Event

The Black Brothers Band

On July 25, 2013, the Black Family (Shay, Michael, Mary, Martin, and Frances), dubbed "one of the most important musical clans in Ireland" by MTV, stood at the world-famous iBAM event in Chicago which celebrates the best in Irish authors, musicians and artists and were recognized for their contributions to Irish music. The Dublin-born siblings are the children of fiddle player, piper and mandolinist Kevin Black and vocalist Patty Daly Black. While sisters Mary and Frances rank among the best-selling folk artists in the world, the three albums that they recorded with their brothers -- Shay, Michael, and Martin -- document the strength of this family collaboration.

The repertoire of the Brothers is very broad and includes old Dublin street songs, music hall songs and historical ballads, songs from the Irish, English and Scottish traditions, along with songs by contemporary writers. Shay and Michael are close harmony singers, with a special fondness for songs that include their audience in chorus, and many of the songs are narratives with stories. The performances include a lot of up tempo reels and jigs, along with some mighty fine dancing from their dances, which brings an added excitement to every concert. With each show interspersed with stories, jokes and humorous childhood anecdotes, audiences invariably leave their concerts smiling broadly and humming new choruses.

Members of the band are Shay Black on guitar and vocals, Michael Black on tenor banjo, bass cittern and vocals, Eamonn Flynn on piano, and Bobbi Nikles on fiddle. They will be accompanied by Irish dancer Ciara Duggan.