Our friend Karen MacLeod (whom I wrote about in a previous post) has done a very lovely thing. Shortly after I was admitted to hospital this past July, and as expenses mounted, she approached me with the idea of presenting a concert event to try to offset the financial issues we incurred during my treatment. Never had anyone done something like this for me before, and I wasn’t quite sure what to say, except a rather meek, “thank you.”
Jump forward 6 months and we’re just about 2 weeks away from The Big Evening. The concert takes place at the Registry Theatre here in Kitchener on Sat January 14, 2012 and features 4 bands, a silent auction, original artwork by one of Ontario’s most renowned Celtic artists David Rankine, refreshments and just good old fun!
The featured performers include:
Traddicted: an ensemble traditional Irish players from Stratford and London kick it into high gear and travel the wintry roads to begin the evening’s festivities! These accomplished session musicians include Beth Beech (keyboard), Mary Lynn Ashton (fiddle), Les Starkey (bodhran) and Paul Gribbon (uillean pipes).
Gaedelica: inspired by poems and prayers of the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles, Karen MacLeod’s songs are infused with haunting melodies and intricate guitar work. (I’ll be joining Karen for a few selections as well)
Dulcimerhead: visual artist and former Presbyterian elder joins up with Norse death metal percussionist to create Celtic music the way Hendrix would have wanted it. (It’s true. You can’t make that up.) David Rankine on Appalachian dulcimers and Fernando Villalobos on percussion will raise eyebrows and spirits with their “Celtic-Persian Trance” improvisations.
Cairdreas: Multiple UK award winners and arguably Ontario’s King and Queen of traditional British Isles folk music, Steafan Hannigan and Saskia Tomkins bring several of their 800+ instruments–and singer Marsala Lukianchuk–to play a rousing set of tunes and songs from the Seven Alternative Celtic Nations: Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Sweden, Romany, North Carolina, and Argentina 
Here’s the poster for the evening, created by Mr. Rankine:
Ticketing and other details can be found on the event’s Facebook page.
