Event Info
MS Society presents Irish Gala: Sheila Ryan & Friends
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada - Central Island Chapter:
From Ladysmith t...
7:30pm Doors at: 6:30pm
$25 / $17 Univ students / $5 eyeGo students
Event Description
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada - Central Island Chapter:
From Ladysmith to Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet and Gabriola Island, the Central Island Chapter of the MS Society of Canada aims to be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life. They offer a wide variety of services from counseling to support groups, legal assistance to exercise programs including swimming, gym and yoga.
Create an MS team of friends, co-workers or go solo and sign up for the 2009 MS Walk (3, 6 or 9K) on April 26 in both Nanaimo and Port Alberni. The Nanaimo Waterfront Walkway welcomes families to enjoy live music, food, bouncy castles and face painting. www.mswalks.ca www.mssociety.nisa.com or call Yvonne Hedley 250-754-6321
St. Patrick's Day could not have a more fitting event; The Irish Gala brings a lively mixture of music, dance, song and humour to the stage. Check out the great DOOR PRIZES at www.mssociety.nisa.com This all star line up features some of the finest Celtic musicians on the west coast:
Sheila Ryan - Harp & Voice
Born and raised in Limerick, Ireland, Sheila has 3 recordings (see "Autumn Days" below) and has toured in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe appearing on stage with the likes of The Rovers, Tommy Makem, Capercallie and Cherish the Ladies to name a few. See below to learn about the new CD “Autumn Days”.
Adrian Dolan - Fiddle & Accordion
Juno-Award nominee as a member of the Bills, Adrian has has toured and collaborated with a diverse array of artists from Barney Bentall to The Paperboys. In 2007, he toured eastern Canada with Irish Legends, The Chieftains. He currently resides in Victoria where he juggles a busy schedule as a studio musician, producer, teacher and performer. www.myspace.com/adriandolan
Zav (Jaime) RT - Fiddola
Performer, composer and music educator, Zav RT has released two multi-award nominated albums on the Dog My Cat label, is a member of James Keelaghan’s band, and is the driving force and teacher behind Fiddleworks. A dynamic performer and teacher, she travels North America and the UK performing and giving workshops, and especially loves working with Native Youth in the Northwest Territories. www.zavrt.com
Jenny Ritter - Guitar and Banjo
Best known as a member of The Gruff, Jenny's musical background is strongly rooted in Irish and folk music. She is a multi-talented musician and songwriter, and a brilliant visual artist.
Phaedra Kemp - Just Announced!
Also from The Gruff, Phaedra adds whistles and bohran. www.thegruff.com
Evan Bates - Cello and Acoustic Bass
A graduate of UVIC’s music program and a music teacher at the Shadbolt Center in Vancouver, Evan brings a wealth of experience from classical, jazz and world music to his playing. He is a member of Vancouver’s Afro-Cuban group, Jarimba, and spends much of his time recording as a session musician and touring.
The O’Brien School of Irish Dance (Nanaimo, Victoria, and Salt Spring shows)
Having trained with the Rose Fearon School of Irish Dancing in Toronto for fifteen years before moving to the west coast, Mairead O'Brien currently operates her own schools in Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo. Her students have performed at Victoria’s Symphony Splash, The Dragonboat Festival and Canada Day Celebrations, as well as an ongoing series of shows with Tiller’s Folly in BC schools as part of an Arts Council project for the BC School Board. www.obrienirishdance.com
Also Sheila Ryan releases new CD, "Autumn Days":
The 13 songs on "Autumn Days" feature Sheila Ryan on harp and vocals and a who's who of Guest musicians: Oliver Swain and Glen Manders on upright bass; guitarists David Sinclair, Adam Dobres, and Jenny Ritter; Paul O'Brien on guitar and bouzouki; Cellists Alasdair Money and Kevin Fox; Steafan Hannigan, Phaedra Kemp and Martin Nolan all contributing some sort of whistle or pipes; Anne Shaefer on udo; Kelby MacNayr on drums; Adrian Dolan on fiddle, accordion, mandola, viola and guitar.
For this, her third CD, Sheila researched and found many hidden gems of Irish music, lesser known traditional songs, many which have never been recorded before such as the Irish Gaelic songs Slan le Maigh and Bhride Bheag Chron. The words in Bonnan Bui are taken and translated from a 1730 Irish poem about the yellow bittern, a bird that is now near extinction due to destruction of it's nesting grounds. Three songs were also composed by Sheila: Do They Dream, Ghosts of the Goldfields, and Mystic Riders which is inspired by a legend that mysterious hoof beats, reputed to be the sounds of a long ago battle between the local clans and Viking invaders, could be heard on certain nights of the year. Adrian Dolan wrote three instrumental tunes which were tagged onto Slan le Maigh, Shiul Aroon and Mystic Riders respectively. "Autumn Days" was produced and recorded by Adrian Dolan in Victoria with additional recording done in Toronto and Nanaimo. The album was mixed and mastered by Joby Baker and Adrian Dolan. www.sheilaryan.com
Venue
125 Front Street
Open / Operational
In-Person Event
Wed. March 11th 2009 + Add to Calendar
The Port Theatre
