Blue Ball Barn 1914 West Park Drive (Alapocas Run State Park) Wilmington, Delaware 19803
Tickets: Adult â Advance:Â $28.00 Adult â Door:Â $32.00 17 & Under:Â FREEÂ when accompanied by Adult
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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.
As they enter their 51st year in 2019, the Tannahill Weavers (Roy Gullane, guitar; Phil Smillie, flutes; John Martin, fiddle; Mike Katz, pipes) are one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can’t get betterâŠyet continue to do just that.
The Tannahills have turned their acoustic excitement loose on audiences with an electrifying effect. They have that unique combination of traditional melodies, driving rhythmic accompaniment, and rich vocals that make their performances unforgettable. As the Winnipeg Free Press noted, “The Tannahill Weavers – properly harnessed – could probably power an entire city for a year on the strength of last night’s concert alone. The music may be old time Celtic, but the drive and enthusiasm are akin to straight ahead rock and roll.”
Born of a session in Paisley, Scotland and named for the town’s historic weaving industry and local poet laureate Robert Tannahill, the group has made an international name for its special brand of Scottish music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms. The Tannahill Weavers began to attract attention when founding members Roy Gullane and Phil Smillie added the full-sized highland bagpipes to the on-stage presentations, the first professional Scottish folk group to successfully do so. The combination of the powerful pipe solos, Roy’s driving guitar backing and lead vocals, and Phil’s ethereal flute playing breathed new life into Scotland’s vast repertoire of traditional melodies and songs.
As we prepare to welcome Jim Malcolm back to our stage on Thursday, March 21 at the Blue Ball Barn (tickets are still available!), we thought it would be fun to dive into the archives and look back to one of Jim’s previous appearances with us.
We first met Jim in the late 1990’s when he replaced Ian F. Benzie as lead vocalist for the Old Blind Dogs and made several appearances with them for us during the years we held our concerts at O’Friel’s Irish Pub on Delaware Avenue in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2002, Jim left the Dogs to pursue his solo career, appearing for us on his own for the first time at the Buzz Ware Center in Arden, Delaware in October of 2003.
From May, 2004 through March, 2006 we held most of our concerts at the 4W5 Cafe, which was located at 4 West 5th Street in Wilmington (hence the name), at the corner of 5th and Market Streets. (Sadly, the venue is no longer in existence). The photos in this post feature Jim’s performance there on November 4, 2005.
Jim Malcolm, at Green Willow – 11/4/2005
Jim has returned to our stage several more times over the years, and each time he continues to charm us with his music, stories, good nature and good humor. Whether he is to you an old friend – as he is to us – or a new face, we hope you’ll come out on March 21 to join in the fun. Visit greenwillow.org, send email to info@greenwillow.org, or call (610) 566 4932 for more details.
Adult – Advance: $23.00 Adult – Door: $27.00 17 & Under: FREE when accompanied by Adult
Advance sales have ended, but tickets will be available at the door for $30.00
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.
Jim Malcolm is the ultimate Scots troubadour. Travelling the world with his guitar, harmonicas, and engaging wit, he sings the traditional songs of Scotland and his own masterfully crafted songs in a style which is modern and accessible, yet utterly authentic. He is highly regarded as an interpreter of the songs of Robert Burns, and has been described as âone of the finest singers in Scotland in any styleâ.
Though he now works solo, Jim was lead singer with the world-renowned and multi-award-winning Old Blind Dogs for eight years, a fantastic experience with some of Scotlandâs finest musicians, taking him to the most prestigious festivals in North America and around Europe.
With family roots in Perthshire and Strathclyde, Jim has been a professional musician since graduating from Edinburgh University. His first arena was the folk music scene in Scotland, where he gigged in almost every town and isle from Berwick to Benbecula and from Stranraer to Lerwick. Working solo or in various bands and combos in far flung pubs, hotels and clubs toughened him up or a future life on the road.
The opportunity to join the already established Celtic folk/rock band Old Blind Dogs saw Jim further explore countries on the European continent and North America, travelling as far as Alaska and Hawaii. Over his eight years with the band, Jim recorded three studio albums and a live cd. Jimâs 2011 release Sparkling Flash sees a band reunion âacross the etherâ, as several Dogs members make a guest appearance.
As a solo performer with ten solo CDs to his credit, Jim can mix it with anyone out there. As well as a renowned singer, he is in the top handful of simultaneous guitar and harmonica players in the world. He plays mostly in the folk guitar tuning dadgad in both fingerpicking and plectrum styles.
His concerts are always highly entertaining, peppered with funny stories and observations, in the great tradition of Scottish artists through the ages.
