Irish, Old-Time, Acadian Music Week
June 30 - July 4, 2014
Liz Carroll
Fiddle, Guitar, Banjo, Songs
Liz Carroll is one of the very best Irish style fiddlers and tune-smiths of our time. Since she was 18, when she astounded the Celtic music world by winning the Senior All-Ireland Championship, Liz and her fiddle have been amazing audiences around the globe. In recent years, she has been honored with many accolades, including the nomination for a 2010 Grammy, with John Doyle, for their duet album, "Double Play." In April of 2011, Liz was awarded the Cumadóir TG4, the first American-born composer honored with Ireland's most significant traditional music prize.
And the summer of 2013 will see the release of Liz's first solo album since 2002's "Lake Effect." Produced by Seamus Egan, and with many guests, it features new tunes composed by Liz.
Liz's recordings are in the majority her own compositions, and they have given her a stature equal to that of her playing. When you listen to a Liz album, you're hearing the tunes of a composer celebrated for invigorating the traditional styles of Irish music. Her compositions have entered into the repertoire of Irish and Celtic performers throughout the world.
In fact, Liz published a book of her compositions in 2010, called "Collected." It's a compendium of music that she began composing when just a child. Now in its second printing, it's what Liz's fans and fellow musicians have been clamoring for for years. Thanks to funding by the Shamrock Traditional Irish Music Society and the Milwaukee Irish Fest Foundation, it's available via Liz's web site at www.lizcarroll.com.
It's these tunes, as well as Liz's vital performances on concert stages, television and radio, that have established her as one of traditional music's most sought after performers.
"Lost in the Loop," released in 2000, won Liz new fans around the world, as it garnered an Indie Award and Liz being named Traditional Performer of the Year for 2000. In 1988, "Liz Carroll," was chosen as a select record of American folk music by the Library of Congress, no less. That same recording was called "a milestone achievement in the career of a fiddler reaching beyond herself," by critic Earle Hitchner.
But it is Liz in concert that has entranced audiences throughout the States, and also in tours of Ireland, Europe, and Africa. Neil Tesser of Chicago's Reader marvels that "her quicksilver lines can captivate violin admirers way beyond the bounds of Hibernia." P.J. Curtis of the Irish American says that Liz "conjures up a dizzying mixture of the sweetest tones, the fastest runs, and the most dazzling display of musicianship imaginable." One of Liz's proudest concert moments was at the 1st American Congress of the Violin, hosted by Yehudi Menuhin.
In 1994, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Liz a National Heritage Fellowship for her great influence on Irish music in America, as a performer and a composer. First Lady Hillary Clinton presented the award which bestows national recognition on artists of international stature.
Fiddle, Guitar, Banjo, Songs
Bruce Molsky stands today as the premier old-time fiddler in the world, the defining virtuoso of Appalachia's timeless folk music traditions. That must feel odd for a former engineer from the Bronx, who didn't begin a music career until he was forty. But folded into those strange facts is the secret to his unique genius.
In addition to a prolific solo career, performing on fiddle, guitar, and banjo, Molsky frequently joins genre-busting supergroups, like the Grammy-nominated Fiddlers Four, and Mozaik, with Hungarian Nikola Parov, and Celtic giant Donal Lunny. He was on Nickel Creek's farewell tour, and performs in a trio with Scottish fiddler Aly Bain and Sweden's great Ale Moller.
"Playing in these kinds of groups is an important part of what I do," Molsky says. "Regionalism was one of the hallmarks of traditional music in the old days; now we're in the Information Age, and I don't think that's what folk music does anymore. But the more cultures I discover, the more I realize that folk music performs the same function for everybody; and therefore is the same thing everywhere - just spoken with different accents."
Great fiddlers ask him to teach at their fiddle camps, including Alasdair Fraser, Jay Ungar, and Mark O'Connor, who says Molsky has "a mystical awareness of how to bring out the new in something that is old."
John Doyle
Guitar, Bouzouki, Songs
John Doyle is from a musical family in Dublin. His influences include well known English folk singers Nic Jones, Martin Carthy, Richard Thompson, and The Watersons; Scottish singers Dick Gaughan and John Martin; and fellow Irishmen Paul Brady and Al O’Donnell as well as his father, Sean Doyle - probably the biggest influence of all. John went on the road as a pro at 16 with the group Chanting House which he formed with Susan McKeown and which eventually included such great players as Seamus Egan, Eileen Ivers, & Donogh Hennessy. John went on to form the highly acclaimed super group, Solas, with Seamus Egan, John Williams, Karan Casey and Winifred Horan which took the folk and Celtic music worlds by storm, in no small part due to John’s powerhouse rhythmic guitar style and innovative arrangements. As a member of Solas, John performed to sold out audiences nationally and internationally as well as appearing on many national TV and radio programs: NBC’s The Today Show, various programs for National Public Radio and Public Radio International, A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, E-Town and World Caf笠As part of that critically acclaimed group, he also received three NAIRD awards and a Grammy nomination for the band’s self-titled first recording.
