Advanced Reserved Tickets: $26.00 Tickets Purchased at Door: $28.00 17 & under: FREE when accompanied by paying adult
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Cash, check or credit card accepted for payment at door. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. The Blue Ball Barn is a Delaware State Parks system facility. Park entrance fees will not be in force during the concert. Ample free parking is available at the venue. No alcoholic beverages will be permitted.
Tommy Sands
Tommy Sands, County Down’s singer, songwriter and social activist has achieved something akin to legendary status in his own lifetime.
From the pioneering days with the highly influential Sands Family, bringing Irish Music from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Moscow’s Olympic Stadium, he has developed into one of the most powerful songwriters and enchanting solo performers in Ireland today.
His songwriting, which draws the admiration of Nobel Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney and father of folk music Pete Seeger, prompts respected US magazine Sing Out! to regard him as “the most powerful songwriter in Ireland, if not the rest of the world”.
His songs, like “There were Roses”, and “Daughters and Sons”, which have been recorded by Joan Baez, Kathy Matthea, Dolores Keane, Sean Keane, Frank Patterson, Dick Gaughan, The Dubliners and many others have been translated into many languages and are currently included in the English language syllabus in German secondary schools.
In May 2002 Tommy Sands received an honorary doctorate of Letters from The University of Nevada for his outstanding work as musician and ambassador for peace and understanding and, May 18th was pronounced “Tommy Sands Day in Reno”.
“The gentle songs of a gentle man, ringing out above the tumult and the shouting. . . Through people like Tommy Sands there will be an answer. . .” BELFAST TELEGRAPH
“Tommy Sands has achieved that difficult but wonderful balance between knowing and loving the traditions of his home and being concerned with the future of the whole world. . .” PETE SEEGER
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Cash, check or credit card accepted for payment at door. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. The Blue Ball Barn is a Delaware State Parks system facility. Park entrance fees will not be in force during the concert. No alcoholic beverages will be permitted.
The DuoDuo quartet (duoduoquartet.com) presents an unforgettable night of music, song, and dance, spanning from the intimacy of each duo to a collaboration featuring all four of these innovators and masters of their respective traditions and instruments.
Michigan-born percussive dancer Nic Gareiss and Edinburgh harpist Maeve Gilchrist met while teaching at the Shasta Fiddle Summit in Northern California. They continued their musical relationship with spontaneous collaborations at festivals and chance meetings and later toured together as part of Darol Anger’s band, ‘The Furies,’ finally making their duo debut at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Scotland. Sharing a deep respect for traditional music and culture while drawing on contemporary elements of music, movement, rhythm and improvisation, Nic and Maeve have emerged from the vibrant new acoustic scene as innovators in their fields. The percussion and drive of Nic’s footwork, combined with Maeve’s melodic and improvisational sensibilities, make for an explosive duet sure to delight both the ears and the eyes.
Natalie Haas is one of the most sought-after cellists in Celtic music today. She and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser have toured as a duo for 18 years, wowing audiences at festivals and concerts worldwide with their unique sound. She has appeared on over 50 albums, including those of Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster; Irish greats Altan, Solas, and Liz Carroll; and Americana icon Dirk Powell. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Natalie is currently based in Boston, where she is an associate professor of cello at Berklee College of Music.
Adult – Advance: $23.00 Adult – Door: $27.00 17 & Under: FREE when accompanied by Adult
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Cash, check or credit card accepted for payment at door. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. The Blue Ball Barn is a Delaware State Parks system facility. Park entrance fees will not be in force during the concert. Ample free parking is available at the venue. No alcoholic beverages will be permitted.
Genticorum (L-R): Nicholas Williams, Pascal Gemme, Yann Falquet. (Photo by Louise Bichan)
Over the past 18 years the traditional Quebec group Genticorum (“zhahn-tee-COR-um”) has become a fixture on the international world, traditional, folk and Celtic music circuit. The bandâs six albums met with critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Europe, assuring the band a brilliant future. Known for its energy and its stage presence, Genticorum has given more than 1000 concerts in more than 15 countries. Their only previous appearance for Green Willow was in October, 2006.
Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, the energetic and original traditional âpower trioâ also incorporates the dynamism of todayâs North American and European folk cultures in their music. They weave precise and intricate fiddle, flute and accordion work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast. Their distinctive sound, sense of humour and stage presence makes them a supreme crowd pleaser.
PASCAL GEMME Pascal Gemme is a leading light in Quebecâs traditional music scene. Known as much for his original compositions as his fine interpretation of traditional tunes, Pascal is the fiddler, singer and arranger of the band, Genticorum, whose CDs have met with critical acclaim in several countries.
From a young age, the fiddle music and songs of his native province have captivated him. After graduating with a degree in composition and band arrangements at Montrealâs St Laurent College, he immersed himself in the traditional music around him, playing, collecting and recording music found all over Quebec. Pascal has developed a vast knowledge and is a leading exponent of the music.
Socks In The Frying Pan
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 – 8:00 pm
Grand Opera House – “the baby grand”
818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
Green Willow patrons can obtain a $5 discount for this show by using the code WILLOW when ordering tickets either by phone only.
For full information on this concert and to order tickets, visit the Grand’s page.
Irish Music Magazine says âtheir sound flows in magnetic, energetic waves and so does their banter on stage.â This multi-award winning young trio hails from County Clare in the west of Ireland, a long-established center for sensational Irish music. Blending intricate vocal harmonies, dynamic music ability, and a witty stage presence, AodĂĄn Coyne (guitar) and the Hayes brothers Shane (accordion) and Fiachra (fiddle, banjo) have captivated audiences in Ireland and now the U.S. The worldwide âSock Invasionâ continues in force!
Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Friday, March 16, 2018 – 8:00 pm
Grand Opera House – Copeland Hall
818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
Green Willow patrons can obtain a $5 discount for this show by using the code WILLOW when ordering tickets either by phone only.
For full information on this concert and to order tickets, visit the Grand’s page.
A sensation in their first appearance with The Grand in 2016, the most famous bagpipe band on the planet is back with the wailing pipes, screaming guitars, and driving percussion that has made them popular at home and abroad. Twice honored as the Best Live Act in Scotland, this is not your Grandpa Angusâ pipe band. The Pipers perform the latest hits and pop music classics like youâve never heard them and canât even imagine on bagpipes: Journey, Queen, Gangnam Style, the Titanic theme. The Scotsman praises the Pipersâ âawesome force of unapologetically populist Celtic showbiz.â
Once again, the Green Willow Folk Club is proud to collaborate with Wilmington’s Grand Opera House to co-sponsor several of the Celtic/British Isles music and dance events in their current 2016-2017 season at their main venues on Market Street in Wilmington, as well as The Playhouse on Rodney Square.
Green Willow patrons can score a discount on tickets for these events by using the code ‘WILLOW‘ when ordering tickets online or by phone. The information below on each of these shows includes a direct link to order tickets online. To see all the upcoming offerings at The Grand, visit their main website at thegrandwilmington.org.
