CARTHAGE – New England Celtic Arts will host “Lúnasa” band members Cillian Vallely and Kevin Crawford at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage, Maine on Sunday September 20th. The concert starts at 7:00 PM. This is the second in a series of three special Sunday concerts being held at Skye Theatre in September. A pre-show jam will start at 6:15 please bring your instruments and join in.
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Starting at age 7, Cillian Vallely learned the whistle and pipes from his parents Brian and Eithne at the Armagh Pipers Club, a group that for over 3 decades has fostered the revival of traditional music in the north of Ireland. Since leaving college, he has played professionally and has toured all over North America and Europe in addition to Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.
Since 1999, he has been a member of the band “Lúnasa,” with whom he has recorded 5 albums and played at many major festivals including Womad, Edmonton Folk Festival and The Hollywood Bowl. He has also performed and toured with “Riverdance,” Tim O Brien’s “The Crossing,” New York-based “Whirligig,” and the “Celtic Jazz Collective.” He has recorded on over 40 albums including “Callanbridge” with his brother Niall, and various guest spots with Natalie Merchant, Alan Simon’s “Excalibur” project with Fairport Convention and Moody Blues, “GAIA” with the Prague Philharmonic and Karan Casey. He has recently recorded on two movie soundtracks, “Irish Jam” and “Chatham” and played pipes on the BBC’s “Flight of the Earls” soundtrack.
Born in Birmingham, England, Kevin Crawford’s early life was one long journey into Irish music and Co. Clare, to where he eventually moved while in his 20’s.
He was a member of Moving Cloud, the Clare-based band who recorded such critically acclaimed albums as Moving Cloud and Foxglove, and he also recorded with Grianán, Raise The Rafters, Joe Derrane and Sean Tyrrell and appears on the 1994 recording The Sanctuary Sessions.
Kevin also tours the world with Ireland’s cutting edge traditional band, Lúnasa, called by some the “Bothy Band of the 21st Century,” with six ground breaking albums to their credit; Lúnasa, Otherworld, The Merry Sisters of Fate, Redwood, The Kinnitty Sessions and Sé. A virtuoso flute player, Kevin has also recorded two solo albums, D’Flute Album and the more recent In Good Company.
A major rebuilding effort is underway at Skye Theatre to expand and bring the arts center into compliance with recent code changes for buildings with public access and assembly in Maine. $5.00 from every ticket sold will go directly to the building fund to aid in the completion of the newly renovated restrooms and handicapped ramps at Skye.
Skye Theater is located 3 miles West of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Rd and US RT. 2 in South Carthage. Ticket price for this special concert is $15.00 at the door. Call New England Celtic Arts at (207) 562-4445 for reservations and directions. More information at: http://www.necelticarts.com
