House Concert

THE MIDDLETOWN HOUSE CONCERT SERIES presents:

The Kane Sisters (fiddle)

with Edel Fox on concertina

Monday, July 19, 2010, at 8pm
Suggested donation: $25 general in advance ($28 at the door), $12 students, $7 children 12 & under
Please call 860-983-7963 for reservations.

From North Connemara, Liz and Yvonne Kane, known as The Kane Sisters are much respected musicians and educators. Born in Letterfrack, they were educated in Kylemore Abbey School. They were taught music by their grandfather, local fiddle player, Jimmy Mullen and Mary Finn, a Co.Sligo musician and teacher.

         Liz and Yvonne first came to national and international prominence during the three year period in which they toured with accordion player, Sharon Shannon as members of her band, The Woodchoppers.  They traveled all over the world with her band and are featured artists on Sharon’s album ‘The Diamond Mountain Sessions’. At that time, a Hot Press review by Siobhan Long confirmed  ‘...while 'Fire in their Bellies' (with Liz and Yvonne Kane) is ensemble playing at its best and most naked.'

         Following this period of touring with Sharon Shannon, the girls decided to embark musically on their own and they recorded their first album together entitled ‘The Well Tempered Bow’.

   The Kane Sisters toured Ireland and the United States following the release of their first album and this followed with a second album entitled ‘Under the Diamond’ in 2004. More reviews followed including this extract below:

         “Liz and Yvonne Kane's debut recording ‘The Well Tempered Bow’ was so good in every way it was hard to imagine what the two fiddle playing sisters from Letterfrack, Connemara, would come up with as a follow-up. Well, the old adage "if it ain't broke" is most fitting here. Although they did invite a couple more musicians to participate as accompanists, in all other aspects their new CD is pretty much identical to the first, down to the great mix of esoteric tunes generously sprinkled with more spine-tingling Paddy Fahey compositions. But who's complaining, not me. I loved the first album, and I love this one... almost as much. Liz and Yvonne seem to have a knack for selecting the most gorgeous Irish tunes ever composed-- the jig "The Lakes of Killarney" is on

my list, and so is Liz's own tune "Betsy's Delight"--or having their unique way with old

favorites.” Based in Letterfrack currently, Liz and Yvonne teach music during the school year and tour in the US during the summer.  Between them, they have close to 200 students and travel all over the west coast teaching music.

Their new album ‘Side by Side’ will be launched in July at The Catskills Irish Festival in East Durham, NY and followed by a two week tour with concertina player Edel Fox.

Edel Fox is from Miltown Malbay Co. Clare. She began playing at the age of 7 and was fortunate to be brought up in an area and environment where traditional music was in abundance. Edel learnt much of her music from concertina players Noel Hill, Dymphna O’Sullivan, Tim Collins and Tony O’Connell as well as local musicians such as Pete Haugh, Michael Mahoney and Peadar Crotty. Over the years, Edel’s playing has been hugely influenced by the music and recordings of Willie Clancy, Bobby Casey, Junior Crehan and Mrs. Crotty, to name but a few. Edel spent much of her teenage years playing with, and learning from Jackie Daly, who she cites as one of her influences. In 2004, Edel was awarded the TG4 Gradam Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana (Young Musician of the Year). Since then she has travelled extensively as both a teacher and performer of the tradition. She released an album to critical acclaim with Ronan O’Flaherty in 2006. Edel spent some time studying in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick where she received a BA in Irish Music and Dance in 2007. Edel is a recent graduate of the MA in Music Therapy. In addition to her work as a music therapist, Edel continues to teach concertina and perform extensively. Edel has just released her debut solo CD entitled “Chords and Beryls”.