Upcoming Celtic Events

Click on the group's photo to hear a sample of their music.
Seamus Begley & Oisin Mac Diarmada
Presented by the Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay
	When Tuesday, May 21st at 7:30pm	Where House concert in Soquel SUGGESTED DONATION: $20 or $17 to Celtic Society members. (All proceeds go to the performers.) RESERVATIONS/DIRECTIONS: (831) 464-9778 or farmerlyn@hotmail.com
It'll be Christmas in May for traditional Irish music lovers when West Kerry singer & button accordionist Seamus Begley & Co. Sligo's All-Ireland Fiddle Champion Oisin Mac Diarmada, both from the popular seasonal show Irish Christmas in America & the top traditional Irish band Teada, join forces in an exciting & ebullient combination taking place in a intimate, warm & friendly setting. Winner of the prestigious `Traditional Singer of the Year' award for 2013 from Irish language TV station TG4, Begley is the quintessential Irish musician, an eager storyteller known for his sharp wit & famous for pumping out tune after tune with a frisky spontaneity & energy that is sometimes alarming. Mac Diarmada, hailed in the Irish Echo as `one of the most gifted & creative traditional fiddlers playing today,' & Begley have released two CDs, `Le Cheile' (`Together') & `An Irish Christmas Soundscape,' which no home can be truly called happy without having in their music library. The craic is guaranteed to be mighty. For more info, sights & sounds, visit the website at http://musicalireland.ie/artists/seamus-begley-oisin-mac-diarmada.
Hanz Araki & Kathryn Claire
Presented by the Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay
	When Saturday, June 15th at 6:30pm (potluck) 7:30pm (concert)	Where House concert in West Side Santa Cruz SUGGESTED DONATION: Please call (831) 469-4307 or write to spiral@wcliff.org. (All proceeds go to the performers.) RESERVATIONS/DIRECTIONS: (831) 469-4307 or spiral@wcliff.org
Billed as `the next generation of trad music,' Seattle native Araki is a performer of flamboyance & flair on the Irish flute & whistle player & singer who has toured internationally with the Paperboys & the Casey Neill Trio. Claire, from Portland, Oregon, is a fiddler of astonishing technique & grace, a radiant & truly captivating singer & self-taught guitarist. Touring as a duo for seven years has seen their shared passion for traditional music produce magnetic concerts & becoming audience favorites at festivals in the US & abroad. The tremendously talented tandem has been hailed in Irish Music Magazine, `A new path is being opened. Rest assured that the Irish music world is listening & the light has turned on. All credit to the progenitors of this magical bit of business, Kathryn Claire & Hanz Araki' & in Chicago Irish American News, `These two are such a new force on the scene we can't wait to see where they're going. Wonderful stuff. It's a good question which we like more, their playing or their singing. Either way—terrific.' Indeed, on a claire day, you could listen forever to Hanz & Kathryn (& on into the night by the claire de lune.) For more, visit www.hanzaraki.com.
Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller
Accompanied by Aaron Jones on Bouzouki & Guitar Presented by the Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay
	When Tuesday, June 18th at 7:30pm	Where A house concert in Soquel SUGGESTED DONATION: $15 or $13 to Celtic Society members (All proceeds go to the performer) RESERVATIONS/DIRECTIONS: (831) 464-9778 or reservations@haworths.org.
Award-winning young singers & musicians, Leslie & Miller have both been blessed with lovely natural voices that blend beautifully together with critics & audiences responding warmly to their striking arrangements of traditional & contemporary songs & tunes, their friendly & open onstage personalities & their two acclaimed CDs, `In a Bleeze' & `Shadows Tail;' the Living Tradition raving of the former, `Saying that Leslie & Miller are wonderful singers with an amazing talent for arranging & harmonies, is a complete understatement.' Jeanna & Siobhan came to prominence in 2008 as winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award & in 2009 as Scots Trad Music Awards Coming Artist of the Year. In addition, Siobhan was named Scots Singer of the Year at the 2011 Scots Trad Music Awards & singer & fiddler Jeana was twice a semi-finalist for Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the Year. Joined in concert by Scots Trad Music Awards Instrumentalist of the Year in 2004 Aaron Jones from Old Blind Dogs & Litha, the Scotsman enthused of a previous concert by this compelling combination, `An incredible trio of Scotland's finest singers & interpreters of traditional & contemporary Scots song. Whether in close knit unison or boldly intertwined harmony, they combined to spine tingling effect & enthralled the audience.' For more info, sights & sounds, visit the website at www.jeanaleslie-siobhanmiller.co.uk.
Runa
Presented by the Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay
	When Tuesday, July 9th at 7:30pm	Where Don Quixotes International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9 in Felton ADMISSION: $12 advance/$14 at door or $10 to Celtic Society members TICKETS: On sale at Don Quixote's and More Music, 512 Front St. in Santa Cruz. You may also make your reservation by phone or e-mail at (408) 847-6982 or celtsoc@aol.com or purchase your tickets on-line here:
Runa, pronounced Roo-nah & meaning `mystery' or `secret lore,' having made a clean sweep of their local Montgomery Buck Music Awards for Best Entertaining Band, Best Folk Artist, Best Female Vocalist & Best Album – `Jealousy,' come to the West Coast for the first time in celebration of the outpouring of critical acclaim for their third CD, `Somewhere Along the Road' & the nomination by Irish Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist in 2012. Runa's members, who have played with Solas, Riverdance, Clannad, Teada, Slide, Goitse & Moya Brennan, among others, are singer & step dancer Shannon Lambert-Ryan from Philly, Dublin-born guitarist Fionan De Barra, Canadian percussionist Cheryl Prashker, Galway's Dave Curley on banjo, mandolin, bodhran, vocals & step dancing & fiddler Maggie Estes from Louisville. The members' diverse backgrounds in the theatre, bluegrass & classical music makes for an invigorating, refreshing approach to their high-energy renditions of the songs & tunes from Celtic climes. As Irish Philadelphia noted, `There is truly a mystical quality in their playing. They create a lyrical sound that is at once unique as well as seamless' & Gene Shay, co- founder of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, wrote, `For contemporary Celtic music at its very best, so yourself a favor and check out Runa... brilliant.' For more information, sights & sounds, visit the website at www.runamusic.com.

All items on this site are listed free of charge. To have your event listed, contact Bob Breheny by email at celtsoc@aol.com or phone (408) 847-6982.