I have absolutely no personal knowledge of this group, but that means nothing, LOL… thought I’d share the http://www.moceltic.org news
Central Missouri Celtic Arts Association Newsletter, January 21
In this newsletter:
- DANU CONCERT THIS SUNDAY
- February is membership renewal month
- Teada returns to Columbia in May
Danu concert
THIS Sunday, January 23
Show starts at 7:00 p.m. (doors at 6:30)
Sacred Heart Church Activity Building, 1116 Locust St., Columbia (corner of Locust and Waugh, in the east side of downtown Columbia)
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Streetside Records on Providence, Tiger Tales Books at the corner of Nifong and Forum, or by credit card on our web site at www.moceltic.org
Advance prices: Adults - $14 public / $12 CMCAA members / kids 6 - 16 - $5 / 5 & under free.
At the door, add $1 to prices above (except 5 & under)
High school or college students who show a valid student ID - $8 at the door.
“Danu perform traditional music with a vitality proving irresistible to audiences everywhere”.
-Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo
In 1996 Danu formed when two young bands from Waterford merged together to perform at a festival in Lorient, France. They were immediately booked back again as the headliners for the following year and from that time, Danu was born. They toured the US for the first time in 1997 and have logged miles all over the world since, returning to the US every year or so for a tour, mainly to major festivals and concert halls.
This seven-member band has seen some membership changes over the years, but currently they are mainly back to their original lineup with the notable exception of having recently added a female singer to what has always been a “boy band.” Singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh grew up in the Aran Islands where Irish is the primary language. She sings sean nos (“old style”) Irish language songs as well as ballads in English. She is also an accomplished flute and whistle player, giving the band a unique two-flute sound.
The rest of the members of Danu are:
Tom Doorley (Flute, Whistles & backing vocals)
Éamon Doorley (Bouzouki & Fiddle)
Benny McCarthy (Accordeon & Melodeon)
Dónal Clancy (Guitar)
Oisín McAuley (Fiddle & Backing Vocals)
Donnchadh Gough (Bodhrán & Uilleann Pipes)
You can read bios of all the members at their web site: www.danu.net
Donnchadh is not with the group on this tour because his wife is expecting a baby any day now, but they have another musician standing in for him. Unfortunately, I don’t know his name or what he plays, but I am sure they didn’t just find him on a corner in Nashville looking for a gig!
The band is based in an Rinn (Ring), Co Waterford, one of the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) regions of Ireland. Their traditional roots run very deep, all coming from families of musicians and growing up immersed in the music. But at the same time it has a youthful vitality and excitement that is the heartbeat driving folk music forward rather than letting it stagnate.
In 2004 at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Danu were named “Best Group” and also won the accolade of “Best Original Song” for their performance of “County Down,” written by Tommy Sands and recorded by Danu on their CD “The Road Less Travelled”.
In 2002 at the Irish Music Awards in Dublin, they were named “Best Performance Band” for their incredible charisma on stage.
We’re very fortunate to have Danu perform here in Columbia, as normally they would be financially out of our reach. Their schedule happened to work out such that they were going to be “in the neighborhood” with an open date and it happened to work out to present them here. I’m especially pleased to be able to host them here in Columbia because Danu’s future plans include winding down their tour schedule substantially. It’s difficult and expensive to tour a band with 7 members, and understandably these young musicians have grown to want lives beyond suitcases and tour vans. Perhaps that’s the inspiration for the title of their 2004 album “Road Less Travelled.”
In support of this concert, we received a $375 grant from The City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs through their “small projects funding” process. This grant has allowed us to distribute 70 free tickets to music students at Rockbridge and Hickman high schools, and really bolstered our ability to present this concert successfully. Many thanks to OCA!
So, if you’re going to get out and see one concert in the near future, I hope it’s this one!
If you’d like to hear clips from their album “Road Less Travelled”, go to:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000CC4V7/qid=1106333287/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-8789205-1759938?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
