Venue Address (Get Directions)

Date and Time

Saturday, March 9th, 2013

7:30pm

Add to my Calendar

Outlook Calendar

Google Calendar

Yahoo Calendar

iCal Calendar

Age Limit

All Ages

Details

Lúnasa
Ireland’s all-star quintet Lúnasa has quickly become one of the most sought-after bands on the international music scene. Their inventive arrangements and bass-driven grooves are steering Irish acoustic music into surprising new territory. Called an “Irish music dream team” (Folk Roots) and “the new Celtic royalty” (Boston Herald), Lúnasa made their worldwide recording debut in 1997, and met with instant acclaim. Their eponymous self-produced album became an immediate best-seller in Ireland, topping Hot Press’ folk charts and called one of the year’s top ten by the Irish Echo. Appearances at international festivals across Europe, Japan and Australia included the Montreux Jazz Festival and a main-stage performance at London’s Guinness Fleadh. On their first American tour, word-of-mouth led to sold-out shows and rave reviews. “A standing-room only crowd in New York Confirmed Lúnasa’s reputation,” wrote the Irish Voice. “This is the hottest Irish acoustic group on the planet.” They appeared on CNN, and performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the Chicago Celtic Festival.

Named for an ancient Celtic harvest festival in honor of the Irish god Lugh, patron of the arts, Lúnasa is indeed a gathering of some of the top musical talents in Ireland. Its members have helped formed the backbone of some of the greatest Irish groups of the decade. Bassist Trevor Hutchinson was a key member of The Waterboys, and later of the Sharon Shannon Band. Master guitarist Paul Meehan (Karan Casey Band, North Cregg) has recently replaced founding member Donogh Hennessy. Fiddler Sean Smyth is an All-Ireland champion who has played with Donal Lunny’s Coolfin: and Kevin Crawford, considered to be among the finest flutists in Ireland, also plays with the acclaimed traditional group moving cloud. Add to this uilleann piper Cillian Vallely (of the same talented musical family as brother Niall Vallely of Nomos and Karan Casey Band) and you have the makings of a powerful new ensemble. Check out their website here.

Opening Act: Slua

Three prominent members of the Pittsburgh music scene have come together to form the Irish Traditional influenced “Slua,” (the Gaelic word for crowd). Dublin born singer/songwriter Mark Dignam is a member of “Mark Dignam and The House of Song.” Luci Tedesco (fiddle) comes from a twist of Pittsburgh Irish bands, most notably “Devilish Merry,” and her own Bluegrass/Americana band, “The Black Honey Rollers.” Kip Ruefle (Bodhrán-or Irish Drum) lands in from stints with Celtic-infused “Callán,” Devilish Merry” and rock band “ATS.”

Slua leans heavily toward the collection of ballads that Mark remembers being sung at parties in homes around his Dublin neighborhood. Luci and Kip round out the sound beautifully with their knowledge of American as well as Irish roots music, creating a powerful blend of songs and tunes that will satisfy every ear.