New England Celtic Arts in partnership with The Franco American Heritage Center will present
the highly acclaimed Celtic band POGEY at The Franco Center in Lewiston on Tuesday, July 21, at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage,on Wednesday, July 22 and at Lakeside Theater in Rangeley on Thursday, July 23. There will be a pre-show jam at 6:15 p.m. at FAHC and at Skye. Audience members are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam for a few minutes with the artists.
This will be the second of seven concerts shared by the two theaters this season as a pilot project to bring live performance music to the Rangeley Lakes Region. “With the high demand for seats at Skye Theatre, sharing with Lakeside is a perfect fit,” says Phill McIntyre, director of New England Celtic Arts. “With gas prices going out of site it makes even more sense to take the music to the people, we can fill both theatres and our $10 ticket price is more than affordable when you consider what it now costs to travel to the big city for the same quality of show.”
Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nudibranch recording artists POGEY combine original Celtic/Rock tunes with stellar instrumentals. The group performs with genuine spontaneous and spectacular energy. They have the audience the minute they hit the stage. POGEY’s fourth CD is their most ambitious project to date. This self-titled recording was recorded at Common Ground Studios in Halifax with producer/engineer Christopher Mitchell (Meatloaf, The Rankin Family, Bruce Guthro of Runrig and more).
Mitchell’s creative vision and POGEY’s fresh original material helped to spawn an exciting new sound for the group. In 1997, lead singer Ray Mattie moved his young family to Barrie, Ontario (just north of Toronto) to break into a new music market. The idea was to start an original band with a Celtic/Folk based sound. Unfortunately, after three years of college shows, television features and festival performances, Mattie was never able to find the quality, like-minded musicians to help make this band a reality. To do this, he needed to return home to Nova Scotia.
In the fall of 2000, upon his arrival, Mattie called bassist Jonny Grant. Grant agreed to join immediately and 20 minutes later POGEY was born. As of early 2004 POGEY had solidified a core line up. Warren Robert (guitar/mandolin) and Zach Smith (drums) became permanent members as touring Canada and the US continued. In the spring of 2007 with higher profile shows in hand, POGEY added Colin Grant (fiddle) and Darren McMullen (mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, tin whistle). They will be performing with the six-member configuration and are stopping in Maine for these two concerts only and are on their way to the prestigious Fairfield Irish Festival in Trumbull, Ct.
The Franco American Heritage Center is located on 46 Cedar Street in Lewiston. 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. Lakeside Theater is on Main Street in Rangeley. Ticket price is $10.00 at the door*. For reservations at the theater you wish to attend call: FAHC at (207)-689-2000, or Skye Theatre at (207) 562-4445 or Lakeside Theater at 864-5000.
*(Lakeside Theater is $10 in advance and $12.50 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at the theater or on the website, http://www.rangeleymovies.com
More information is available at: www.necelticarts.com
