February 17, 2004
Celtic Band Altan at Pick-Staiger March 3
EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University will celebrate the
best of Irish music when the world-renowned Celtic band Altan performs
traditional ballads, reels and jigs, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March
3, at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
campus.
Formed in
the mid-1980s amidst appearances at Irish festivals and traditional
clubs, Altan was named for a mysterious lake behind
Errigal Mountain in Donegal. The group’s original sound combines
old Donegal fiddle music and unusual northern Irish flute tunes
with rhythms and sounds from a variety of other genres.
The unique
sound of Altan features vocalist Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh,
fiddler Ciarán Tourish, button accordionist Dermot Byrne,
guitarist Dáithí Sproule, bouzouki player Ciarán
Curran, and bodhran player Jim Higgins.
Altan’s repertoire ranges from lively medieval songs to
contemporary tunes written by Bob Dylan, while retaining its traditional
roots. Altan’s traditional Celtic music is reflected by the
group’s most recent compact disc “The Blue Idol,” which
also features vocalists Dolly Parton and Paul Brady.
Single tickets for the March 3 Altan concert are $15 for the
general public, senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff;
and $10 for full-time students. For tickets or more information,
call the Pick-Staiger Ticket office at (847) 467-4000. |