Thursday, January 19, 2017 – 8:00 pm
Enter The Haggis
We Banjo 3
Copeland Hall, The Grand Opera House 818 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware
The best and latest Celtic music from Ireland and Scotland, these
Enter The Haggis (1/19/2017 – the baby grand)
two bands will delight with their stunning combination of tradition and innovation. Direct from Galway, We Banjo 3 delighted Grand audiences as openers for Gaelic Storm two years ago, and came back for a headline show in the baby grand. The group does not have 3 members, and they donât all play the banjo; but they do entertain
We Banjo 3 (1/19/2017 – the baby grand)
with a program that is offbeat, funny, and incredibly well-performed. After all, the band includes three all-Ireland music champs. The Irish Echo hails We banjo 3 as âfreshness and finesse bordering on magical.â Enter The Haggis, a Toronto-based band, performs contemporary Celtic music with a rock edge. Imagine bagpipes and fiddles backed up with a rock n roll rhythm section! Festival circuit favorites for more than 20 years, Art Voice says Enter The Haggis is âinnovative yet true to traditionâ and the Washington Post exclaims âno one can anticipate the level of energy they throw down.â
February 21 thru 26, 2017 – (Evening & Matinee Performances, check website for times)
Riverdance: 20 Years
The Playhouse on Rodney Square 1007 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware
The international Irish dance phenomenonâand one of the highest
Riverdance: 20 Years (2/21 thru 2/26, 2017 – Playhouse on Rodney Square)
grossing shows in Playhouse historyâ is back by popular demand in Riverdance â The 20th Anniversary World Tour. Drawing on Irish traditions, the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music into the present day, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures in an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song. Of all the performances to emerge from Irelandâin rock, music, theatre and filmânothing has carried the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance.
Riverdance â The 20th Anniversary World Tour is composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan, and comes directly to North America from a sold-out run across Europe and Asia.
the baby grand, The Grand Opera House 818 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware
Fiddler, singer, and stepdancer April Verch knows how relevant an old tune can be. She took the leap into professional musicianship at a young age, and has been quietly leaping into new, nuanced places for
April Verch (2/25/2017 – baby grand)
more than two decades. Now on her milestone 10th album The Newpart, released in April 2015, Verch digs deep into songs and tunes for the era before the often-mined mid-century heyday of bluegrass and folk. Harkening back to vaudeville and beyond, Verch and her fellow trio members pare down their arrangements, highlighting the simple pleasures of upright bass, guitar, clawhammer banjo, mandolin, voices, fiddle, and stepping in intimate conversation. At the heart lie Verchâs delicate voice, energetic footwork, and stunning playing, a trifecta of talents she brings together simultaneously for the first time on stage. Verch keeps the community-fired celebratory side of her music at the forefront, honing a keen awareness of how to engage contemporary listeners. Even as she plays with the tradition she inherited in her native Ottawa Valley, Verchâs energetic and breathtaking performances speak to the heart of roots music with mature and reflective songwriting, interpreting, and storytelling.
Copeland Hall, The Grand Opera House 818 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware
After nearly two decades and more than 3,000 live shows, Gaelic Storm â the chart-topping, multi-national Celtic band â is looking sharper than ever with their latest release, Matching Sweaters. The new album mixes traditional Irish music with modern influences, creating a sound that’s as wide-ranging as the band’s own audience.
From bluegrass fans and country cowboys to Deadheads, rock &
Gaelic Storm (3/2/2017 – Copeland Hall)
rollers and Celtic fanatics, Gaelic Storm has built one of the most diverse fan bases in modern music. Matching Sweaters helps explain the broad appeal. Rooted in the songwriting of founding members Patrick Murphy and Steve Twigger, the album moves from drinking songs (“Another Stupid Drinking Song”) to energetic instrumentals (“The Narwhaling Cheesehead”) to rootsy pop/rockers (“Whiskeyed Up and Womaned Out”), gluing everything together with the spark and spirit of a band that’s spent close to 20 years on the road.
the baby grand, The Grand Opera House 818 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware
The musical partnership between Alasdair Fraser, known as Scotlandâs premier fiddle ambassador, and the sizzlingly-talented young California cellist Natalie Haas may not seem an obvious one. But the pair displays dazzling teamwork, driving, dancing rhythms,
Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas (3/9/2017 – the baby grand)
and their shared passion for improvising on the melody and the groove of Scottish tunes. Their two instruments duck and dive around each other, swapping melodic and harmonic lines, and trading rhythmic riffs. Fraser, who has been called âthe Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling,â has a concert and recording career spanning 30 years, with a long list of awards, accolades, television credits, and feature performances on soundtracks like Last of the Mohicans and Titanic. Natalie Haas, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, wasnât even born when Alasdair was winning national fiddle competitions on the other side of the Atlantic. Now regularly touring with Fraser and creating a buzz at festivals and in concert halls throughout Europe and North America, Natalie is in the vanguard of young cellists who are redefining the role of the cello in traditional music. The duoâs debut recording, Fire & Grace, won not only critical acclaim, but also the coveted Scots Trad Music âAlbum of the Yearâ award, the Scottish equivalent of a Grammy.
