Notes from Celtic Airs
Host: Steve Dieterich
November/December 2005

  Thanks to all of you who pledged your financial support during our Fall Fundraiser! If you didn't make your pledge on a credit card, don't forget to mail us your check; no need to wait for a friendly reminder notice. Hope you enjoy your WWUH tote bags and display them proudly when out and about so everyone will know you've made the wise choice for radio listening!

  Special thanks to Joe King, Joe Ryan and Tom Curtis, your fellow listeners (and concert-goers). Not only did they pledge financial support to the Fall Fundraiser, they also donated their time to answer phones during the fund drive while I was on air. Support like this is much appreciated and unfortunately, often goes unacknowledged. Thanks also to "King & Curtis" for their stalwart assistance at each concert; I couldn't do it without you!!

  Speaking of the Celtic Concert Series (nice segue, eh?), we're rolling into the winter season...

Celtic Airs Enters It's 13th Year Of Production In 2006

  Susan McKeown will be here 11/19/05, and then we'll take a break for the month of December, The 2006 season promises to be a great one with some of your favorite bands already signed up (Jez Lowe & the Bad Pennies 2/18/06, Dervish 3/2/06, Craobh 3/10/06 and Danu 4/2/06) and an excellent new band to open the year (Pipeline 1/20/06).

  Sometime in mid-2006 we'll produce our 100th Celtic Airs concert.
I'll give you plenty of advance notice so you can plan to be there to celebrate the momentous occasion! By then, I estimate the concert series will have generated well over $125,000 towards WWUH's operating expenses. In addition to these much needed funds, I think it's safe to say the concerts have provided a lot of fun and excitement for artists and audience!

  Our guest artist 11/19/05 will be Susan McKeown. She has performed in our concert series with Aidan Brennan and the late Johnny Cunningham on three previous occasions, the last 12/02. Susan will be joined by Eamon O'Leary (guitar), Dana Lynn (fiddle) and Lindsey Horner (bass) on this night of Irish traditional music and merriment. Susan was born in Dublin, the youngest of five children, and inherited here love of music from her mother Jeannie, an organist and composer. Susan accompanied her mother to her performances and before she reached her teens, was already singing solos at these events. After her "leaving exams", she entered college as and opera and musical theater major. The latter talents were put to good use during her performances with the Mabou Mines Theater Company's production of Johnny Cunningham's "Peter & Wendy". Over a decade ago, like so many Irish natives before her, she made "the great western migration"…………. to New York's Greenwich Village. She formed an alternative rock band, The Chanting House, and took up songwriting. Her often-dark lyrics have been influenced by sources as diverse as Irish legends, the words of Chief Seattle, the poetry of Emily Dickinson and the daily life of New York City. Eventually, she was drawn back to her traditional folk roots and released acclaimed solo albums, Lowlands (Green Linnet) in 2000 and Sweet Liberty (Harmonia Mundi) in 2004. The third installment of this traditional trilogy, tentatively entitled Blackthorn, is in production now with a projected release date in early 2006. "Susan McKeown has one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in Irish music today" said The Irish Voice. If you've yet to see her live, in concert, don't miss your opportunity when she performs a benefit concert for WWUH on Saturday November, 19th at 7:30pm in the Wilde Auditorium at the University of Hartford.

  Tickets are available from the University box office 860-768-4228 or 1-800-274-8587. The box office is open 10:00 am til 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. On line purchases can be made at any time by going to http://www.hartford.edu/hartt. Tickets go on sale two months before the scheduled concert date.

  Celtic Airs can be heard Tuesdays from 6:00-9:00am. As always, I hope you'll continue to be a faithful listener AND tell friends and family who enjoy Celtic music to tune-in and give it a try as well.

WWUH: Novemeber/December 2005 Program Guide ©