2.   Coming Events

There is a lot going on in the next couple of months: concerts, festivals, and banquets. Here is a preview.

JANUARY

FRI. JAN 15 FINGAL AT ICC

On Jan 15, the band Fingal will perform at the Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central, Ave, Phoenix, AZ
The world of Irish traditional music is in some ways like the jazz world - there are certain  musicians known to insiders as the "real thing", the genuine creative artists of the music.

These players often combine and recombine in new groups, searching for fresh inspiration. It's safe to say that the members of Fingal would fall into that category, and the fact that they've formed a touring group has got the trad music world abuzz.  James Keane was a founding member of the great Castle Ceili Band in Ireland and is among the truly legendary figures in Irish music; Singer and guitarist Daithi Sproule has been a member of the band Altan for many years;  Randal Bays made two seminal recordings with fiddler Martin Hayes plus a string of highly acclaimed solo releases.  Although this trio was formed only a few years ago, Fingal's musical connections go deep and wide.

They’re playing exactly the music they want to play, and the result is a powerhouse of a trad group that knows how to deliver the full voltage of the Irish music tradition

James Keane was a founding member of the great Castle Ceili Band in Ireland and is among the truly legendary figures in Irish music; Singer and guitarist Daithi Sproule has been a member of the band Altan for many years;  Randal Bays made two seminal recordings with fiddler Martin Hayes plus a string of highly acclaimed solo releases.  Although this trio was formed only a few years ago, Fingal's musical connections go deep and wide.

Randal Bays is a self-taught American born musician who's been playing Irish fiddle for thirty years, and through his recordings and performances has built up a reputation as a master. He's "among the best Irish style fiddlers of his generation", according to Fiddler Magazine. Randal has toured and recorded with many of the great Irish musicians of the day, including James Kelly, Martin Hayes, Michéal O'Domhnaill and many more. His live CD "House to House" (with Roger Landes) was picked by the Irish Times as one of the "top five traditional recordings of 2005". He's performed all over the US, Europe and Canada, and is a respected teacher of Irish fiddle. Randal is a co-founder of the Friday Harbor Irish Music Camp, which takes place every March in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state.

Dáithí Sproule is a native of Derry in the North of Ireland, a renowned traditional singer in both Irish and English, and one of the world's premier guitarists in the Irish tradition. He's widely credited with pioneering the use of DADGAD tuning in the accompaniment of Irish music, a style now used around the world. He's worked with many of the greats in Irish music, and has been for some years a member of the famed Donegal group Altan. The Rough Guide to Irish Music called him "a seminal figure in Irish music." Dáithí has also taught Old Irish, Celtic mythology and Irish music at the University of Minnesota, the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul and University College Dublin. He published a volume of short stories in Irish and several academic articles on early Irish poetry and legend. Dáithí now lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.

SAT  JAN 16 MESA CALEDONIAN PIPE BAND 

4:00 PM Jan 16 the Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band and the Arizona Academy of Highland Dance will have a concert at the Mesa Amphitheatre.

263 N. Center St.
Mesa, AZ
480-641-8073
www.mcph.org

Youth 6-12 $8
Adults $10
Senior $8
Family (up to 4) $27

Families are especially encouraged to come out and enjoy some excellent piping, drumming and traditional highland dancing.  Bring some lawn chairs, blankets and have a picnic with your family, friends and neighbors.

Band formed in 1980
Longest consecutive Competition Band streak in Arizona

Major Championships throughout the Western United States including WUSPBA* "Champion of Champions"

Appeared/performed for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Phoenix Suns, TPC Phoenix Open Golf Tournament, ASU, Phoenix Symphony  and numerous parades and civic appearances throughout Arizona and the Southwest.

Worldwide recognition and awards including appearances and competitions in the World's Piping Championships in Glasgow.

Individual performances include 9-11 ceremonies before President and Mrs. Bush, several of Arizona's Governors and leaders throughout the community.

Piper, drummers and dancers from 12 through 60+ years

* Western United States Pipe Band Association

FEIS IN THE DESERT AT CROWNE PLACE SAN MARCOS

Jan 15 to 17 the Feis in the Desert will be held at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort, One San Marcos Place, Chandler, AZ 85225   http://www.feisinthedesert.org/index.html.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010
Competition Registration opens: 5:30pm — 7:30pm
Opening Night Irish Entertainment Reception, featuring the “Irish Idol” contest!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2010
Registration opens: 7:00am; Competitions begin: 8:00am
Preliminary and Open Championships with corresponding Specials
Adult Solos, Adult Ceile, Adult Specials
Double/Treble Jig Special benefitting Chandler Firemen’s Fund
Irish Bread Baking Competition — entries received all day
“Ducts on Parade” Duct Tape Competition — entries received all day

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2010
Registration opens: 8:00am; Competitions begin: 9:00am
Solos — Ages U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, and 15&O with corresponding Specials
All Figures
Double/Treble Jig Special benefitting Chandler Firemen’s Fund
Irish Bread Baking Competition — entry deadline 11a.m.
“Ducts on Parade” Duct Tape Competition — entry deadline 11a.m.

Jan 30 the Mesa Robert Burns Dinner at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort
One San Marcos Place, Chandler, AZ 85225

“We invite you to join us as we celebrate 251 years of Robert Burns, featuring a traditional observance of a time-honored Scottish event: Burns Night. Formal attire is required.”

