2011 CONCERT SERIES
1st concert event– Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, January 15, 2011 (SOLD OUT)
2nd concert event–Mountain Heart, MARCH 4, 2100
Saturday, January 15, 2011- Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill
The award-winning Irish fiddler and American guitarist are known for their innovations on tradition, opening Irish music to fans of jazz, classical and world music. The Irish Examiner calls it “as close to a spiritual experience as music can be;” and the Los Angeles Times, “ravishing.”
For many people, Martin Hayes epitomizes the fiddle music of Ireland and County Clare. With his unique artistic vision, profound sense of the tradition’s past, and role in shaping its future, Hayes has come to be regarded as one of the most extraordinary talents in Irish music today. Raised in a family of musicians, he began playing at seven years old and by the age of thirteen was touring with his father’s celebrated ceili (dance) band. His awards include Ireland’s Traditional Musician of the Year in 2008; Folk Instrumentalist of the Year by the BBC; Man of the Year from the American Irish Historical Society; recipient of a National Entertainment Award (the Irish ‘Grammy’); and winner of six All-Ireland fiddle championships.
A master guitarist, Dennis Cahill is a native of Chicago born to parents from County Kerry, Ireland. He studied at the city’s prestigious Music College training in classical and jazz, before becoming an active member of the local music scene. In addition to his work with Martin, Dennis has performed with such renowned fiddlers as Kevin Burke, Liz Carroll and Eileen Ivers. His sparse, essential accompaniment is acknowledged as a major breakthrough for guitar in the Irish tradition. On stage and on record, Hayes and Cahill continue to uncover and discover exciting new directions in the centuries-old music of Ireland.
Friday, March 4, 2011 – Mountain Heart
Mountain Heart is the band that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. The band’s name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acoustic music circles since the group’s creation in 1999. Widely known throughout the music industry for continually redefining the cutting edge, the band has gained legions of fans both as a result of their superlative musicianship, and more notably, their incomparably exciting live performances. As one of the most highly awarded ensembles ever assembled, Mountain Heart, or members of the band, have either won or been nominated for multiple Grammys, ACM, CMA, and IBMA Awards. They have appeared on the revered stage of the Grand Ole Opry in excess of 100 times and have shared the stage with acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montgomery Gentry, George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Brad Paisley to Alison Krauss, Tony Rice, Travis Tritt, LeAnn Rimes, and Patty Loveless.
Mountain Heart’s musical virtuosity, unmatched energy, and keen sense of entertainment dynamics have helped them to forge a highly unique sound, and stage show, which appeals to an incredibly wide variety of musical tastes. From large outdoor folk music and bluegrass festivals, to sold-out arena shows opening for Southern Rock icons, Lynyrd Skynyrd, to co-headlining concerts with the acoustic guitar legend, Tony Rice, Mountain Heart always makes an undeniable connection to an audience, leaving them on their feet. In short, this rare combination of abilities makes Mountain Heart one of the most versatile acts ever assembled.
