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After taking the month of December '05
off, the Celtic Airs concert series swings into action again on
January 20th, 2006 when we welcome Pipeline for their first appearance
at the University of Hartford and only their second trip to
North America. Their first venture to these western shores was an
auspicious one including acclaimed performances at the 2004 Milwaukee
Irish Festival and 2004 Celtic Colours Festival, the most famous
of Celtic festivals in America and Canada respectively.
Pipeline comprises the duo of Dermott Hyde (uillean
pipes, tin whistle, low whistle, small pipes, lead vocals) and Tom
Hake (guitar, bouzouki, harp, backing vocals). They met originally
at a folk festival in Austria 10 years ago but it's only been for
the past 4-5 years they've been fully involved in Pipeline, releasing
their debut CD in 2004. Rumor has it there's a second album in the
works now, so we may have the opportunity to audition some new material
on the evening of 1/20/06.
Pipeline's music is complex, multi-faceted and ornate with
influences of Brittany and Galicia spicing the traditional sounds
of Ireland and Scotland. They favor epic dramatic arrangements where
song and tune are seamlessly blended in long pieces, much like the
Chicago based trio Bohola who have graced the stage of the Wilde
Auditorium twice in past Celtic Airs concerts. Their repertoire
is roughly 1/3rd traditional and 2/3rds new material written in
a traditional style. Dermot is the composer of much of the new material
and says he writes in a traditional style because he worries that
"if the music wanders too far from it's origins, we'll forget where
it came from."
Both musicians have a background in theatrical works which
they put to good use in their live performances. Dermot says "It's
not enough to have great music. People want to be entertained and
it's our duty to fulfill that desire. When people pay good money
to se a Pipeline concert, they deserve to go home happy and smiling
at the end of the night."
Sounds like all who plan to attend the Pipeline concert are
in for a great night of music and more. I'll be looking for YOU
that evening!
After meeting a new band in January, we'll be greeting an
old friend in February when Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies
return to the Wilde Auditorium, February 18th , 2006 at 7:30PM.
The legendary singer -songwriter Richard Thompson has said
"Jez Lowe is the best songwriter to come out of England in a long
time." The Boston Globe agreed saying "Some of the greatest English
folk songs since the heyday of Richard Thompson come from the pen
of Jez Lowe." Contemporary musicians are also impressed by Jez Lowe's
writing. His songs have been recorded by Fairport Convention , The
Dubliners, The McCalman's, The Tannahill Weavers, Cherish the Ladies
, Mary Black and Gordon Bok just to name a few.
Jez Lowe is a Geordie, a resident of Northumbria on England's
northern border with Scotland. His hometown of Durham was once a
thriving coal mining community, but has fallen on hard times since
the Thatcher regime and is now part of the depressed "post industrial
North" of England. Much of the material for his songs comes form
the people and events that populate his life. His first album was
released in 1980 and his 14th and latest, "Doolally", came out in
2005.
The Bad Pennies have been a fluid, frequently changing back
up ensemble for Jez when he chooses not to tour solo. The current
line up comprises champion Northumbrian small piper Andy May, Kate
Bramley on fiddle and vocals and newest member Sean Taylor on bass.
A Jez Lowe / Bad Pennies concert always provides good music
and good fun. I'm sure this one will be no exception. I trust you'll
be one of the satisfied customers in attendance on the evening of
2/18/06.
Tickets for the WWUH/Celtic Airs concert
series are only available through the University of Hartford box
office, open 10:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday through Friday. Call 1-800-274-8587
or 1-860-768-4228 to purchase tickets by phone. On line purchases
can be made at www.hartford.edu/hartt.
Tickets go on sale 2 months before the performance date.
If you're not a regular listener to Celtic
Airs, I hope you'll give me a chance to change your listening habits.
Tune in any Tuesday morning between 6:00 and 9:00 AM to see what
you've been missing for the past 13 years! There will be lots of
new releases, plenty of favorites from the past and ample opportunity
to sample the music of the next artist featured in our concert series.
I look forward to talking to YOU soon!
WWUH: Program Guide 2006 ©
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