Day: June 4, 2013

Have you ever heard a Celtic version of our national anthem?  Phildelphia-based contemporary Celtic ensemble RUNA recently performed their unique rendition to open a Phllies game.  You can see a video of the performance at http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=27218189&c_id=mlb.

RUNA will appear at Old Sloop Coffeehouse this Friday, June 7, at 7:30PM, with local Celtic favorites Bob and Jen Strom opening.  RUNA draws on the diverse musical backgrounds of its band members and offers a contemporary and refreshing approach to traditional and more recently composed Celtic material. Through their repertoire of both highly energetic and graceful, acoustic melodies, along with their fusion of music from Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States, this vocal and instrumental ensemble gives its arrangements of traditional songs and tunes a fresh sound.  RUNA consists of vocalist and step-dancer, Shannon Lambert-Ryan of Philadelphia, Dublin-born guitarist Fionán de Barra, Cheryl Prashker of Montreal, Quebec on percussion, Dave Curley of Galway, Ireland on mandolin, vocals, bodhrán, and step-dancing, and Maggie Estes of Louisville, Kentucky on the fiddle. The band often performs with world-renowned guest musicians, including Isaac Alderson on the uilleann pipes, flutes, and whistles. Members of RUNA have played with Solas, Riverdance, Slide, Clannad, Fiddlers’sBid, Moya Brennan, Eileen Ivers, Hazel O’Conner, Full Frontal Folk, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Barcó, Téada, and the Guy Mendilow Band.

Bob and Jen Strom are active session players on the North Shore and have played at the First Saturday Contra Dance in Salem, the Irish Connections Festival, New Year’s Rockport Eve, The Boston Celtic Music Festival, the Salem Maritime Festival, and the Salem Arts Festival. Bob and Jen organized a benefit concert, Shamrock for HAWC, in support of HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change) for four years running, featuring some of the North Shore’s finest Celtic musicians.

The performance will be in the handicap-accessible Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational Church of Rockport at 12 School Street.  Tickets can be purchased in advance for $12 from the coffeehouse web site at oldsloopcoffeehouse.org, at Gloucester Music, and at Toad Hall Bookstore in Rockport.  The suggested donation at the door is $14 for adults, $9 for those 65 and older, $5 for those younger than 18, and $28 for a family.