Irish Christmas in America - US December tour featuring Téada, Cathie Ryan, stepdancing and more

11/02/2005 03:41AM

Connecticut, USA - Irish Christmas in America, a 15-city tour including New York, Washington, Berkeley and Dallas, will bring the spirit of Christmas on a musical and distinctively Irish journey. With music, narration and dance, it will feature Ireland's award-winning traditional band Téada, and special guests singer Cathie Ryan, Gráinne Hambly (Irish harp), and Tommy Martin (uilleann pipes). Local Irish step-dancers will also perform at most venues.

Organized by Téada's Oisin Mac Diarmada, the performance will highlight some of Ireland’s more surprising festive traditions, including that of the "Wren boys" -- costumed musicians who ramble house-to-house on December 26, playing tunes for refreshment or a few pence. This Wren Boys tradition is featured on Téada's CD, Give Us a Penny and Let Us Be Gone (Green Linnet).

"I saw the project as an exciting opportunity to produce a small-scale show of Ireland's wider cultural history and traditions, beyond the mainly musical aspect featured in a regular Téada show," says Mac Diarmada. For details on the tour visit www.greenlinnet.com.

Irish Christmas in America will also promote awareness of Concern Worldwide US, a non-profit humanitarian organization based in Ireland, dedicated to the relief, assistance and advancement of people in the least developed areas of the world.

IRISH CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA -- US TOUR 2005

12/01/2005 Flagstaff AZ Ashurst Auditorium NAU
12/02/2005 Tucson AZ Rialto Theater
12/03/2005 Fallon NV Churchill Arts - Barkley Theatre
12/04/2005 Bishop CA Bishop High School/INYO Arts
12/06/2005 Berkeley CA Freight and Salvage
12/07/2005 Felton CA Don Quixote's
12/09/2005 Washington DC National Geographic -Grovenor Auditorium
12/10/2005 Dallas TX Lakewood Theater
12/11/2005 New York NY Joe's Pub (Family matinee and evening shows. Please note, dancers not at this venue)
12/13/2005 Wilmington DE Grace United Methodist Church
12/14/2005 Lakewood NJ The Strand
12/15/2005 Morristown NJ Morristown Unitarian Fellowship
12/16/2005 Worcester MA Forest Grove Middle School
12/17/2005 St Johnsbury VT Fuller Hall/Catamount Arts
12/18/2005 Earleville NY Cazenovia Theater

World Music Central
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20051006104119772