Calendar
Submit calendar info to:
calendar@corvallisfolklore.org
Seán Gavin & Johnny B Connolly
Seán Gavin, is one of the most highly regarded Irish musicians of his generation. Master uilleann piper and flute player, he is the first and only musician born outside Ireland to win the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal. His most recent recording, Music from the Lost Continent, with fiddler Jesse Smith, accompanist John Blake, and bodhran player Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh, was hailed by The Irish Echo as “traditional music at its best!”
He tours regularly with Téada, as well as solo and other projects. Seán was the Musical Director for the PBS program “I Am Ireland”, and for the long-running Atlantic Steps. He has lectured on traditional music at the University of Chicago, St. Andrew’s in Scotland, and many other locations. He is now back in his native Detroit where he continues to play, teach, and promote traditional Irish music. www.SeanGavinMusic.com
Johnny B Connolly is a Dublin-born accordionist whose exquisite playing has become a byword in traditional circles. After signing with Green Linnet Records, Bridgetown was released to universally glowing reviews. “A joy from beginning to end…Connolly’s playing is skillful and exciting,” All Music Guide. “Connolly is clearly a master of the box accordion’s many possibilities.” Bill Compton, Sacramento News & Review
Johnny has taken the rich fluid sound of his box playing around the world with other great artists including Solas, Kevin Burke, Nuala Kennedy, Ged Foley, Tony Furtado, Aidan Brennan, and Casey Neill. He has appeared at many festivals including the Dublin Ohio Irish Festival, North Texas Irish Festival, Austin Celtic Festival and ICONS Festival in Boston.
Friends of many years, Seán and Johnny have a special chemistry. A sure and certain mastery of their instruments, combined with a love of traditional music and wide knowledge of both tunes and players, makes this a very special duo. Prepare to be amazed!
Capacity is limited to 30
any remaining tickets on the day of the show will sell for $30
Meet and socialize at 6 with the concert starting at 7
Brazilian choro music by
Choro na Cozinha (CnC)
Choro is a Brazilian music style whose parents were Portuguese harmonies and African rhythms. In turn and in time, choro gave birth to other Brazilian forms like samba and bossa. Choro tunes are lively and lovely, traditionally played in a small ensemble. In that tradition, CnC is a quartet of 7-string guitar, 10-string bandolim, clarinet, and a hand drum called the pandeiro. We supplement the choro repertoire with songs from related Brazilian styles, sung in Portuguese. The Arts Center is a delightful small venue, the perfect setting for an intimate concert of this very fun music.
Find a sampling of their music at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcogGWpf6gK3KkqqAGEONQ/videos
Old Blind Dogs
The musical evolution of Old Blind Dogs began in Aberdeen in 1992 with roots that grew from the eclectic music scene that flourished in the Granite City during the early 90’s. Four musicians from very different musical backgrounds came together to create a full-time professional touring band with the aim of showcasing the rich tradition of songs and tunes of the North East of Scotland on an international stage.
Like many of the early flag bearing Scottish folk bands, the Old Blind Dogs line up has faced inevitable changes over the years but the core values at the band’s musical heart continue to beat strong. The current band line up has been settled for several years now and consists of four of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians at the top of their game. Original member Jonny Hardie (fiddle/vocals) is joined by Aaron Jones (cittern/guitar/vocals), Ali Hutton (pipes/whistles) and Donald Hay (percussion/vocals) and collectively they comprise one of the hottest live tickets on the traditional Scottish music scene today.
Attendance is limited to 300 so get tickets early!
See COVID requirements: https://www.whitesidetheatre.org
Dàimh, Gaelic Supergroup and unchallenged champion, play straight in the eye Highland music and are based around West Lochaber and the Isle of Skye.
Formed around the turn of the century and taking the name from the Gaelic word for kinship Dàimh (pronounced Dive) have taken their contemporary take of Highland and Gaelic music to over 20 countries, setting audiences alight from Moscow to San Francisco.
With a reputation as giants of the Bagpipes and Fiddle, Angus Mackenzie and Gabe McVarish lead the melodic powerhouse with fellow founder member Ross Martin underpinning the groove on the Guitar. The Band is joined by new guy Murdo Yogi Cameron on Mandola and Accordion to complete the instrumental line up.
Recent achievements include receiving the MG ALBA Folk Band of the Year Award in 2015 and 2018 and passing the halfway mark on their career ambition of performing on every populated Scottish Island.
Zimfest
Zimbabwean Musical Festival
Concerts
Music & Dance
Workshops
African Marketplace
Cultural Presentations
Other Events
General Information Schedule
Cantrip -Celtic music
The name Cantrip is an Old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell or piece of mischief and it aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in their musical arrangements, likewise the compelling potency of their musicianship. Swirling border pipes, raging fiddle, thunderous guitar and three rich voices blend to create a sound energetic enough to tear the roof off. Echoes can be heard of trad music from the 1960s and 70s, but the years have slowly infested their music with the sounds of funk, metal, bluegrass, swing, and even klezmer. After 20 years of touring, Cantrip has found a character like no other. Dan Houghton, Jon Bews, Alasdair White and Eric McDonald stir the elements in a witches’ cauldron, slowly coalescing into chaotic order.
