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Whaling Museum to host Irish Music Group
 NEW BEDFORD, MA - Craobh Rua (pronounced Crave Roo-Ah) from Northern Ireland presents their Irish jigs, reels, airs and graces on Friday, May 4, 2007 at 8:00 pm as part of the Music Through Time Concerts. Lees Market of Westport is the title sponsor of this popular concert series. The concert will be presented in the theater of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, considered one of the finest performance venues on the South Coast. Tickets are $13 for Museum members/ $18 for all others.
The Belfast group Craobh Rua is regarded around the globe as ambassadors of Irish Traditional Music and impeccable musicians. The band’s name translates from Irish to “Red Branch” and is a name that is well known in Celtic history from “The Red Branch Knights of Ulster.” Craobh Rua takes a refreshing, clean, unpretentious but uncommonly skilled run at some of the greatest music in the world. The band consists of four impeccable musicians who mix traditional instruments such as uilleann pipes, tin whistle, fiddle and bodhran with banjo, mandolin, guitar, bouzouki and great vocals.
The band members of Craobh Rua are among the most exciting musicians in Ireland. Brian Connolly from Belfast was taught the mandolin by his grandfather and then started playing the banjo. He founded the original Craobh Rua in the mid-eighties and remains the driving force behind the band today. Gabe McVarish, on fiddle, originally hailed from California's Sacramento Valley and now resides in the Scottish Highlands. Gabe studied traditional music in Glasgow, where he obtained a BA in June 2003. Gabe also performs with Daimh, Dannsa, Six Foot Ginger and The Claire Mann Band. Jim Rainey, Belfast born, began playing guitar at the age of 16. It was at this time that he first discovered Irish traditional music. His influences are too numerous to list, though he is particularly drawn to Breton music, blues, bluegrass and gypsy swing. Conor Lamb started playing tin whistle when 11 and uilleann pipes at 13. Conor has toured Australia, Denmark and Portugal with the Rhythm of the Dance.
Craobh Rua has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Their performance for the Smithsonian Concert Series was recorded and broadcast worldwide on Voice of America. On stage they have performed with many of the greats in Irish and Celtic music including De Dannan and Alan Stivell. Of particular note, they took part in ”Ireland meets Mongolia” a collaboration in Italy with Egschiglen, a traditional band from Mongolia. Last year they filled the 1200 seat main stage of the New Bedford Summerfest.
So join us as Craobh Rua presents a 2007 Music Through Time Concert on Friday, May 4, 2007 at 8:00 pm in the New Bedford Whaling Museum Theater, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford MA. Due to limited seating, purchasing tickets in advance is suggested. Call the Museum at 508-997-0046 ext 100 for the Front Desk during business hours and extension 188 for the concert line evenings and weekends. The next Music Through Time Concert for the spring is Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams on June 1, 2007. Alan and Helene Korolenko of Barrel of Music Productions produce these concerts. For more information on music in New Bedford go to http://www.barrel-of-music.com |
