BLACK 47 — Totally political and thoroughly rock ‘n’ roll, BLACK 47 takes its name from the darkest year of Ireland’s Great Potato Famine. Their music is often based on traditional melodies, and is laced with rock, reggae, hip-hop, and New Orleans and modern jazz; their lyrics are often political, and speak of life and love in immigrant and working class communities. Founder, lead vocalist and songwriter/playwright Larry Kirwan uses influences as varied as William Butler Yeats, James Joyce and Dylan Thomas to fashion his dramatic, cutting edge lyrics.
ABOUT LARRY KIRWAN & BLACK 47
Kirwan was born in Wexford, Ireland and later emigrated to Greenwich Village where he made his name as a playwright among the company of the McCourt Brothers, Pete Hamill, Lester Bangs, Cyndi Lauper and Ric Ocasek. Long involved in the Irish Civil Rights Movement, Kirwan started the six-man band in the Bronx in late 1989 to express cherished ideas of freedom and cultural renewal. The group soon made a name for themselves playing the Irish pub scene in Manhattan. In 1993, BLACK 47 forever changed the face of Irish-American music when they burst out of MTV screens with their hit single, “Funky Ceili.”
BLACK 47 has opened the eyes of a whole new generation to the literature, politics and soul of Irish culture, and their signature eclectic sound, socio-political lyrics and off-the-wall live shows have paved the way for other Irish-influenced bands such as Flogging Molly and The Dropkick Murphys. BLACK 47 has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and have been written about in such high-profile publications as Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. They have released seven acclaimed CDs, they have appeared in The Saint of Fort Washington with Matt Dillon and Danny Glover, and their music has been featured in such films as Stephen Rea's The Break, Jim Sheridan's Into the West, Timothy Dalton's Deterrence, and many independent movies and documentaries. Their own Public TV special, Black 47 with the Trinity Irish Dancers, appears nationally on a regular basis. They composed the music for, and performed in, Victim 0001, an ITV (UK) film about their friend and fan, Fr. Mychal Judge, chaplain of the FDNY during 9/11. And their songs have long been used in political science and history courses in hundreds of colleges and high schools, where frontman Larry Kirwan is often a guest lecturer.
Kirwan programs Celtic music for Sirius Satellite Radio and hosts his own bi-weekly show, “Celtic Crush.” His plays, published under the title Mad Angels, have been produced in the U.S. and Europe. His novel, Liverpool Fantasy, an alternate history of the Beatles, received much critical acclaim, as did the recently published Green Suede Shoes, a memoir of life in Ireland and New York City. His CD for children of all ages, Keltic Kids, is a perennial favorite. He enjoys reading and speaking to select audiences at colleges and centers prior to the band’s performances.
BLACK 47 IS...
Geoffrey Blythe Tenor and soprano saxophone |
Geoffrey was a founding member of Dexys Midnight Runners. Toward the end of 1980 the split in original Dexys Midnight Runners led to the formation of The Bureau. For a short while Dexys fans had two bands to follow and 1981 was an exciting year. In 2005, WEA re-issued the long-lost album recorded in 1981 and never before released in the UK. You can get the album at Black 47 shows. |
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Andrew Goodsight Bass and vocals |
MusicHead began as a band created and conceived by Andrew Goodsight and Jonathan Goldstein in 1990, performing their original style of Rock, Funk, Country, R&B and Folk in various clubs in New York City. Andrew is featured on Jeff Buckley's newly released CD, "Grace, The Legacy Edition." |
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Thomas Hamlin Drums and percussion |
Gods Of Electricity is the left field electronic soundscapes project from occasional Black 47 studio guitarist Mike Fazio and Thomas Hamlin. They have a long history of musical partnership dating back to Chill Faction days and before. He's a veteran of the Max's/CBGB's downtown scene in New York. |
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Larry Kirwan Lead vocals, Stratocaster |
Independent of Black 47, Larry has produced two solo recordings, Kilroy Was Here and Keltic Kids. He also has published two books, Liverpool Fantasy and Green Suede Shoes: An Irish American Odessey. |
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Joseph Mulvanerty Uilleann pipes, flute, and bodhrán |
A founding member of The Ruffians, a New York City pop/punk band called “an American, Gen Y version of the Pogues” by the Chicago Sun Times. He is recognized as one of the great innovators of the Irish uilleann pipes. |
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Fred Parcells Trombone and pennywhistle |
In addition to publishing online over 1700 transcriptions of Irish music performances, Fred also maintains the Black 47 Archive featuring photographs and images from the early days of the band. He also has worked extensively in Latin/Jazz big bands. |
Black 47's music videos, which you may have seen back in the early 90s when MTV used to play actual music videos (before TRL, the Real World and other "reality" TV shows). They are now on YouTube.com:
BLACK 47’s most recent release, Bittersweet 16, a retrospective collection containing a song for each year on the road, debuted this past March. Their six previous releases include Black 47, Green Suede Shoes, Live in New York City, On Fire, Trouble in the Land, and New York Town (which featured duets with Rosanne Cash, David Johansen, Suzy Roche and Eileen Ivers, and Elvis Murphy).
BLACK 47 plays up to 150 gigs a year in the U.S., South America and Europe. Their winter Saturday night NYC shows have been described as “a rite of passage for all New Yorkers.”
