Story Archives of 'Irish Music'

The group Reaganta performs traditional Irish Christmas tunes in the Front Porch studio tonight. Harpist Regina Delaney leads the group which includes other singers, a fiddler and mandolin player, and a guitarist. We'll talk with the band members about the influences of Irish holiday folk music on the North American tradition.

The world-renowned Irish Tenors are making a stop in New Hampshire this week to sing songs from their latest album "Sacred". We'll have them in studio the day before their concert at The Palace Theatre in Manchester to talk about their craft and sing some songs live in studio. Laura's guests are Anthony Kearns, John McDermott and Finbar Wright.

*For more information on Wednesday's concert, you can look at the listing or call the Palace Theatre at 668-5588.*

The Makem Brothers are the three sons of Tommy Makem, a living legend of Irish traditional culture and a resident of New Hampshire. Rory, Conor and Shane Makem are quickly emerging from their father’s sizeable shadow, thanks to the high quality of their music-making. They have a concert this weekend in Rochester. This interview originally aired in April 2002.
www.makem.com

The group came together eight years ago in during jam sessions at the Press Room in Portsmouth. Their lyrical approach to Irish music, especially that of Turlough O'Carolan, has brought them growing fame in their homeland and a couple of successful performing visits to the Emerald Isle. Sample their music at www.unwrapped.com.

Tommy Makem has been performing Irish music for 40 years; he?s a past recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Folk Music Association. Coming out soon: ?The Road Taken,? a pair of PBS travel videos. He was born in Northern Ireland. He came to America to be an actor, settled in Dover initially before heading off to New York. He got caught up in the emerging folk music scene there (it actually paid better than acting Off-Broadway!) In recent years, he?s been trying to promote the Irish song tradition. He talks about his musical career, and his love for Irish music; he also shares his thoughts about the prospects for peace in Ireland.