SKAMANIA IRISH
FESTIVAL

Stevenson, WA
September 9-11 2005

ARTIST BIOS

Murray School of Irish Dance
The Murray Irish Dancers enjoy a stellar reputation for providing professional and entertaining performances throughout the Portland metropolitan area, the Willamette Valley, southwest Washington and northern California. The Murray School offers classes for students of all ages, children through adults, wishing to become Irish Dancers. The Murray School welcomes students form all levels of dance experience and of all cultural backgrounds to learn about Irish Dance, Music and Culture and to be part of the Murray team. Some of the fabulous Murray dancers have gone on to achieve top ten finishes in the annual World Championships in Ireland.

Nancy Conescu and Mike Doolin
Nancy Conescu is an internationally respected guitarist and vocalist. She tours Ireland with the group Aontas, plays Irish music festivals and clubs in Ireland, France and the USA, and performs regularly in Portland, OR. She has performed with Joannie Madden, Andy McGann, Martin Hayes, Patrick Ourceau, Randal Bays, Brian Conway, John Redmond, Linda Hickman and Pat Kilbride. Nancy is regarded as one of the great voices in the world of traditional Irish music today. Nancy will be accompanied by journeyman guitarist/bass player, Mike Doolin, who is the highly respected luthier of “Doolin Guitars” and an accomplished musician in many styles.

An Tua
Hanz Araki (flutes, vocals) is the only sixth generation shakuhachi (traditional Japanese bamboo flute) player in the world. After mastering this unusual instrument he turned his focus to the Irish flute and whistle and has never looked back. Bay Area native Dave Cory (banjo, bodhran) has a natural ability matched only by his innate musicality, making him one of the most sought after young players on the new Irish music scene. An Tua will be joined by Dublin-born uilleann piper Tom Creegan and guitar player extraordinaire Cary Novotny.

Johnny Connolly
At 29, Johnny Connolly has already generated a reputation as an accomplished button accordionist of the highest order. Johnny’s talents have paved the way across continents and provided him opportunities to perform and record with many internationally-renowned artists including Kevin Burke, the Chieftains, Patrick Ourceau, and Aidan Brennan. His first solo CD, entitled “Bridgetown”, on the highly esteemed Green Linnet Records label has earned critical claim and brought Connolly to the forefront of the younger generation of traditional Irish musicians. Johnny will be joined by extraordinary banjo player Dave Corey, journeyman percussionist Joe Trump, and longtime guitar accompanist Cary Novotny.


Saint James Gate
An Irish power trio offering dynamic vocals, 3-part harmonies, scorching hot fiddle, funky upright acoustic/electric bass and tight acoustic rhythm guitar. Comprised of three exceptionally talented and experienced musicians, St. Jamesís Gate specializes in a wide range of Irish Music, including beautiful Irish ballads and waltzes, faster than lightning jigs and reels, traditional pub songs and contemporary Irish music. They also incorporate bluegrass, polka, Cajun, and classic English/American rock and folk songs in their broad and exciting repertoire. St. James’ Gate actively plays venues throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Kells, Fado (Portland and Seattle) and Biddy McGraw’s, as well as festivals.


CREMONEA
Cremonea is an acoustic ensemble that infuses Irish traditional music with elements of jazz, classical, medieval, and world music. The band features Jim Chapman on Irish bouzouki and tin whistles, Ned Folkerth on percussion, Elizabeth Nicholson on harp and vocals, Eddie Parente on fiddle and viola, and Tim Renner on stand-up bass. All are seasoned performers with extensive backgrounds in either traditional Irish or jazz music (or both), and influences that extend well beyond either genre.

bohola
We are thrilled to bring you bohola, a band forged in Chicago by three of Irish music's most innovative musicians - accordion virtuoso Jimmy Keane, fiddler extraordinaire Sean Cleland and the remarkable bouzouki player/singer Pat Broaders. With each regarded as one of the best in his field, the combination provides a powerful, rich and distinctive sound. bohola plays a driving, muscular and yet very emotive style of Irish music with deep roots in the 'pure drop' tradition. bohola's debut album on Shanachie Records is championed by the Irish Voice as "one of the most impressive debut recordings ever by an Irish traditional music group." The Courier News added, "Though most of the tunes bohola plays are well over 150 years old, the music comes across more vibrant than the moribund sounds of much of today's alternative rock. Their sound comes from the Irish version of jam sessions, but bohola puts the noodling of many current jam bands to shame." The Irish Echo captured the essence of bohola when it reviewed their debut CD, "The sum here is greater than the parts, and egos are subordinate to both execution and effect. With essentially just box, fiddle, bouzouki, and voice, bohola have crafted an album of intricate, nearly invisible latticework, relying not on gimmickry but on imagination and vision. What a welcome concept: muse imbuing music."


Cul an Ti
Cul an Ti (Gaelic for "the back of the house") has built a reputation as the Northwest's most exciting Irish band. The group infuses traditional Irish music with a contemporary groove, producing a unique sound that is both true to tradition and compelling for the modern listener. Featuring
Cary Novotny On Vocals and Guitar, Johnny "Box" Connolly on Accordion and Bob Soper on Fiddle.

 

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