Hanneke Cassel
with Tristan Claridge
and Christopher Lewis
Effervescent and engaging, Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel’s fiddle music fuses influences from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton with Americana grooves and musical innovations. She has performed and traveled across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Hanneke’s music is a blend of the contemporary and traditional, described by the Boston Globe as “exuberant and rhythmic, somehow wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness.”
A benefit for the July 25-28, 2024
Advance ticket sales at Grassroots Books and Music
Dick Hensold
and
Patsy O’Brien
Music born from the age-old traditions of Ireland, Scotland, England and Cape Breton is given new life in the hands of two of its master musicians.
Piper Dick Hensold and guitarist and singer Patsy O’Brien deliver an astonishing evening of songs, tunes and stories that have stood the test of time, and leave both the serious music lover and casual listener wanting more.
Dick and Patsy will offer workshops on Saturday, April 13, at 10am. More details to follow.
A benefit for theJuly 25-28, 2024
Advance ticket sales at Grassroots Books and Music
Countercurrent
Countercurrent is an acoustic folk music duo based in Olympia, Washington, composed of Alex Sturbaum and Brian Lindsay. They have achieved nationwide acclaim for their high-energy style, which draws on deep traditional roots from Ireland and North America while incorporating new influences to create a sound that is at once unique and timeless. Alex’s driving guitar and gifted songwriting, Brian’s lyrical fiddle and rock-solid foot percussion, and the duo’s lively interplay, tight vocal harmonies, and unstoppable groove make a Countercurrent performance an event unlike any other. Wherever they go, the question remains the same: “How does that much sound come out of just two people?”
For this special fundraiser concert, they will be joined by renowned New England fiddler Cedar Stanistreet for twin fiddle harmonies and driving dance tunes that can’t be beat! Countercurrent has a huge following among Corvallis contra dancers. This house concert provides a rare opportunity to hear the full breadth of their musicianship in an intimate, acoustic setting.
Tickets will go on sale April 14 at https://www.corvalliscelticfestival.org/upcoming-events/
The location has a capacity of only 40 people, so order early
Rakish
In a performance that toes the line between concert music and session music, Boston-based Rakish explores tunes and songs from Irish and American folk traditions in a way that reflects their shared interest in and love for old traditional tunes and chamber music. Maura Shawn Scanlin, a two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and a winner of the Glenfiddich Fiddle Competition, wields the technical range of a classical violinist and the deep sensitivity of a traditional musician. Guitarist Conor Hearn, a native to the Irish music communities of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, performs with several traditional music bands. Rakish has taken the Celtic music scene by storm with performances at festivals across North America. This concert, co-presented by the Corvallis Folklore Society and PRAx, is a benefit for the Corvallis Celtic Festival, July 25-28.
“Naturally nimble and stylistically well-matched, with a genuinely infectious sense of delight, heart, and jubilation.” —STRINGS MAGAZINE
Pre-concert happy hour with Celtic harp music by Laura Zaerr, 6:30 p.m.
CFS discount code: cfsceltic24
San Miguel Fraser
Celtic + Castilian fiddle duo, María San Miguel and Galen Fraser, are multi-instrumentalists and educators who celebrate the values of community and traditional music in their unique chamber music style.
San Miguel Fraser is a project that will always stand for connection, celebrating the joy of music and shared inspiration. The dynamic duo was born as a result of the 2020 quarantine with the “Stay At Home Festival”. Thanks to the beautiful and universal folk community, they raised over $60,000 with the aim of bringing light to the world, maintaining morale and financially helping musicians around the globe. The “Stay At Home Festival” family lives on today with San Miguel Fraser.
As a lifelong fiddler and the son of Alasdair Fraser (Scottish fiddle champion), Galen Fraser continues the tradition of bringing us the traditional music of Scotland while adding contemporary tunes, some of which he has written himself. Maria San Miguel adds the voice of traditional Spanish music to the mix.
John Doyle and Mick McAuley
Irish musicians extraordinaire,
John Doyle (guitar) and
Mick McAuley (accordion, melodeon, concertina, whistles, guitar),
both previous members of the Irish-American supergroup Solas, and now soloists on the international stage, will perform a concert of instrumental music and songs in Corvallis before heading to the Yachats Celtic Festival. John Doyle is considered one of the best guitar players of traditional music in the world and is well-known for his guitar accompaniment of Liz Carroll, Karan Casey, and many others.
John Doyle & Mick McAuley have been playing music together on the international stage for over twenty years. As multi-instrumentalist members of Irish-American supergroup Solas, they combined to create part of the group’s unmistakable early sound which garnered critical worldwide acclaim with the Boston Herald heralding Solas as “The Best Traditional Band in the World”.
John Doyle is the most influential Irish American guitarist of his generation. Born in Dublin, John came up in a family where “everybody played something,” and his father, singer and song collector Sean Doyle, nurtured his interest in the deep wellspring of Irish song.
Kevin Burke
is an Irish master fiddler considered one of the finest living Irish fiddlers. For nearly five decades he has been at the forefront of Irish traditional music and Celtic music, performing and recording with the groups The Bothy Band, Patrick Street, and the Celtic Fiddle Festival. He is a 2002 recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He has been living in Portland for decades but this is his first concert in Corvallis in many years.