After leaving Solas, John has gone on to perform and tour with other greats in the Folk, Celtic and Bluegrass worlds - Eileen Ivers, Tim O’Brien (John was included on Tim’s 2006 Grammy-award winning CD, Fiddler’s Green), Linda Thompson, Kate Rusby, Cathie Ryan and many others. He has appeared on soundtracks for the feature film, The Brothers McMullan, Soldier, PBS’s Out of Ireland and also composed the music for the film Uncle Robert’s Footsteps and the play Down the Flats as well as performing on countless recordings as guitarist and/or singer for other notable artists such as Kate Rusby, Linda Thompson, Tim O’Brien, Alison Brown, Seamus Egan, Eileen Ivers, Mick Moloney, Cathal McConnell, Karan Casey and so many others (check out the discography page for a full list).
In recent years, John has gained major prominence in the Celtic and Folk worlds in duos with Chicago fiddler Liz Carroll (their recording, "Double Play" received a 2010 Grammy nomination for "Best Traditional World Music Record"); as Karan Casey and John Doyle; as McGoldrick, McCusker and Doyle (with the greats Michael McGoldrick and John McCusker); and as 1/3 of the stella trio "The Teetotallers" with Martin Hayes and Kevin Crawford. 2008-2010 saw John on the road with the legendary Joan Baez as her music director and guitarist.
With the release of John's most recent solo recoding, "Shadow and LIght" (Compass Records) in 2011, his significant talents as songwriter and singer are finally coming to the fore. Impossibly in demand in the studio and on the road, immensely talented and blessed with an acute ear, a wicked sense of rhythm and seemingly endless bag of chops in his playing, composing, performing and producing, John has firmly established himself as one of the most versatile, creative and prolific voices in folk and traditional Irish music.
Vishtèn: Emmanuelle LeBlanc, Pastelle LeBlanc, Pascal Miousse
Bodhran, Piano, Whistles, Dance, Voice.
A descendant of one of the first colonial families on her father’s side, Emmanuelle gets her Irish roots from her mother’s side. She grew up with her twin sister Pastelle in the Evangeline region of Prince Edward Island. She was raised with a passion as much for dance as for music. The magic of the stage fascinated her. “On stage, we feel energy that comes from the public – and this makes us want to give even more.” She wants her next musical projects to be traditional, while also being enriched by new influences, by music and composers from here... It is through her work as an artist that allows Emmanuelle to take her strength from the contact and interaction with the public. Through this, she is able to communicate her heritage.
Pastelle LeBlanc
Accordion, Piano, Dance and Voice.
Noticed at a very young age by a local dance professor who wanted to form a group dedicated to preserving Acadian dancing, Pastelle learned and mastered several styles of stepdancing. She’s taught and created many dance choreographies. A multi-instrumentalist, she favors the accordion. It’s a passion that comes directly from her grandfather who influenced her through his Acadian melodies. “It’s a family tradition. It’s a sound that breathes, that sings, with its rich sonorities... it’s an instrument that sails and swings!” On stage, Pastelle emits this purity... conscious of the necessity to preserve, to share. “This style is precious. It familiarizes us with the songs of yesteryear. Then the music takes us along in the style, too, and brings its own influences. It’s about playing the pieces as we feel them today...” Proud to be Acadian and to know her culture, her compositions are a way for her to continue to develop style and to create new pieces. She hopes they will grow themselves into being considered among the ranks of traditional Acadian music.
Pascal Miousse
Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, Voice.
Pascal is native to the Magdelen Islands, which are part of the province of Quebec. From the ages of four to 10, Pascal took classical violin lessons before starting to play the guitar with his father. From the age of 14 onward, he learned the bass, and played in bars, dance halls and festivals as part of a traditional folk group. At the age of 20, he went on a 10-year tour of eastern Canada with his group. After this involvement in rock, soul and folk, he met Vishten in 2002 at the FrancoFête in Moncton. He quickly took his place in the group, all while showing a large degree of energy and generosity. “On stage, I am grounded.” He feels the roots and takes part fully in this osmosis that takes place during a musical moment – in the freedom of a fiddle – in the improvisation on an “instrument that touches the soul... that touches something inside.” He shares these moments with those who feel the passion he experiences on stage.
Concertina
Pádraig Rynne is regarded as one of the finest concertina players in Irish music today being described by The Irish alphabet stew as "one of the freshest sounds in Irish music".