Tickets: $29.00 Advance Online $33.00 at Door Age 17 & under FREE when accompanied by a paying adult
ADVANCE TICKET SALES FOR THIS EVENT HAVE ENDED, BUT TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR FOR $33.00
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Cash, check or credit card accepted for payment at door.
Since forming in the early 1990’s, Old Blind Dogs have stood on the cutting edge of Scotland’s roots revival. The band has developed its own trademark style with an energetic mix of songs and tunes. Dynamic percussion, polished vocals, soaring fiddle and stirring pipes fuel the delicately-phrased melodies and traditional songs.
The Dogs have released eleven albums and have won numerous awards including the prestigious title of Folk Band of the Year at the 2004 and 2007 Scots Trad Music Awards. Their album ‘Four On The Floor’ picked up the IAP ‘Best Celtic CD’ Award and their last CD, ‘Wherever Yet May Be’ was nominated for the same award.
“A Scots neo-traditional super group, with a bracingly modern musical attack.” (Montreal Gazette)
“The skill, talent and verve with which they played, belied their laddishness and the crowd responded with thunderous applause. Folk is the new rock and roll.” (Evening News)
The Old Blind Dogs play with a compelling energy and intoxicating rhythm, players and audience seem to share a wild ecstasy of emotion. (The Scotsman)
“Old Blind Dogs have mastered the tricky art of innovating within a musical tradition while faithfully revealing its essence.” (Acoustic Guitar)
“Old Blind Dogs bring freshness and colour to acoustic music steeped in centuries of Scottish folklore and history.” (The Los Angeles Times)
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.
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.
Incorporating traditional and original material in a fresh and exciting way, Glasgow-based folk group The Paul McKenna Band has been captivating audiences throughout the USA, Canada and Europe since 2006.
Contemporary yet not straying from its roots, the unique sound of The Paul McKenna Band is created through outstanding vocals, driving guitar and bouzouki, intense fiddle playing, a warm pairing of flute and whistles and dynamic bodhrĂĄn and percussion. Named âBest Up and Coming Artist of 2009? at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, the group has been hailed by The New York Times as âThe best folk band to have come out of Scotland in the last twenty years.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.
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.
1914 West Park Drive (Alapocas Run State Park), Wilmington, Delaware
Tickets:Â $25.00 Advance Reserved/$28.00 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.
Hailed as “one of the most exhilarating acoustic bands on the Celtic map” by Irish Music Magazine, DaÌimh (pronounced like “Dive”) are a long established favorite at folk festivals in Scotland, Ireland, and across Europe. Coming to Delaware as part of their first U.S. Tour,
DaÌimh are based in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, an area renowned for its rich musical and cultural heritage. Twice nominated for Folk Band of the Year at the Scots Traditional Music Awards, DaÌimh are also regulars on BBC television.
Taking their name from the Gaelic word for “kinship,” DaÌimh members include Ross Martin on guitar; Angus MacKenzie on Highland pipes, border pipes and whistles; Gabe McVarish on fiddle; Murdo Cameron on mandola, mandolin, and accordion; and Hanna Reid of New York on vocals. Wherever they perform, they amaze their audiences with their phenomenal instrumental arsenal and commanding vocal performances.
From pyrotechnic jigs and reels to achingly poignant ballads, they run the full expressive gamut of folk music at its best, and are justly renowned for their thrilling live shows. “DaÌimh have carved a reputation from the bedrock of Gaelic culture…authentic Gaelic music with a modern edge and a magnificent range of expression.” (Folkworld)
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.
Alan Reid and Rob van Sante present an evening of old and new music, featuring Alan’s compositions, Battlefield Band favorites and songs from Rob. The show combines open tuned lead and accompaniment guitar work from Rob, Alan’s keyboard, guitar and accordion and fine harmony singing from both.
Alan Reid was a vital member of Battlefield Band from its inception in 1969 until his departure in 2010. In that time he toured all over the world and made almost 30 recordings with the band,
winning awards in Germany, Britain and the U.S. Throughout, Alan was at the heart of the band, his keyboards underpinning the bagpipes and the fiddle. In being the first to use keyboards as an integral part of a traditional folk band, Alanâs contribution to the bandâs story has ensured its stature in Scottish culture as well as its influence on many of today’s Celtic musicians.
Alanâs singing has long been respected by his peers, illustrated when he was invited to participate in the Linn Recordings series on the complete works of Robert Burns. Moreover his song writing has grown in stature ever since the 1980s when his songs first appeared in the band repertoire, lyrical songs steeped in history, strong in storytelling and rich in melody.