The Playhouse on Rodney Square 1007 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware
A unique program that blends Irelandâs traditional musical vocal
The Five Irish Tenors (3/16/2017 – Playhouse on Rodney Square)
heritage with a modern, vibrant contemporary Ireland. Featuring classics such as âDanny Boyâ and âMy Wild Irish Roseâ alongside Bonoâs âIn a Lifetimeâ and Brendan Grahamâs âYou Raise Me Upâ.
The Five Irish Tenors in âVoices of Irelandâ presents a thrilling,
dynamic program of joy and passion, spirit and love, performed by this magnificent group of Ireland’s leading tenors.
Friday, March 31 thru Sunday, April 2, 2017 (Evening & Matinee Performances, check website for times)
ONCE
The Playhouse on Rodney Square 1007 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware
Winner of eight 2012 Tony AwardsÂź including BEST MUSICAL, ONCE is a truly original Broadway experience. Featuring an
ONCE (3/31-4/2, 2017 – Playhouse on Rodney Square)
impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage, ONCE tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician whoâs about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights⊠but their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance. Emotionally captivating and theatrically breathtaking, ONCE draws you in from the very first note and never lets go. Itâs an unforgettable story about going for your dreams⊠not living in fear⊠and the power of music to connect all of us.
1914 West Park Drive (Alapocas Run State Park), Wilmington, Delaware
Tickets:Â $23.00 Advance Reserved/$26.00 at Door/Age 17 & under FREE when accompanied by a paying adult
Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Cash or check accepted for payment. E-mail concert ticket reservations to reservations@greenwillow.org or call 302-456-3242. Advance reservations end at Noon on the day of the concert.
Enjoy an intimate evening with Archie Fisher, Scotland’s foremost troubadour. Archie has long been recognized for his contributions to Scottish folk music and in 2006 he was inducted into the Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame. In 2007 he was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire), a prestigious honor nominated by his peers and bestowed by Queen Elizabeth for services to traditional music. The most recent recognition of his art came from the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in 2008 when he was granted the Tradition Bearers Award.
During the 1980s Archie turned his attention to freelance radio work and originated several series of documentary programs. He is known throughout the country as the host of BBC Radio Scotland’s award-winning “Traveling Folk” show, which he has presented for over 25 years.
Returning to the recording studio, Archie formed a partnership with Canadian singer and songwriter Garnet Rogers. They toured throughout North America together and Garnet produced Archie’s highly acclaimed album Sunsets I’ve Galloped Into. Archie then released Windward Away, a collection of introspective ballads that evoke the wild and rough beauty of the Scottish Border country. While working on this album, Archie discovered a copy of an old recording he made in the late 1970âs while working with Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy. Because he believed these recordings represented an important period in his music, he felt they were worthy of formal release. Together, Windward Away and The Missing Master represent more than 28 years of Archieâs distinguished writing and singing career.  Now, seven years in the making, A Silent Song finds Archie combining original compositions with his interpretations of classic songs for a wonderful addition to his distinguished catalog.
1914 West Park Drive (Alapocas Run State Park), Wilmington, Delaware
Tickets:Â $24.00 Advance Reserved/$27.00 at Door/Age 17 & under FREE when accompanied by a paying adult
Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Cash or check accepted for payment. E-mail concert ticket reservations to reservations@greenwillow.org or call 302-456-3242. Advance reservations end at Noon on the day of the concert.
