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IRISH MUSIC APPEALS TO ALL
It promises to be festive, exotic in an old-world kind
of way and tap-your-toes fun for the whole family. "There will be a festive atmosphere about the whole place," said John Good, a Welsh/Celtic musician. He is directing and producing the evening concerts, which will be presented monthly in the courtyard of the Cultural Center through December. The center's doors open at 6:30 p.m. with pipers Len and Kathy Wood kicking off the festivities. At 7 p.m., musical group Oceans Apart will open for the main act. That's when Scottish singer/songwriter Andy M. Stewart and Gerry O'Beirne, a contemporary folk musician from Ireland, will take the stage. The concert series aims to expand the Celtic music experience to residents throughout the Valley. "We've refocused our efforts to present a series of concerts with ... some national and international bands," said Bob Radigan, executive director of the Cultural Center. "Our local bands are some of the best in the nation, and we'll keep working with them. We wanted a different dimension and broaden the appeal." He said concertgoers can spread a blanket on the lawn or sit in chairs in the courtyard. "There is going to be a lot going on aside from the music," Radigan said. "This is a real opportunity for people to learn about the Irish and Celtic cultures and participate, opposed to just watching them." Good said the music is all embracing. "Children, seniors, baby boomers, teens, they all seem to relate to the music. It seems to have a universal appeal," he said. Along with the music, there will be food and drink, a children's area, raffles and door prizes. "There will be something for everyone," said Good, who is originally of Cwmafan, Wales. He grew up playing, singing and dancing to Celtic music and hopes to inject his love of the culture to those who attend the concert. Good immigrated to the United States in 1975 and landed in Phoenix in 1989. In the past two decades, he has taught and given bilingual presentations on Welsh culture, including poetry, music and literature to various societies, area universities and at Celtic festivals. "This is our way of keeping our language and our culture alive," he said. "Celtic music, in most people's minds, is associated with St. Patrick's Day, and that's fine. But it falls short of what it is. We're hoping to expand people's views of what this is all about." Tickets to Thursday's show are $20, with discounts for children 12 and younger, seniors, students and groups larger than 10. Celtic concerts continue The "Stars at the Center" series runs through December at the Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. * Thursday: Pipers Len and Kathy Wood at 6:30 p.m.; Oceans Apart, featuring Brid Dower, Steve Colby and John Good, at 7; and Scottish singer/songwriter Andy M. Stewart and Gerry O'Beirne, a contemporary folk musician from Ireland, take the stage at 7:40. Tickets: $20. * Oct. 1: Welsh supergroup Crasdant, with triple harp artistry from Robin Huw Bowen at 6:30 p.m. Championship Welsh clog dancing and Clare Voyant's front man Shea Veno will also perform. Tickets: $15. * Nov. 12: Scottish balladeer Alex Beaton at 6:30 p.m. Pipers Len and Kathy Wood will also perform. Tickets: $15. For each performance above, doors open at 6:30 p.m. * Dec. 5: Doors open at 2 p.m. for the last concert in the series, which ends with an audience sing-along Christmas Carol Concert led by Welsh/Celtic musician John Good. Carols in Irish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Spanish and German. Tickets: $10. Discounts are available for children 12 and younger, students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For more information, call (602) 258-0109 or visit www.azirish.org. Reach the reporter at monica.dunsmoor@arizona republic.com or (602) 444-6925. CAPTION: John Good, a Welsh/Celtic musician, has organized Stars at the Center, four concerts through December. |
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