Dutch born Rob van Sante is a guitarist of both skill and subtlety. Working for the Battlefield Band for 13 years as their sound engineer for both live and recorded work, he accompanied them on all their tours as their ‘fifth’ member until he left the band in 2010. Rob has appeared on many albums displaying his virtuoso vocal ability both as a lead and harmony singer, also showcasing his undoubted instrumental skills to a variety of projects. All these strands come together to make a perfect foil to Alan and his music.
2012 has seen the release of the duo’s album on the life of Scots born mariner John Paul Jones, a long-term project for which Alan composed the music. The project was commissioned by the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival and the duo also performed a musical drama based on the story with script written by Alan.
1914 West Park Drive (Alapocas Run State Park), Wilmington, Delaware
Tickets:Â $25.00 Advance Reserved/$28.00 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 TANNAHILL WEAVERS are Scotlandâs beloved musical ambassadors, with scores of recordings and countless tours over forty years to their credit. Originally hailed for introducing the mighty Highland pipes in a folk-band setting, the "Tannies" concerts remain forever fresh to their fans â a blend of powerful instrumentals, traditional melodies, and rich vocals. "An especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new." (New York Times)
Born of a session in Paisley, Scotland and named for the townâs historic weaving industry and local poet laureate Robert Tannahill, the group has made an international name for its special brand of Scottish music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms. Over the years the Tannies have been trailblazers for for Scottish music, and their tight harmonies and powerful and inventive arrangements have won them fans from beyond the folk and Celtic music scenes. They are finely established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage: from reflective ballads to foot stomping reels and jigs. The variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirit.
In 2011 the Tannahill Weavers were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame and in 2014 innovative piper Lorne MacDougall joined them. Three times BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the year finalist and nominee for Instrumentalist of the Year in the 2012 Scots Trad Music Awards, Lorne is one of Scotlandâs leading young pipers, even arranging and performing for the Disney Pixar movie "Brave", along with a long list of other accomplishments.
1914 West Park Drive (Alapocas Run State Park), Wilmington, Delaware
Tickets:Â $25.00 Advance Reserved/$28.00 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.
Will Woodson & Eric McDonald are two of the finest young proponents of Scottish music today. With an unusual blend of wind and plucked strings, they bring a breath of sensitivity to a tradition that is often known for high velocity. This unique approach, while rooted in the indigenous music, is also informed by the vibrant traditional music scene of their native New England, wielding a dynamosity that screams of progress. Border pipes, wooden flute, tin whistle, guitar, mandolin, and voice fuse together to create a detailed fabric of tunes and songs. Soaring reels and swinging jigs give way to more contemplative ballads, each displaying the organic chemistry of the duo.
A veteran of the fiddle, having started at age four, Jon Bews of Cantrip came to Scots music from a classical education by way of Goth rock. A prizewinning graduate of the RSAMD in 1994, he has performed and recorded with such diverse artists as Malinky, James Yorkston, Mikel Urdangarin, Ranarim, Deaf Mutes and Samling. In addition to the acclaimed Scottish power trio Cantrip (alongside Eric McDonald), he currently plays with renowned Edinburgh ceilidh band Callanish and critically acclaimed indie rock quintet The Last
Battle. His string arrangements have been sought out by Ewan MacPherson and Fribo and his tunes have won high acclaim across the board. Jon moved to the Scottish Borders in 2003 where he spent two years as Traditional and World Music Development Worker for Scottish Borders Council.
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 6:30 pm. Cash or check accepted for payment. E-mail concert ticket reservations to reservations@greenwillow.org or call 302-456-3242.
Cassie and Maggie MacDonald encompass everything you could ask for in a musical act. Their talent is only surpassed by the joy with which they so generously share it. Exciting and innovative, they have found the perfect balance between musical integrity, and sheer entertainment. While still staying true to their Celtic roots, they have explored and tested the boundaries of traditional music, bringing a breath of fresh air to the genre with their original compositions and arrangements. Sisters, cohorts and collaborators, Cassie and Maggie have been enchanting audiences far and wide with their infectious energy, driving rhythms and lilting melodies.
Cassie and Maggie are turning heads wherever they go and the music community has taken note: They were Canadian Folk Music Award nominees for âYoung Performers of the Yearâ, East Coast Music Award nominees for Traditional Album and double Music Nova Scotia Award nominees for New Artist and Roots Album of the Year. Warren Robinson, Artistic Director of the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival describes them as “A dynamic duo, two sisters whose deepfamilymusical heritage is the launching pad for the finest Nova Scotia fiddle tunes, vocals and step dancingâ
Appearing on stages across Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Bermuda and the UK, the list continues to grow as people are beginning to know the names Cassie and Maggie MacDonald. This year will prove to be the busiest and most exciting yet with performances at the Milwaukee Irish Festival, Celtic Colours International Festival and the Green Willow.