CALAN bring together the remarkable talents of 5 young musicians giving a fresh and vibrant sound to traditional Welsh music. With a contemporary and lively approach they breathe new life into the old traditions through their sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing. They blast their way through some of the old favorite reels, jigs and hornpipes with fast paced and uplifting arrangements before melting into some of the most beautiful and haunting songs.
Following the release of their debut album, âBlingâ in 2008, which attracted four star responses from the critics, CALAN have been playing to big audiences and rave reviews at concerts and festivals around Britain and Europe, including the coveted Cambridge Festival; Celtic Connections, Glasgow; Shrewsbury Folk Festival; Moseley Folk Festival; Derby Folk Festival; Bromyard Folk Festival, Whitby Folk Festival a concert tour of Italy, Austria and Belgium along with a number of performances at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany, where theyâve received the award for the Best Group.
The group, whoâve raised some eyebrows with a deliberate policy of eye-catching clothes and presentation, despite the ancient roots of their music, see themselves as a new generation of ambassadors, striving to take their new sound to new audiences, while raising the profile of Welsh traditional music on an international level. With their unique instrumental blend of accordion, fiddle, guitar, Welsh pipes, Welsh harp and the percussive sound of the Welsh clogs, CALAN have certainly found their musical niche and their plan is to continue to delight audiences far and wide!
1914 West Park Drive (Alapocas Run State Park), Wilmington, Delaware
Tickets:Â $15.00 Advance Reserved/$18.00 at Door/Age 17 & under FREE when accompanied by a paying adult
Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Cash or check accepted for payment. E-mail concert ticket reservations to reservations@greenwillow.org or call 302-456-3242. Advance reservations end at Noon on the day of the concert.
The three of them have appeared onstage with The Chieftains, John Whelan, Paddy Keenan, The Teetotallers, and Altan. Haley has performed on the worldwide FleadhTV webcast, and was featured in Fiddler Magazine.
Sean Smith with the Boston Irish Reporter writes of her unique and tremendous talent: âHaley doesn’t take the easy route when it comes to their repertoire of music; sure there are plenty of jigs and reels, but also slow airs, barn dances and horn pipes – including J. Scott Skinner’s outrageously intricate “The Mathematician,” a high wire act in and of itself – all of which exert their own demands and idiosyncrasies on the fiddle.â
Three friends, thirty fingers, and lots of tunes. “Haley, Keegan, and Dylan are absolutely astounding musicians and singers with skills that belie their years. Watching them play made me think that here is a true contender to any modern Celtic/roots band….Watch out scene.” Tim Edey (with The Chieftains)
Green Willow patrons can obtain a $5 discount for this show by using the code WILLOW when ordering tickets either by phone or online.
For full information on this concert and to order tickets, visit the Grand’s page.
Itâs The Red Hot Chilli Pipers â a 9-piece ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers — who have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing to Melbourne and everywhere in between with musicianship of the highest order and a passion for pipes that will leave you breathless. The band has four music degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and all the pipers and drummers have played at the top level in bagpiping.
Since they walked away with the top prize on the primetime TV talent show, âWhen Will I Be Famousâ in the U.K. in 2007, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers haven’t stopped for a breath, other than to inflate their bagpipes! Formed in 2002, The Chillis have fast become a global phenomenon, taking their signature ‘Bagrock’ sound to the masses with their unique fusion of rocked up Bagpipes and clever covers of popular songs from all genres. Their trademarked sound is a unique fusion of traditional pipe tunes â like âThe Flowers of Scotlandâ, âThe Hills of Argyllâ, and âAmazing Graceâ (done Chilli-style, of course!) — and contemporary anthems like Queenâs âWe Will Rock Youâ, âClocksâ by Coldplay, âChasing Carsâ by Snow Patrol, âLet Me Entertain Youâ by Robbie Williams, and a fantastic rock medley of âDeep Purpleâ, âSmoke on the Waterâ, and AC/DCâs âThunderstruckâ.
