Irish Christmas in America 2007 Tour

Following sold-out national tours the past two years, Irish Christmas in America returns to the United States this holiday season with some of Ireland’s top young traditional musicians and champion Irish step-dancers. The 15-date tour opens November 30 in Phoenix and includes stops in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York City.
 
 A tradition in the making, Irish Christmas in America takes the spirit of Christmas on a distinctively Irish journey. Produced by Oisín Mac Diarmada of the award-winning traditional group Téada, the cast also includes one of Ireland’s leading female vocalists, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh of Danú, and Téada‘s Sean McElwain and Tristan Rosenstock on guitar and bodhran respectively. Acclaimed harpist Gráinne Hambly and uilleann piper Tommy Martin (Riverdance), along with champion dancers Abbey Magill and Sienna Hickey, round out the ensemble.Irish Christmas includes songs in both Irish Gaelic and English, fiery fiddle tunes and evocative airs, thrilling Irish step-dancing, moving tales of emigration and hilarious skits. It also features holiday traditions from the musicians’ childhoods, such as ‘Wren Day,’ Dec 26, when costumed musicians played at door-to-door visits for treats. Evocative photographic images combine with narrative for a rich historical context.

"One of the most heartfelt themes of Irish Christmas is emigration," says Oisín Mac Diarmada (pronounced O-shin Mac Der-metta), an All-Ireland fiddle champion from County Sligo. "Music was a way that people stayed close to home." Teada’s latest CD Inné Amarach (Compass) was named a Top 10 album of 2006 by RTE (Radio Television Eire), The Irish Times, and Britain’s MOJO Magazine.

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (pronounced MWI-ren Nick OWL-eve) is known to American audiences as lead singer with the band Danú as well as from her solo work. Her childhood in West County Kerry was filled with music and community, ideas that she’ll share this season. Muireann was named "Singer of the Year" by LiveIreland.com in 2005, and Irish Music Magazine calls her "a tremendous singer with a warm, richly expressive voice." Her latest CD is Fainne An Lae: Daybreak (Compass). 

Nov 30th Peoria AZ Theater Works
Dec 01st Tucson AZ Berger Performing Arts Center
Dec 02nd Flagstaff AZ The Orpheum Theater
Dec 04th Santa Cruz CA Kuumbwa Jazz Club
Dec 05th Winters CA Palms Playhouse
Dec 06th San Francisco CA United Irish Cultural Center
Dec 07th Berkeley CA Freight & Salvage
Dec 08th Fallon NV Barkley Theater
Dec 09th Bishop CA Bishop High School Auditorium
Dec 12th Lakewood NJ Strand Theater
Dec 13th & 14th Washington DC National Geographic
Dec 15th Philadelphia PA Commodore Barry Irish Club
Dec 16th Charleston WV State Theater, West Virginia Cultural Center
Dec 18th Staten Island NY The Music Hall at Snug Harbor

A bright new tradition among holiday events, Irish Christmas in America is the show to see this season. For more, visit www.irishchristmasinamerica.com.