Irish Music Concert: Kevin Crawford and Cillian Vallely

[from Jody Cormack]

THE MIDDLETOWN HOUSE CONCERT SERIES presents:

(from the band Lúnasa!)

Kevin Crawford & Cillian Vallely


Friday, March 27, 2009, at 8pm
Middletown Artist Cooperative (MAC650)
650 Main St.,Middletown CT

Suggested donation: $20 general, $10 students, $5 children 12 & under
Please call Jody Cormack 860-983-7963 for reservations
or email jcormack@wesleyan.edu

Please join us in welcoming Kevin and Cillian back for another spectacular performance! This tour is very special as they’re launching their new album “On Common Ground”, an incredibly beautiful and exciting recording! DON’T MISS IT!!

Two years of researching tunes between a heavy schedule of band commitments has led to this exciting new recording from band Lúnasa’s powerhouse melody makers, Kevin Crawford (flutes and whistles) and Cillian Vallely (uilleann pipes and whistles).

Born in Birmingham, England, Kevin Crawford’s early life was one long journey into Irish music and Co. Clare, where he eventually moved while in his 20’s. Starting at age 7, Cillian Vallely learned the whistle and pipes from his parents, Brian and Eithne, at the Pipers Club in Armagh.

Joining Lúnasa in 1997 and 1999 respectively, Crawford and Vallely made their way to the heart of the group and now tour the world, performing and teaching on a full time basis. Having released seven band albums and worked on numerous individual projects, the duo decided to combine their talents and create a distinctive sound with an album of flute and pipe duets.

The combination of uilleann pipes and flute is rare in duet recordings of traditional music and the duo have utilized the unique tonal qualities of their flat-pitched ‘C’ instruments to record the music on “On Common Ground”. The tunes have been sourced from various manuscripts, archives and field recordings but there are also a number of new self-composed pieces, In addition, Kevin and Cillian play a variety of low whistles and are accompanied on guitar by two of Ireland’s most recognised and respected guitarists, Donal Clancy and Paul Meehan.

Irish music in Middletown

For years, Jody Cormack, who works in Wesleyan University's World Music Archives, has hosted Celtic musicians in concert at her home on Margarite Rd. Inspired by former Wesleyan colleague and world music expert, the late Robert Brown, who used to hold "curry concerts" of Indian music at his home, Cormack decided that her love of Celtic music could be celebrated in the same way.

Cormack's house concerts have hosted some of the greats of traditional, and traditionally-influenced Celtic music over the years.

Next Tuesday, October 21, Brian O'Rourke and O'Rourke's Diner will host a special benefit dinner and Fundraiser for the concert series. Run on a shoestring, the concert series is designed to benefit musicians through donations by audience members, but according to Cormack, those shoestrings are getting tight during these recent difficult economic times. With disposable income disappearing, audiences are not as large as they once were.

The fundraiser will feature a multi-course dinner by O'Rourke, live music and a music related raffle of CDs and concert tickets.

The event is nearly sold-out. Seats for the benefit are nearly gone but the remaining reservations can be made by emailing Cormack at jcormack@wesleyan.edu, or by calling at (860) 983-7963.

The next evening, Wednesday October 22, Cormack hosts another in her concert series at her home when Celtic multi-instrumentalist John Carty visits with guitarist Donal Clancy.

Carty, whose acclaim as a fiddler and banjo player have won him renown in Ireland, has performed solo and with bands since he was sixteen. He has recently been touring in a reunion of the legendary band Patrick Street, and has regularly toured as a guest musician with the Chieftans and De Danaan.


John Carty with Donal Clancy
Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at 8pm
145 Margarite Rd. Ext., Middletown CT
Suggested donation: $25 general ($28 at the door), $12 students, $7 children 12 & under
Please call Jody Cormack 860-346-4422 for reservations
or email jcormack@wesleyan.edu