| August
8-10 in Butte, Montana: Press release: REKNOWNED
HEADLINER ACTS NAMED FOR EXPANDED MONTANA IRISH FESTIVAL At first blush,
you might not think about Montana as a place for great Irish entertainment. But
since 20 percent of the state's population is of Irish ancestry, it might not
be so strange after all. Why not plan a great western vacation this summer, with
the following spectacular event? Lúnasa, The Makems, Ken O'Malley
and Kathleen Keane, the Trinity Irish Dance Company and the Michael Collins Pipe
Band all will appear at the expanded An Rí Rá Montana Irish
Festival, August 8-9-10 in Butte, Montana. The Montana Gaelic Cultural
Society festival organizers announced this internationally and nationally
recognized list of performances in a preview of the activities scheduled for this
three-day celebration. Montana's own outstanding Irish music groups will perform
as well, including Dublin Gulch, Lark Ascending, Finnegan Ridge, Swallowtail
and Wilson and McKee. Ireland's Lúnasa
has become one of the most sought-after bands on the international music scene.
The five-member group is a gathering of some of the top musical talent in Ireland,
and its first American tour performed to sold-out shows and rave reviews. The
Makem Brothers represent the third generation of their legendary family of
Irish-born singers. Their performances have been honed in the presence of some
of the world's best known and most prolific singers and musicians. Their father,
Tommy Makem, first came to world prominence with the Clancy Brothers in the 1960s,
and continues to perform today.
Ken O'Malley and Kathleen Keane
have performed to enthusiastic audiences in Montana before, and return with their
versatile style to present audiences with music to reward every listener. Ken
is a native of Ireland, and has performed all over the world, both solo and with
such groups as The Mulligans, Blended Spirits, and currently, The Twilight Lords.
He is skilled with a large variety of instruments, as well as singing in both
the Irish and English language. Kathleen Keane also performs with a vast number
of traditional instruments and is an accomplished singer and step-dancer, but
is perhaps best known for singing and her skill with the tin whistle and violin.
Her credits include work with Gaelic Storm, and appearances in movies such
as The Road to Perdition. The merging of the talents of Ken and
Kathleen brings a world-class level of Irish music to Montana this summer. The
Trinity Irish Dance Company comes to the Festival from Chicago, crossing dance
and cultural boundaries in its presentation. The company includes 22 dancers between
the ages of 18 and 24, and has performed to critical and popular acclaim on stages
throughout the world. The An Rí Rá Festival will take place
in Butte this year for the first time. It has been held for the past three years
in Missoula, Montana. A family-oriented event, it includes an Irish art show,
film festival, genealogy, drama and history programs, music, language and dance
workshops, children's activities, a golf scramble, and participation by numerous
food and product vendors. An outdoor Irish Mass will be conducted on Sunday, as
well. Another feature of the festival is the raffle, with top prizes of a trip
to Ireland, a trip to a Notre Dame game and a trip to a Green Bay Packers game.
Most of the festival activities will be presented in Uptown Butte, on Park Street
between Main and Montana Streets. For more information, check mgcsonline.org
or phone 1-800-735-6814.
Feature: Bernadette
Price
Original Web Design: Alexander
Servas
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