Green Willow patrons can obtain a $5 discount for this show by using the code WILLOW when ordering tickets either by phone or online.
For full information on this concert and to order tickets, visit the The Grand’s page.
Just as a plant craves light, Celtic people are drawn to music and song. Scattered around the world like seeds on the wind, they are propelled by the powerful rhythms and motifs of a mysterious and exuberant ancient culture. Music is the soul, the very lifeblood of their tradition. It binds them together, even as it sets them apart. This driving passion for music and dance is the keystone of Celtic identity.
Their response to melody, lyric, and the crisscrossing rhythms of Irish dance is reflexive, intuitive, and filled with joy. The Irish embrace their musical culture like no other nation. And their pride in artistry is its own reward. Above all else, it is this natural affinity with music and song that has given Celtic people a truly global voice. A Celtic Voice. Every thundering dance tune and plaintive melody is a separate thread in the broad and colorful tapestry of Celtic music.
Spirit of Freedom tells the story of Irish independence, beginning 100 years ago with the Easter Rising. Akin to America’s 4th of July, the Easter Rising of 1916 created the Ireland we know and love today. Through music, song, dance, and storytelling, Celtic Nights honors the struggle of a people fighting to gain freedom, independence, and true democracy.
1914 West Park Drive (Alapocas Run State Park), Wilmington, Delaware
Tickets:Â $22.00 Advance Reserved/$25.00 at Door/Age 17 & under FREE when accompanied by a paying adult
Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Cash or check accepted for payment. E-mail concert ticket reservations to reservations@greenwillow.org or call 302-456-3242.
The celebrated virtuoso partnership of âthe doyenne of Irish harpersâ (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY) and âone of the UKâs most staggering and influential acoustic guitaristsâ (fROOTS) has brought its special musical vision to venues large and small – from the tiniest of historic churches in England, Germany and Italy to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul, Londonâs Barbican, Sydney Town Hall and the Philharmonie in Cologne â in twenty-two countries on five continents and now Returning to Delaware, having last performed for Green Willow in 1994. Their performances – described by THE IRISH TIMES as âmusic of fire and brilliance from the high-wire act in traditional musicâ – are rooted but eclectic, emotional but adventurous: a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with striking new compositions and Chrisâs delightfully subversive wit.
MĂĄire NĂ Chathasaigh (pronounced “Mawra Nee ha ha see”) is one of Irelandâs most important and influential traditional musicians; in 2001 receiving Irish music’s most prestigious award, that of TRADITIONAL MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR – GRADAM CHEOIL TG4 – “for the excellence and pioneering force of her music, the remarkable growth she has brought to the music of the harp and for the positive influence she has had on the young generation of harpers.â A West Cork background steeped in the oral tradition led her, while still a teenager, to develop new techniques that made it possible for the first time to play traditional music on the harp in a stylistically accurate way. She won the All-Ireland and Pan-Celtic Harp Competitions several times and in 1985 recorded the first harp album ever to concentrate on traditional Irish dance music, The New-Strung Harp – “an intensely passionate and intelligent record and a milestone in Irish harp music” (THE IRISH EXAMINER.) Her approach has been profoundly influential wherever lever harps are played – âa single-handed reinvention of the harp.â
Green Willow patrons can obtain a $5 discount for this show by using the code WILLOW when ordering tickets either by phone or online.
For full information on this concert and to order tickets, visit The Grand’s page.
Under the leadership of the dynamic and irrepressible flute and whistle champion Joanie Madden, these ladies create an evening that includes a spectacular blend of virtuoso instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements, and stunning step dancing. Their continued success as one of the top Celtic groups in the world is due to the ensembles ability to take the best of Irish traditional music and dance and put it forth in an immensely entertaining show.
