Andrew MacNamara, Orla Harrington, and Ged Foley

What a wonderful evening of pure drop tunes, songs, and surprises is on tap for this first of what we hope will be a monthly series. Last year's debut sessions were with Win Horan, Mick McAuley and newcomer Colm O'Caoimh, and then De Dannan arrived with a bang! Harpist Maeve Gilchrist as well as Cleek Shrey and Steph Coleman opened the shows and really wowed the capacity crowds. So this series was off to a great start.
The slight downside of this intimate and iconic venue - which of course is also the real up-side - is there are only just over 100 tickets available. So get in early if you want to be part of this intimate gathering.
Andrew MacNamara is a well known and much admired button accordion player from Co. Clare and steeped in the old traditions of the county's distinctive style and repertoire. Ged Foley has been playing music from a young age and was a founding member of the Battlefield Band, and the House Band, and a longtime member of Patrick Street. His store of songs from Irish to American to his native Northumbrian are always fascinating and his style of accompaniment is sought out by traditional instrumentalists on both sides of the Atlantic. Relative newcomer and fiddler Orla O'Hanrahan is also steeped in the music of her native East Clare but has toured with big shows like Michael Flateley's Lord of the Dance. She has just released her first solo recording.
As an added bonus to the evening, we have asked a young Uilleann Piper, Joey Arbata to come and play for us as well. Joey is originally from LA (the home of Uileann Piping!) makes his home in the Boston area, and is turning heads with a unique old-fashioned approach to the instrument and a resurrecting of some of its old tunes.
The Burren Backroom series is new and principled on intimate, informal presentations held in the atmospheric space created by well-known traditional musicians Tommy and Louise McCarthy in Davis Square, Somerville, Masachusetts.
Hosted by Brian O'Donovan of A Celtic Sojourn on WGBH radio, these gatherings will feature core performers from many different aspects of traditional music as well as special guests, and conversations around the music. As is the custom of the Burren, it is anticipated informal and dynamic post concert sessions will be a feature.
Tickets are $23 in advance, with a $5 discount for WGBH Members. If you are a member, send an e-mail to celtic@wgbh.org and we will send you the code.
Seating is VERY limited so get your tickets today!