Galway Americana Festival kicks off tomorrow (15 Sept.)

Thanks to Pete Lamb for the latest news:

The Galway Americana Festival kicks off tomorrow (15 Sept.) with the Unwanted, at the Crane Bar, Sea Road, Galway.

Roscommon-born Cathy Jordan, lead singer for acclaimed group Dervish, moves effortlessly and with soaring voice between sean-nós, Appalachian ballad, and contemporary folksong, lending rich accompaniment on bodhrán and tenor guitar. Her engaging stage presence and easy interaction with the audience turns a simple concert into an evening at home among good friends.

Sligo native Séamus O'Dowd (guitar, fiddle, harmonica) grew up steeped in the tradition of Sligo fiddling, early on expanding his repertoire to include the New World traditions, and today he is as accomplished playing blues on slide guitar as he is playing jigs and reels. Seamus is well known both from his years with Dervish and from his performing with the best of Irish traditional musicians, such as piper Liam O'Flynn and accordionist Máirtín O'Connor.

Rick Epping (harmonica, concertina, banjo, jaw harp), a native of California, has been moving back and forth between Ireland and the United States for over forty years and has been playing the music of both lands since childhood. Having played with musical greats as varied as Bill Monroe, Texas bluesman Mance Lipscomb, and Irish accordionist Joe Cooley, Rick brings to the group a wealth of experience and authentic style.

Together, Unwanted demonstrate a deep understanding and appreciation of the music of both the Old World and the New, and together they have created a seamless fusion of these traditions, showing that the process of transformation arising from the musical ebb and flow along the Atlantic Fringe continues today. Wherever they perform, Unwanted are finding that they are welcome and very much wanted, indeed.

See also the BIB for 25 August.