(More information about the band and audio samples are available on Black 47's website).
www.Black47.com
SLIGO RAGS is an upbeat, energetic amalgam of acoustic musicians and vocalists with an extensive repertoire of original, traditional, and cover tunes. While the band specializes in Irish and Celtic music, they also venture into the realms of country, jazz and swing. Their powerful vocal harmonies, strong musicianship, and engaging stage demeanor have carried them to concert halls, Irish Fairs and Festivals, concerts on the green, pubs galore, and even the occasional private back-yard function. SLIGO RAGS was named Best Folk Band in Orange County at the 2004 and 2005 Orange County Music Awards. Their name is a tribute to the Celtic anthem “The Irish Rover,” whose third verse begins “We had one million bags of the best Sligo Rags…”
Sligo Rags is made up of Michael Kelly (fiddle, vocals), an extremely versatile fiddler with a soaring tenor voice who has played country, newgrass, swing, and bebop, and whose career has spanned decades; Gordon Rustvold (bass), an accomplished bassist in all genres, who has been playing the L.A. and Orange County jazz, country, pop, and Irish circuits for many years with a wide variety of musicians; and David Burns (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, vocals) a veteran of the Celtic and Bluegrass music scenes who has played guitar and banjo for a number of local Irish and bluegrass bands. David is currently the banjo player for local bluegrassers Heart Of 'Grass (headliners at the 2004 Topanga Bluegrass Festival) and the guitar player for the acoustic jazz band Timbreline (nominated for Best Instrumental Band at the 2006 Southern California Music Awards). He is also an alumnus of the Irish band The Whooligans.
(More information about the band and audio samples are available on Sligo Rags' website).
www.SligoRags.com
MARTY MAGUIRE was born in Belfast, and has made a name for himself in Ireland, the US, and the UK as an accomplished actor and singer. Most recently he appeared as "The Bull" McCabe in the critically-acclaimed off-Broadway production of John B. Keane's The Field at the Irish Repertory Theatre. Prior to that performance he re-created his award-winning role of Kenneth (and over 20 other characters) in Marie Jones' celebrated solo play A Night in November at the Irish Arts Center in New York. This highly-praised production originated at the Celtic Arts Center in 2002 and was so successful that Marty toured with the show to the Falcon Theatre in Los Angeles, the Tricycle Theatre in London, the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh, and the Gaiety Theatre and Liberty Hall in Dublin. For his deft, multiple character performance, Marty was named Best Actor at the 2002 International Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the show took home the coveted Spirit of the Fringe Award. His work also brought him a Best Actor in a Lead Performance award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. Marty's numerous other credits cover roles in film, television, straight plays and musical theatre, including the John Anderson musical On Eagle's Wing, which has been playing on PBS and the BBC. He is also a fifteen-year member of the award-winning California Artists Radio Theatre (C.A.R.T.), having lent his voice to more than twenty radio plays ranging from Shakespeare to Irish, English and American classics.
SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS – IRISH STEP DANCERS
MEGAN KIRK has been an Irish step dancer for over seven years and has competed in championships all over the world, including the Western Region, National, and World Championships. She recently placed in the top twenty-five at the 2006 North American National Championships. She performs professionally at San Diego’s Dublin Square Irish Pub, and has enjoyed performances with the Chieftains, Sligo Rags, the Wicked Tinkers, Ciúnas, and Celtic Spring. Megan has also been a Polynesian dancer since the age of six, performing all over California at venues such as the Verizon Amphitheater and Disneyland, and recently performed on the island of Maui at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center, the Maui Centennial Celebration, and at the Baldwin High School auditorium. She is currently an undergrad student at CSUN majoring in Kinesiology.
ADAM KIRK has been an Irish step dancer for over seven years, and has competed locally as well as at Regional and National Championships. He has enjoyed performances with such bands as the Wicked Tinkers, Ciúnas, and Celtic Spring. He is also an Irish fiddle player, and enjoys playing his fiddle and dancing at the Celtic Arts Center’s regular Monday night seisiúns as often as possible. Adam has just begun his first semester at College of the Canyons.
JOHN SMITH hails from La Jolla, CA and has been an Irish step dancer for eight years. He has competed in championships all over the world, including the Western Region, National, and World Championships. He recently placed sixth in the 2006 World Championships and then came home to win the 2006 North American National Championships. John performs professionally at San Diego’s Dublin Square Irish Pub, and has performed with Leahy, SLIGO RAGS, the Wicked Tinkers, Celtic Spring, Ciúnas, and the San Diego Symphony. He has also danced at Downtown Disney’s House of Blues. John is an accomplished pianist and regularly plays at feiseanna (Irish dance competitions) all around North America. He is currently an undergrad student attending Mesa College in San Diego.
KAITLIN MURPHEY has been an Irish step dancer for 11 years. She started Irish dancing and competing at the age of 5. Kaitlin competes at a preliminary championship level. She has performed at many locations throughout California. Along with Irish dance, she is a member of her school's varsity track team, and she competes in long and high jump as well as pole vaults. Kaitlin also has a full class schedule. "I love what I'm doing and wouldn't have it any other way".
ALANAH MYRICK is eleven years old and has been Irish step dancing for almost four years. She is currently in Preliminary Championship level. She has competed at the Regional and National Championships and has performed at many shows in the greater Los Angeles area at venues such as the Los Angeles Police Academy and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
PIPE & DRUM OVERTURE
L.A. POLICE EMERALD SOCIETY PIPES & DRUMS is proud to be part of the Celtic Concert Series again. Under the leadership of Pipe Major Scott Walton, the band has grown since it's last appearance at the Ford Amphitheatre in 2004 and can be seen at many civic functions throughout Los Angeles each year including the St. Patrick's Day Parade. This past May marked the first time the band marched in the National Police Week parade in Washington, D.C.. Pipers: Pipe Major Scott Walton, Steve Kirby, Susan Morrison, John Humes, Terry McCarthy, Steve Saletros; Snare Drummers: Drum Major Charlie Ezelle, Judy Kirby, Bill Parker, Robert McVey; Tenor Drum: Lyle Lewinson; and Bass Drum: Thom MacNamara.