Our fall concert series
got off to a tentative start; nine days after terrorist attacks on NYC and Washington
D.C., Dervish were scheduled to begin a U.S. tour here at the University of Hartford.
After much discussion, a decision was made to go through with the tour, including a date
at the Knitting Factory only blocks from the WTC!! The flight from Dublin to Boston was
quiet and tense the band reported, but they were greeted by very supportive audiences who
were ready to be entertained, celebrate life and temporarily forget the uncertainties
of the time. The band's two performances here were wonderful including a poignant
rendition of Paul Simon's "American Song," dedicated to all who lost their lives
in these tragedies.
On November 10th, WWUH and Celtic Airs will sponsor a
unique event, the CD launch of Julee Glaub's Fields Faraway. The concert will take
place in the Millard Auditorium to accommodate the large number of Julee's family, friends
and fellow musicians expected to attend as well as the usual crowd of Celtic Airs
listeners/concert goers.
The musicians who participated in the recording of her new
album will join Julee on stage that night. A stellar cast of NYC and Westchester Co. based
Irish traditional musicians. They include Brian Conway/fiddle (twice Al Ireland champion),
Jerry O'Sullivan/ uillean pipes, low whistle, Gabriel Donahue/guitar bouzoouki, keyboards,
accordion, Kevin Goodan/bodhran, Linda Hickman/ flute and Ciaran Sheeehan/ backing vocals.
Some special guests are also expected including step dancers Maeve and Bernadette Flanagan
from the Verlin School of Irish dance, Pearl River, NY. (Maeve was also an all-Ireland
fiddle champion in 2000.) Julee is from North Carolina where she
went to college and first performed in the U.S. She is a singer/ interpreter of folk songs
with roots in two traditions, Appalachian (viz. her North Carolina origins) and Irish. She
lived in Ireland for six years after college graduation and travels back periodically to
gather new material and temper her style in the Irish seisun scene. In addition to a
unique and lovely voice, Julee plays guitar, flute and in performances.
This will be a wonderful night of
traditional Irish music and song filled with the camaraderie of old friends and new fans
joining to celebrate the release of this new album with Julee. Please join us for what
promises be an exciting and heart-warming event.
Susan McKeown, Johnny Cunningham and
Aidan Brennan return to the University of Hartford 12/6/01 with a new edition of their
program of seasonal Celtic music taken from their forth-coming album A Winter Talisman.
This will be an evening of driving songs, stirring tunes and wistful melodies. As with any
gathering where Johnny is in attendance, an ample helping of wit and humor will be served
up as well.
Aidan Brennan is an Irish guitarist
much sought after as an
accompanist. Susan McKeown is an Irishwoman living in America for the past 10 years. She
possesses a lustrous melancholy alto voice and a magical charm, which infuses her live
performances. "Her powerful and distinctive voice with impeccable intonation
transmits on a direct line to the listeners heart." (San Francisco Chronicle) Johnny
Cunningham is one of the world's all-time great Scottish fiddlers and a legendary wit.
Both attributes served him well as an original member of Silly Wizard. His skills in both
areas have grown and matured since those early days.
If you were here for last year's concert,
I know you'll be back. If not, take my advice; this is a great beginning to the darkest
days of the year.
Tickets for both of these shows are
currently on sale through the University of Hartford box office. Call 1-800-274-8587 or
768-4228. We have a great concert line-up
planned for the first half of 2002. I'll give you a brief run down here with further
details provided in upcoming issues of the WWUH Program Guide.
1/11/02 vocalist, Karan Casey (Irish trio)
3/1/02 Na Dorsa (US debut of Irish sextet)
3/15/02 Providence (Irish Quintet)
4/16/02 Kate Rusby with John McCusker and special guest(s)
5/16/02 Cathie Ryan Band (new CD due out)
6/21/02 Craobh Rua (traditional band from North Ireland)
Stay tuned to Celtic Airs/WWUH Tuesday mornings 6:00- 9:00 am for more details on our
concert series, music from the guest artists and much more!
Copyright©WWUH: November/December Program Guide, 2000 |
