Upcoming Traditional
Celtic Music Events

Altan - The premiere Irish traditional band. "Altan continues to be one of the Celtic world's great treasures, gifted with a front line that is sheer powerhouse," says the Los Angeles Times. Celebrating their 25th anniversary, this Irish traditional band has delighted fans from Donegal to Tokyo to Seattle, performing in some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, and the Alte Opera Frankfurt. The members of Altan have always believed that Irish traditional music is a modern music in every sense, and in addition to having gained gold and platinum record status, they have played and recorded with the Chieftains, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, Alison Krauss and Ricky Skaggs.

Patrick Ball-  O'Carolan's Farewell to Music -this is a one-person musical theater piece which brings to the stage the legendary life, the turbulent times and the captivating music of this most celebrated Irish artist. Interspersed with performances of 14 of Carolan's tunes played on the rare wire-strung harp, the play tells the harper's story through the character of poet and harper, Charles MacCabe, Carolan's life-long friend and traveling companion.
www.patrickball.com

We begin the evening with Mick Moloney's illustrated presentation on Jewish and Irish collaborations in vaudeville and early Tin Pan Alley. Rich with biographical details and period and contemporary recordings, Mick tells the story of good natured inter-ethnic flux, competition and cooperation which left a lasting imprint on music in America.

The evening continues with a concert with AthenaTergis  (5 string fiddle) and Mick Moloney (vocals, guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, octave mandolin) playing tunes and songs of these fascinating times from both sides of the Atlantic.

San Francisco native, Athena Tergis, won the National Scottish Fiddling Championship in Virginia at age 11, later turning to traditional Irish music. As principal fiddler in Riverdance Broadway, Athena distinguished herself as a musician of great scope, with influences ranging from Irish traditional to jazz. She recently released her first solo CD, A Letter Home (Compass).

Limerick-born Mick Moloney combines the careers of traditional Irish musician, producer, and scholar. He holds a Ph.D. in folklore and folklife from the University of Pennsylvania and currently teaches at New York University in the Irish Studies program as well as maintaining an active career performing on banjo, mandolin, and bouzouki and recording, including his recent, award-winning CD McNally's Row of Flats (Compass).

Kevin Burke's Open House w/ Sandy Silva, Paul Kotapish and Mark Graham The group combines the diverse talents of Irish fiddle icon Kevin Burke, the supreme exponent of the silken smooth County Sligo fiddle style, who has also toured & recorded with The Bothy Band, Patrick Street & The Celtic Fiddle Festival & formed notable partnerships with Micheal O Domhnaill & Cal Scott, releasing a second recording with Scott, entitled ‘Suite,’ in March, singer, songwriter, clarinetist & harmonica player Mark Graham, who daffy ditties include ‘Life is hard When You’re Dumb,’ ‘I Can See Your Aura and It’s Ugly’ & a song about the dinosaurs, ‘Their Brains Were Small and They Died,’ Paul Kotapish on guitar, cittern & mandolin, who also currently performs with Wake The Dead & the dazzling dancer & foot percussionist, Sandy Silva, who of late has been strutting her stuff with the Quebecois powerhouse, La Bottine Souriante. KBOH passionately & powerfully performs traditional music from Ireland & other Celtic climes, America & from around the world, along with Graham’s striking originals. Their three albums, ‘Open House,’ ‘Second Story’ & ‘Hoof and Mouth’ are all classics & highly prized by collectors. (They’ll be on sale at the concert.)

SOLAS With its remarkable energy, fresh perspective, and superlative musicianship, Solas has risen to the top of Irish music in just a few short years, winning scores of fans on both sides of the Atlantic and three consecutive awards from the Association for Independent Music for Best Celtic Recording. Always known for their penchant for creative arranging and distinctive choice of material, the members of Solas offer a highly original, strikingly contemporary view of traditional Irish sounds. In addition to virtuosic treatments of traditional tunes, expect a fascinating mix of contemporary works by the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Nick Drake, and an overall blend of time-tested styles with folk and country melodies, bluesy, sometimes jazz-inspired improvisations, and rhythms borrowed from all around the globe.

The Solas sound is anchored by two of the most widely imitated musicians in contemporary acoustic music, founders Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar, and bodhran) and fiddler Winifred Horan. Add to this mix Mick McAuley on accordion and concertina, Eamon McElholm on guitar and keyboards, and and vocalist Máiréad Phelan and you've got a force to be reckoned with! Solas' most recent CDs is The Turning Tide (Compass).

The Community Music School of Santa Cruz is planning its annual Teen and Kids' Celtic Music Camps for the summer of 2010.  Learn and perform tunes from Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Brittany, Celtic Spain, Scandinavia, and America, hang out in the California redwood forest, meet new friends, and have a great time!

These traditional music camps are for players of fiddle, flute, pennywhistle, recorder, oboe, harp, guitar, banjo, dulcimer, keyboards, accordion, percussion, cello, bassoon and other traditional instruments. Other activities include dancing, swimming, crafts, knitting, campfire, and bamboo flute making. 

All participants must be proficient on their instrument – these camps are not appropriate for beginners. Sheet music will be available, but we encourage students to learn by ear. 

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Teen Camp: June 21-26, 2010.  Concert at 11 AM on Saturday, June 26.

a) Day Program: Ages 12-17, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.  $450  NEW THIS YEAR!

This program is intended for students wanting more of a challenge than kid camp, but not quite ready for the overnight program, or for students who have evening commitments.  Students will participate in all musical activities, including small bands, group class, camp ensemble and the final concert, as well as fun afternoon activities, such as crafts, swimming, and flute-making. Students will spend 

Friday evening at camp (until 9:30 p.m.)-- the night of the Ceilidh!   Program includes lunch.

b) Overnight Program: Ages 13-18 $575

Spend all day playing music in the redwoods, and have a great time  dancing, watching a movie in the meadow, and sessioning every night!  

Before dinner in the late afternoon the pool is open as well as the volleyball court, ping pong table, basket ball and tether ball.  And of course there will be crafts including flute making.  Program includes all meals and boarding.  Returning overnight students will also have the opportunity to be mentors to new students!

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Kids' Camp: August 2 - August 14, 2010.  Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m.  - 3:00 p.m.  $375.  Ages 7 - 13. Come learn tunes in the redwoods of Bonny Doon and meet other young musicians. Other amenities include swings, a slide, spinny-go-round, and a pool. Bring a bag lunch.  No camp on Sat. Aug.  7th and Sunday Aug. 8th.  Concert on Saturday, August 14 at 1 PM.   Camp will take place at the Boomeria, in Bonny Doon.  Come see the new repaired castle!  (Yes, the typhoon got a tree, which got the castle…)