Burns Night, effectively a second national day in Scotland, is celebrated on 25 January with Burns Suppers around the world, and is still more widely observed than the official national day, Saint Andrew's Day, or the proposed North American celebration, Tartan Day. The format of Burns suppers has not changed since Robert's death in 1796. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the grace comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, where Burns' famous Address To a Haggis is read and the haggis is cut open. The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. This is when the reading called the Immortal Memory—an overview of Burns' life and work—is given; the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

FEBRUARY

(TUE/WED) FEB 2-3 RIVERDANCE

When:            Feb 2 - Feb 3, 2010
Where:           Ikeda Theatre
 time:  2:00 PM, 7:00 PM

Box Office: 480-644-6500
Administration: 480-644-6501
One East Main Street Mesa, AZ 85201 

RIVERDANCE, the thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe, will playthree Farewell Performances at the Mesa Arts Center. "A Phenomenon of Historic Proportions!" raves the Washington Post. "An explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away," cheers the Chicago Tribune. "A family evening unlike anything else!" exclaims The London Times. Discover why nothing in the world compares to The Original International Phenomenon! Whether it's your first time or your fifth, you won't want to miss these FAREWELL performances of Riverdance! 

FEB 5 - TWO RIVERS RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Located at the West Wetlands Park in Yuma, Discount Tickets Now Available!
SAVE $3 On General Admission (Reg. $10)Adults: $10 at the gate
Children (6-12): $5 at the gate
Military (active duty, spouse, and dependents): $5 (Must show ID at gate)
Children under 6: FREE
http://tworiversfaire.com/ 

The three producers of the Two Rivers Renaissance Faire became involved with faires in the mid-1980s and fell in love with the wonder and excitement that they created for the public. Some considered this time period to be the golden age of Renaissance Faires. We are working hard to bring back the best of those days and, over time, recreate the original spirit and purpose of renfaires - education through play. It's a work in progress as we continually search for the best crafts folk , artisans and entertainers who will add authenticity to the event.

SAT FEB 6 TO MAR 28  ARIZONA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

Directions:

From Phoenix -  Take Highway 60 (Superstition Freeway) past King’s Ranch Road
From Tucson - Take Highway 79 (Pinal Pioneer Parkway) to Florence Junctions then west on Highway 60. 

The Festival - www.royalfaires.com/arizona/

---Looking for a unique getaway? How about a trip back in time?
---Escape to the Arizona Renaissance Festival where pleasure and celebration are the only orders of the day as decreed by the King!
---The Arizona Renaissance Festival is one of the largest of the Renaissance events in the nation because it is really five Festivals all rolled into a ---giant, costumed fantasy village with:
---Twelve Stages of Continuous Live Entertainment
--- An Outdoor Circus
--- A Medieval Arts & Crafts Fair
--- A Jousting Tournament with Three Performances Each Day
--- A Day - Long Feast
---Wear comfortable shoes!

FRI FEB 12 - CARA O'SULLIVAN AT KERR CENTER

ASU Kerr Cultural Center  6110 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85253
480-596-2660

7:30 pm 

Ireland's Premiere Operatic Soprano  http://www.kerryrecords.com/artist_cara.html
 

Cork-born Cara O'Sullivan is an artist with an impeccable operatic pedigree who has risen to prominence as one of Ireland's leading sopranos. She is an instinctive performer with a remarkably full voice, exciting and dramatic, yet always performs with great sensitivity. She has shown herself to be a fearless vocal artist, whether singing Mozart, Verdi, Donizetti, or Puccini. In demand for Opera, oratorio, and song recitals, she is kept busy year-round and across the globe.

Cara's concert career and operatic engagements have taken her all over the world. Spanning an impressive and wide-ranging repertoire, she has been referred to as "The Irish Superstar of her generation" by The Irish Times. The Cincinnati, Ohio press enthused: "Cara O'Sullivan dominated her scenes with a voice of steele and sparkle, and practically pulls you from your seat!"

SAT FEB 13  - ED MILLER HOUSE CONCERT

"Ed Miller is one of the best singers to emerge from the Scottish folk revival, a guitar-wielding folkie who wins his audiences over with a sweet but powerful voice, a great ear for material, and equal doses of populist politics and wry humor. He learned his craft in the sessions, clubs, and festivals of the folk revival, both in Scotland and the United States. Miller is also a scholar with an academic degree in folklore and a deep curiosity about history and culture, and his multiple roles and approaches to music and song make his performances and recordings that much more rewarding." Steve Winick, contributor to The Music Hound --The Essential Albums Guide

“Ed Miller, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland now living in Austin, Texas, is a product of the 1960s folk revival in Scotland. He moved to the United States in 1968 to complete his graduate work in Geography, and later Folklore, at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to his singing career, Ed is the host of a folk music program on Austin's NPR station, KUT-FM.

Ed Miller is a performer who has learned his craft in musical venues on both sides of the Atlantic.... and a folklorist who brings his love of Scotland to every performance. Since 2000 he has led folk-music based tours to Scotland every summer” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Miller_(Scottish_folk_musician

Contact lstrebler@yahoo.com for tickets.

Sheriton Crescent Hotel
2620 West Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021
(602) 943-8200

Dinner and selection   $40
Selection and Desert - $20

Purchase tickets at the Irish Cultural Center, 602-258-0109

www.azcolleen.org or call Ann at 602-568-345535

The program includes interviews of the contestant, a talent competition, and musical interludes.

FEB 27 TO 28 ARIZONA SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES AND CELTIC GATHERING