The Smith to Host Renowned Irish Band, Dervish!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Ananda Brutvan, 607-339-9277, abrutvan@thesmith.org
[The Smith to Host Renowned Irish Band, Dervish!]
Photo Credit: Photo Provided
GENEVA, NY – Ring in St. Patrick’s Day at the Smith Center for the Arts with the Best of the Best of Irish Music; world renowned Irish folk band Dervish will grace the stage on Thursday, March 16th at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased on the Smith’s website, here.
Dervish have been bringing Irish traditional music to the world for more than 25 years. Described by the BBC as “an icon of Irish music”, the band have played at festivals from Rock in Rio to Glastonbury, toured with the Irish President and struck up tunes on the Great Wall of China. The Guardian newspaper commented: “Dervish are simply brilliant . . They carry Irish history with them.”
The band’s line-up includes some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, fronted by one of the country’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan. All six members of Dervish are steeped in the musical traditions of counties Sligo and Leitrim in north-west Ireland, an area which links Atlantic-coastline with storied mountains and rural landscapes. It has inspired a host of musicians, artists and writers, including the Nobel Prize-winning poet W. B. Yeats. The Dervish players include Shane Mitchell (accordion), Liam Kelly (flute/whistle), Brian McDonagh (mandola/mandolin), Tom Morrow (fiddle), and Michael Holmes (bouzouki). A consummate entertainer, singer Cathy Jordan, also a mean bodhran (drum) player, slings jokes and spins yarns as well as having one of the most arresting voices, not only in Irish music, but anywhere.
Long-established as one of the biggest names in Irish music internationally, Dervish are known for live performances which match dazzling sets of tunes with stunning interpretations of traditional songs. Their studio and live albums – 12 to date – make up one of the outstanding catalogs in Irish music. They are regular visitors to the US, where their concerts are often sold out, however their fanbase stretches across several continents. They spend much of their time traveling across Europe, and have also toured in Asia, South America and Australia. Over the years they’ve been on the same bill as artists such as James Brown, Neil Young, Sting and even Iron Maiden!
For a peek into the heart-moving world of Dervish musicality, check out this rendition of Bob Dylan’s Boots of Spanish Leather, performed with the unique Irish twist that only Dervish can provide.
The Smith Center for the Arts, stewards of the historic Smith Opera House, provides diverse arts and educational enrichment opportunities year-round for Finger Lakes residents and visitors. To learn more about events offered by The Smith Center for the Arts visit thesmith.org, or visit or call our box office for phone and in-person sales, 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday. The Smith Opera House is at 82 Seneca St. in Geneva, NY. Please email boxoffice@thesmith.org or call (315) 781-5483.