In his early years Pádraig won five all Ireland titles as well as three Oireachtas titles. By the age of seventeen Pádraig had all ready toured the U.S.A, Canada, Ireland and Australia as well as having recorded an album with the young band "Turas".
In 1998 Pádraig joined the well known band "Cían". That year saw the release of their debut album "Three Shouts From A hill". The following three years saw Padraig record on their second album "The Rolling Wave" as well as releasing a single entitled "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore".
Since his departure from Cian in 2001, Pádraig has worked and recorded with artists of the caliber of Arty McGlynn, Liz Carrol,Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Pauline Scanlon, Flook and Dónal Lunny just to name a few, as well as recording an album entitled "Live in Belfast" with Paul Meehan and Paul Bradley in 2003.
Fiddle, Guitar, Banjo, Songs
A warm-voiced singer, songsmith and accomplished multi-instrumentalist known equally for his potent originals and his intense recreations of age-old ballads and fiery fiddle tunes, veteran Vermont-based musician Pete toured several continents in the fine company of METAMORA, RHYTHM IN SHOES, THE BACKWOODS BAND, his life partner ROSE DIAMOND and his funky dance outfit the CLAYFOOT STRUTTERS, still kicking in their 24th year. His own compositions are a diverse lot, and have been recorded and performed by dozens of artists including ALTAN, JAY UNGAR and MOLLY MASON, NIGHTINGALE, CATHY FINK and MARCY MARXER, CINDY MANGSEN and STEVE GILLETTE and the RED CLAY RAMBLERS. Sutherland has been on staff at dance and music camps and workshops coast-to-coast and is now a widely-known year-round teacher, performer and mentor to promising young folk in Vermont's Champlain Valley, where he is also a record producer, collage artist and poet. His recent recordings include "Streak o' Lean", "The Wilderness Road" and "Sunday River".
Fiddle, Song
Katie Trautz (www.katietrautz.com) is a native Vermont fiddler who has toured nationally and internationally sharing traditional music and original folk songs. She has released numerous albums in the past three years, two of which have won ‘best traditional album of the year in the state of Vermont, and another which recently was voted top 10 by Seven Days Magazine. Katie plays fiddle, guitar and banjo crossing genres with her numerous ensembles. She has studied with some of the greatest fiddle players in the US, including Dirk Powell, Pete Sutherland, James Bryan, Jimmy Tripplett, and Bruce Molsky. Katie has played alongside and shared the stage with many well-known bands including: Aoife O'Donovan Band, Brittany Haas & Lauren Rioux, Dirk Powell and Riley Baugus, Deadly Gentlemen, Sheesham and Lotus, David Wax Museum, Matt and Shannon Heaton, Rusty Belle, Michael Chorney and Dollar General, Brown Bird, Devil Makes Three, Anna Lindblad and Ryan Drickey and many others. Katie is also the co-founder of the non-profit folk music school ‘The Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture’ based in Montpelier, VT.
Flute
Irish flutist Nicole Rabata is highly regarded both in and out of traditional music fields. She has toured America, Asia and Europe including appearances at International Flute Festivals in Stockholm and Lund (Sweden), Temple Bar Trad Fest in Dublin, the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Scotland, guest-artist at the National Flute Conventions in NYC and San Diego, WOMAD Festival in the UK, Festival Interceltique du L’Orient in Brittany, and Interharmony International Music Festival in Bavaria among others. She has been featured on BBC Glasgow and her solo recording was recently featured on NPR. She is featured on the soundtrack to the forthcoming Hollywood production 'The Heavenly Angle' with Natalie MacMaster. Recently she spent two months performing and teaching in India, and was faculty at the Gandhi Ashram school in the Himalayas winter music program that was featured on 60 Minutes. Currently she is on the faculty at Colby College and 317 Main St. Community Music Center in Maine. She plays Patrick Olwell flutes.
Fiddle
Julia lives in Nobleboro, Maine and first studied fiddle with Kaity Newell. She went on to major in music at Bates College, studying fiddle there with Greg Boardman. Equally at home on the stage and on the dance floor, Julia loves the interplay between traditional music and dance forms and has studied traditional music and dance in Québec, Ireland, Brittany, and the southern Appalachians. Julia plays with Baron Collins-Hill in their duo Velocipede and with the band Playgroup. Julia will be teaching both weeks.
Mandolin, Tenor Guitar
Baron grew up playing the mandolin in Maine and recently graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts with a degree in music performance and ethnomusicology. Versed in traditional fiddle music, bluegrass, and jazz, he is known for his rhythmic experimentation and unique harmonic sense on both the mandolin and the tenor guitar. Baron plays with fiddler Julia Plumb in their duo Velocipede.