Nowadays, people tend to get news about their community through 24 hour news channels, Facebook, and texting. Although these methods service our society’s need for instant gratification for answers, there was a time not so long ago that storytelling was the preferred means of delivering information. Storytellers would captivate a large gathering of local townspeople with tales of adventures, of foreign lands, or the announcement of an exciting discovery or invention. Music played an important role and the storyteller would often bring a band of musicians with him/her to make the event more lively.
The history of the Irish storyteller is rich in tradition and continues to be a vibrant part of Irish-American gatherings. Centreville Bank, The North Kingstown Arts Council, and the I.C.E. Agency are proud to announce the tradition of Irish storytelling and music comes to the Tuesday Night Music Series with Celebrating Ireland on Tuesday, July 29th. I recently caught up with Celebrating Ireland at a practice session in Providence. The group was gathered on the front porch of one of the band member’s homes and had even drawn a crowd from some of the local neighborhood residences. Indeed, carrying on the tradition of storytelling.
“What are the names of the group and what instruments do you play?”
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Phil Edmonds - Button accordion, Irish whistle or “tin whistle”
Mary King - Celtic harp, fiddle, bodhran or “irish drum”
Find out what's happening in North Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Dan Lanier - Acoustic guitar, fiddle
“Is this your typical lineup?”
Yes, we have had several lineups over the years but this is the group we are currently travelling with.
“How would you characterize your style of music?”
Mostly Irish jigs, old time pieces, shanties. Stuff that the audience really enjoys - lively tunes, Irish reels. Reels for the casual Irish music fan refers to music for Scottish and Irish dancers and is mostly related to English, Scottish, and Irish folk music.
“Who are your influences?”
Lennon and McCartney, the Chieftains of course. Altan, the Irish folk music group. Believe it or not B.B. King, Sonny Terry + Brownie McGhee. Blues music has so many parallels to what the Irish storytellers did back when they travelled from village to village. The Blues tells of the struggles and dismay of the songwriter and delivers a message to their community.
“Who are some artists you are listening to now?”
Maeve Parsons. Eileen Ivers the fiddle player. I’m listening to a lot of Cape Verdean music. I’m particularly keen on sea shanties originally sung by whalers from the Caribbean, New England and Europe. These men told the stories of what it was like to be on the whaling vessels of the 19th century. The whaling industry is prominent in our New England history. These sea shanties are sung in a wide variety of style such as African and Calypso themes, all improvised and in exquisite harmony.
“What are some interesting facts about Celebrating Ireland?”
For us, its all about carrying on the tradition of Irish storytelling - communities laughing and having a good time with the music. Phil goes out into the crowd and dances with the kids and fans. That is truly a sight to see.
“Where do you typically play?”
We play in a wide range of venues. Libraries, wine tastings, schools. We play in MA, RI, and CT. A mix of indoor and outdoor venues.
“How did the name of the group come about?
I was thrilled to meet the Irish storyteller Marilyn Murphy Meardon about 14 years ago. She was an amazing storyteller and had songs and stories and Irish humor that made me smile. I wanted to hang out with her more often so I got a group together so we could sing Irish songs and hang out with Marilyn. Plus I was raised in the Irish culture and it seemed like a natural progression for me musically.
“What, if any, connection to you have to Wickford?”
Dan, our guitar player, played with the Wickford Express back in the 1980’s. They were a folk music group that performed folk music and popular sea shanties.
“Is this your first year playing the Tuesday Night Music Series?”
Yes, this is our first year.
“Ok, what can fans expect to see from Celebrating Ireland?”
Traditional Irish music, a few originals, and some fan favorites.
“What does it mean for Celebrating Ireland to be playing the Tuesday Night Music Series?”
Oh, we are delighted to be performing. I love the connection with the crowd. Music is a universal language, connecting the present to the past. We love seeing the kids dance and laugh. On a warm summer night, I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening than dancing, laughing, and being with your community.
Come out Tuesday July 29th to hear the beautiful storytelling of Celebrating Ireland. For more information on Celebrating Ireland, visit their website at www.celticharpri.com. For additional information on the Tuesday Night Music Series, videos, music samples, and more visit the official website at www.wickfordmusicseries.com.
