Premiere Irish Band Altan To Perform At Quick Center

FAIRFIELD — Altan, whose precision, grace and authenticity have made them one of the premiere Celtic bands in the world, will perform a St Patrick’s Day Celebration on Sunday, March 14, at 3 pm, at Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. This is Altan’s only Connecticut concert this season.

Named for a mysterious lake behind Errigal Mountain in County Donegal, Altan has always been true to its roots, reveling in the intimacy of the music that sprang from peat fire-warmed kitchens and pubs of this windswept corner of northwestern Ireland. The band takes pride in passing Gaelic lyrics, fiddle riffs and tin whistle tunes down to the next generation, be it their Irish neighbors or fans around the globe.

“They’re poised for greatness and under no circumstances should they be missed in concert,” wrote a reviewer for The Irish Echo in New York City.

At Altan’s heart is Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, a stellar fiddle player with an ethereal voice who started the group with Frankie Kennedy, a flute player.

Button accordionist Dermot Byrne, fiddler/tin whistle player Ciaran Tourish, Daithi Sproule on guitar and vocals, and Jim Higgins on bodhran, a Celtic drum, round out the traditional sound in the current lineup. Ciaran Curran of County Fermanagh brings the unusual sounds of the bouzouki, an instrument usually associated with Greek music, to the mix.

Altan suffered a tragic blow in the 1990s, when Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer. He died in 1994, leaving the group grieving, but determined to honor and build on his legacy.

The group has recorded ten albums over the years with current and past members and guest artists, each time adding another layer to its sound, which is tough to categorize. Its most recent, The Blue Idol, was released in 2002.

In order to keep from getting stale or predictable in concert, members announce songs from the stage, preferring a flowing set list that preserves rapport with the audience and encourages the spontaneity key to the Celtic tradition. With its latest album featuring country singer Dolly Parton and arrangements including the Australian didgeridoo and the decidedly un-Celtic saxophone, Alan continues to stretch Irish music’s potential.

Tickets are $30. Call the Quick Center box office at 203-254-4010 or 877-ARTS-396. For more information visit                 www.QuickCenter.com.