Arts and Entertainment
For Irish musician, singer and composer Nuala Kennedy, life is often analogous to one’s personal library, replete with inspirations, memories, lessons, cautionary tales, and every emotion on the human spectrum – the scale of it sometimes beyond our... Read more
Dermot Byrne and Yvonne Casey, “As We Feel It” • Byrne’s Donegal-influenced accordion playing has been a hallmark of Altan for nigh on three decades now, while Casey is a fine exponent of the Clare fiddle style who has played with the Ceili Bandits as... Read more
Rockport Celtic Festival sets focus on Scandinavia in its third rendering; The weekend of Aug. 19-21
Already one of the more intriguing and multifaceted live music offerings in the Greater Boston area, the third Rockport Celtic Festival will take place the weekend of August 19-21 at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, with an array of events that pull... Read more
Everything subject to change pending possible Covid-related developments.
•The Burren Backroom series is justifiably celebrated for its traditional music offerings, but organizer Brian O’Donovan and crew have never been shy about exploring other... Read more
Stuart Peak is grateful to the music community for its generosity after health emergency
Community reaches out to help one of its own in need: It’s a classic feel-good tale often found amid the pages of newspapers, on TV news broadcasts, or, in more... Read more
Respected Boston actress, singer, and musician Erica Spyres is a cast member of “Paradise Square,” one of the most ambitious new musicals on Broadway this season. Locally, she has been a long-time favorite, appearing in everything from “Light in the... Read more
A look at Irish/Celtic events in Greater Boston and elsewhere in Massachusetts during this month. All subject to change pending possible Covid-related developments.
•The rural roots of Irish traditional music, and its connection to the natural world, are... Read more
Téada, “Coiscéim Coiligh (As the Days Brighten)” • Almost as old as the 21st century, Téada has long been at the forefront of Ireland’s tradition-oriented bands, built around the vibrant, skillful triumvirate of fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, accordionist... Read more
By R. J. DonovanSpecial To Boston Irish
Enda Walsh knows a thing or two about creating a hit musical.
The multi award-winning Irish playwright and director previously spent time in Boston writing the stage adaptation of the musical “Once,” which went on... Read more
‘Riverdance’ at 27: It’s right for the times, still larger than life, but perhaps closer to us
Dancers parse message: ‘Unity’ … ‘A journey’ … ‘A love story, too’
Among the many millions of people who watched the original “Riverdance” – the... Read more
Summer BCMFest – the warm-weather version of the Boston Celtic Music Fest (BCMFest) – will return to its in-person on-stage format this year on July 3, with a slate of afternoon and evening performances at Club Passim in Harvard Square featuring some of... Read more
Above all, Boston-area Irish music-playing spouses Matt and Shannon Heaton are quite happy to be back performing in person.
After a handful of live events in 2021, the duo’s recent and upcoming schedule by comparison is fairly dotted with in-person gigs... Read more
“The Christmas Revels” has long been one of Boston’s most beloved holiday traditions. Historically, the production highlights a different culture and heritage each season. This year marks the show’s 52nd production. In an effort to be more inclusive, the... Read more
Trip, “A Drop for Neptune” • So, an Irishman, an Englishman, and a Manxwoman walk into the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – and wind up forming a band with three Scotsmen. Thus was born Trip some four years ago, whose debut album here (crowd-funded and... Read more
“Celtic Illusion,” will strut its stuff at The Shubert Theatre on Sat., May 7, fusing contemporary Irish dance with spectacular magic and grand illusion. First performed in 2011, the production is created and choreographed by its star, Anthony Street.
... Read more
Sláinte the band, expressing cheer and fellowship is where their music is at: Born in a Boston College dorm, the ‘club’ now takes its sound up and down Rte. 95
We’ve all heard the phrase at least a few times, usually said among friends and acquaintances... Read more
It’s like the sonic equivalent of a Ken Burns film: 192 tracks totaling 12-and-a-half hours that cover 5 decades of work, supplemented by liner notes and photos, and full of wonderful stories that support an overarching, broader narrative.
“Horse” was the... Read more
Dublin native Padraic Moyles is executive producer / director of “Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show.” Fans know him best for his dynamic work as the show’s former lead dancer, playing more than 5,000 performances internationally. He’s also course... Read more
All subject to change pending possible Covid-related developments
•Club Passim in Harvard Square this month will feature a pair of acts that blend Irish, Scottish, and other Celtic-related traditions with Americana sounds. First is the Boston-born... Read more
Eamon Flynn, “Anywhere But Home” • It’s not as if there haven’t been tributes to Dublin aplenty down through time, in art, music, literature, stage and screen, but this album certainly is one of the more personable and heartfelt ones in recent years.... Read more
