WGBH presents the 12th annual A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan in two venues this year. As is our tradition, we will return to Harvard University’s exquisite Sanders Theatre in Cambridge for two shows on Saturday, March 16th before adding a matinee at the Cabot Theatre in Beverly on St. Patrick’s Day itself, March 17th.
For the past decade, the A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn concerts have introduced a wide range of new and familiar musicians alike to audiences eager to celebrate the holiday in true Irish. This year’s cast showcases exquisite musicianship from groups and individuals representing the core tradition as well as the wide range of connections to Irish music around the world. The amazing Friel Sisters, Yann Falquet and Pascal Gemme, Keith Murphy, and Katie McNally and Neil Pearlman – with more guests and dancers to be announced shortly!
Keith Murphy, Music Director
Named music director for A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn in 2012, Keith Murphy is a native of Newfoundland and a founding member of Nightingale, a trio that broke new ground in its sophisticated approach to traditional music. He is a mainstay of the Boston fiddle extravaganza Childsplay and has also worked extensively with Tony Barrand on the early twentieth century song repertoire of the Atwood family from Dover, Vermont. He also appears in concert frequently with his wife, fiddler Becky Tracy.
The Friel Sisters
Anna, Sheila and Clare Friel are traditional musicians born in Glasgow with their family roots firmly entrenched in Co, Donegal in Ireland. As sisters, they achieve a close blend on fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes interspersed with songs sang in unison, many from their family and local repertoire. 2018 has been a very exciting time for the girls as they released their new album ‘Before the Sun’ This was launched to a sold out crowd at Celtic Connections 2018 in Glasgow.
Katie McNally and Neil Pearlman
Often referred to as “The new face of Scottish Fiddling in the US,” Katie McNally has made waves in both the American folk music scene and abroad since the release of her debut album, Flourish, in 2013. Her latest project synthesizes her elegant and powerful fiddle playing with the talents of genre-crossing pianist Neil Pearlman, and together they explore the music of Scotland, Cape Breton, New England, Galicia, and beyond.
Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme
Yann & Pascal started their musical journey 20 years ago, busking on the streets of Montréal. They have since played over a thousand shows in twenty countries with the Quebecois trio Genticorum, and they now return as a duo to present an intimate show based on the close musical bond forged by years of touring together. Yann and Pascal are both master entertainers, and this format provides plenty of space for their musical personalities to shine. Pascal’s fiddling, Yann’s guitar accompaniment, and the duo's vast repertoire of traditional songs and tunes are all presented with elegance and effortless musicianship.
We look forward to sharing information on this year’s stellar lineup of dancers with you shortly!
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Sunday, March 17 at 3pm
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