Irish Meets Country and Pop with The Nashville Celts at Heritage Center
Feb 22, 2018
DUBUQUE, Iowa – University of Dubuque’s Heritage Center continues its fifth anniversary Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series with The Nashville Celts on Saturday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. in John and Alice Butler Hall. From the Highlands of Scotland and the shores of Ireland to the Appalachian Mountains, Nashville, and the world, Heritage Center celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with this group touted for the success of numerous PBS specials.
WHAT: Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series – The Nashville Celts: Celtic Roots of Great American Music
WHEN: Saturday, March 3 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque
TICKETS: $30-$35 adult, $26-$30 UD alumni/military, $15 child/student
The Nashville Celts take audiences on an exciting musical journey demonstrating how Irish and Celtic music and culture has helped shape America’s musical landscape. Eight musicians and step dancers unite bluegrass, country, and popular music with their Celtic forefathers in a dramatic, yet entertaining, sight and sound experience. The first half of the show uses fiery, impassioned songs to recount oppression in the homelands, the pains of leaving, crossing the Atlantic, hope in America, and fighting in the Civil War as the Irish Brigade. The second half continues with popular American songs, merging ancient Irish instruments with American instruments such as banjo, mandolin, and string bass in a manner bridging these musical styles as never before. Popular songs receiving an Irish makeover include music by Johnny Cash, Van Morrison, U2, Hank Williams, Mumford & Sons, Alison Krauss, and other greats.
The Nashville Celts are led my musician/songwriter/producer Ric Blair. He is featured on vocals, guitars, bodhran, and piano. Blair is joined by Laura McGhee, from Dundee, Scotland, on vocals and fiddle; an ensemble of world class musicians playing uilleann pipes, Irish whistles, banjo, mandolin, bass, and drums; and Irish step dancers.
A free preshow CyberCafé Knapp Stage concert from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. featuring 7000apart, a Swedish and American indie-pop duo, precedes the performance.
Tickets for The Nashville Celts can be purchased Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett Street; by phone at 563.585.SHOW; or online at www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter.
