America.  He's been a featured fiddle instructor at the Augusta Heritage Center Celtic Week and Milwaukee Irish Fest.

Further details and bios of Pat and Patrick are posted here:  http://www.moceltic.org/pat-patrick.html

CMCAA and First Night bring Irish traditional band Cé to play at First Night. They will do a performance set and also play for a ceili during the festival.  Christine Harker will be the caller for the ceili.

Cé (formerly called Anam Ri) are a young band from Milwaukee Wi whose members are all amazingly accomplished musicians for their young ages.  Anam Ri played at First Night two years ago, and we're very pleased to welcome them back this year.

First Night Columbia is an alcohol-free, family oriented festival of the arts in downtown Columbia that offers an alternative way to safely celebrate the new year. The festival features 8 venues with live performance throughout the evening (from 6 pm - 11:45pm) in a wide variety of genres - all kinds of music, poetry, puppetry, storytelling, dance and hand-on projects for kids.  Kids fireworks display at 9 pm and fireworks finale at midnight in Courthouse Square. For more info see http://firstnight.missouri.org/  

The regional Celtic arts calendar has been updated with all the events I know of locally and  from St. Louis to Kansas City and a few other places.  Be sure and check it regularly for updates:
http://www.moceltic.org/calendar.html

Boys of the Lough will perform two concerts December 8 and 9 at The Focal Point in St. Louis.
The last time they were in town, both shows sold out well ahead of time, so if you plan to go, get tickets early. www.thefocalpoint.org

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