The sounds of Irish ballads and freshly discovered songs of the rich Irish tradition come to the University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Center and Kahilu Theatre in Waimea this week as The Alt plays two shows on the Big Island.
The masters of Irish music take the stage at 7:30 p.m. today at UH-Hilo and 7 p.m. Friday at the Kahilu.
The Alt features the combined talents of renowned guitarist and songwriter John Doyle, Irish fiddle master Kevin Burke and singer, guitarist and bouzouki player Eamon O‘Leary.
The ballads, tunes and songs — new and rediscovered — that each artist brings reflect their love of the traditional music that has been a touchstone of Irish identity for generations. They also build on the heritage of Irish immigrants who settled in Appalachia, where Irish song provided some of the building blocks for old-time, country and bluegrass in America.
“Each player is a leading light of today’s folk scene, and though this could easily be called a supergroup, at its heart, The Alt is really a celebration of friendship and song,” said Performing Arts Center Manager Lee Dombroski.
Dublin born, Grammy-nominated Doyle has been in demand in the studio and on the road for his versatile, creative and prolific voices in folk and traditional Irish music. He has worked with many of the most notable recordings and/or performers in Irish music and gained major prominence in the Celtic and folk worlds. His significant talents as a guitarist, songwriter and singer have kept him as a veritable resource of Irish music traditions.
O’Leary is one of the most in-demand Irish vocalists and guitarists in the U.S. today. O’Leary started playing Irish music while growing up in Dublin through his friendship with the Mayock family, traditional musicians from County Mayo. When he moved to New York City in the early 1990s, he immersed himself in the city’s traditional music scene and traveled widely, performing with many of the great players in Irish music.
English born master fiddler Burke is considered to be one of the world’s finest living Irish fiddlers. He has been at the forefront of traditional Irish and Celtic music for nearly four decades and continues to inspire younger generations with his skills and enthusiasm. Burke was first invited to the United States after meeting American legend Arlo Guthrie in 1972 at an Irish pub, and their friendship opened many doors and inspired Burke to devote his life to playing music.
As an added feature during the UH-Hilo performance, “surprise boxes” are being offered for the first time during a PAC season event, where attendees purchase a box for $15 and receive a surprise gift, with proceeds supporting the center’s educational programming.
The “surprise boxes” have been featured annually at non-season events during the past two years.
Tickets for the Hilo performance are $25 general, $20 discount and $12 for UH-Hilo/Hawaii Community College students (with a valid student ID) and children, up to age 17, pre-sale, and $30, $25 and $17, respectively, at the door. Tickets are available by calling the UH-Hilo box office at 932-7490 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or online at artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu.
Ticket prices for the Kahilu performance are $68/$48/$25 and can be purchased online at kahilutheatre.org, by calling 885-6868 or in person at the theater box office at 67-1186 Lindsey Road.