Event

John Whelan with Flynn Cohen

What an amazing evening of music lined up this hot hot part of the Burren Backroom Series in July.

Although John grew up near London, in Dunstable, England, he was raised on the fiddle and pipe music of Ireland. Dunstable has a large Irish community, and his father, Denis, was from Ireland's County Wexford.

He moved to the United States in 1980 and soon was performing with Riverdance fiddler Eileen Ivers in one of the most celebrated Irish duos of the decade. His solo album FROM THE HEART became a classic and John continued to thrive in his new homeland.

The Burren Backroom series launched in October of 2011 but has already created many memorable, intimate, informal presentations held in a truly atmospheric space which was created by well-known traditional musicians Tommy and Louise McCarthy in Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts. DeDanann, Dervish, Teada, The Teetotalers, Lunasa, Robbie O'Connell, Sean Tyrrell, the list is building and building, and the radio recordings have become a feature of the weekly Celtic Sojourn radio broadcasts. A series of CDs "Live from the Backroom" is being planned.

Hosted by Brian O'Donovan of A Celtic Sojourn on WGBH radio, these gatherings feature core performers from many aspects of traditional music as well as special guests, and conversations around the music. Regularly, there are "openers" artists presenting three or four pieces often in contrast to the "main" offering. This has seen some spectacular new and often unexpected talent being presented on stage.

Tickets are $23 in advance, with a $5 discount for WGBH Members. If you are a member, send an e-mail to celtic@wgbh.org and we will send you the code.

Seating is VERY limited and these events have been selling out, so get your tickets today!