Event

Men of Worth ~ Celtic duo

FROM SCOTLANDS OUTER ISLANDS AND IRELANDS WEST, SOME OF AMERICAS MOST AUTHENTIC MUSICAL HERITAGE IS COMING TO WCT!

The folk duo, Men of Worth, who position themselves firmly at the extreme, traditional end of the Celtic music spectrum, will perform here at WCT 37 W Van Lane, Sunday August 14 at 2 pm.

Men of Worths tunes and songs are so authentic, so closely connected to their heritage, that Scotsman Donnie Macdonald sings some in his native Gaelic; while Irishman James Keigher includes time-polished pieces saved from the oral traditions of his native County Mayo.

Our music has its history in the crofting life of my Hebridean homeland and James western Ireland. It was a part of the fabric of everyday life and it came to America with the immigrants a century ago, explained Macdonald. Now, were playing it again, to audiences for whom it could only be a generational memory.

For us, the irony is we were brought up in Scotland and Ireland, and as boys we listened most eagerly to the music of America, and not especially to the music of own areas. On our radios, we heard Hank Williams Sr. and Jim Reeves. We wanted to see the Arkansas River, not Loch Lomond, and Reeves hometown of Carthage, in east Texas, had more romance for me than did the Isle of Lewis. Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Crosby, Stills and Nash influenced me greatly, admitted Keigher, who as a teen was already performing his own songs in the Irish pubs where he learned to use his wit and humor. But now I have returned to my own musical bloodlines, too.
The pair could not escape the emotion and tradition of their homeland song heritage. We could not grow away from those sounds, said Macdonald, so we have preserved them as accurately and authentically as we can, in our performances. We entertain people with the real music of our regions; we have an ancient yet fresh musical story to tell.

Sometimes that music comes from prosaic sources Keigher wrote one song after overhearing two old ladies gossiping about him in a village market and sometimes from traditional music passed down the generations. Several of Macdonalds songs come from his mothers own poetry and from Hebridean crofters airs.

The musicians, who met in California in 1988, each play a handful of instruments, among them mandolin, guitar, concertina and bodhran, a handheld drum. They are both married to Americans and live on the west coast. Keigher lives in Ashland, Oregon and Macdonald lives near Sacramento, California.

They perform concerts across the US, and also take guided tours to their own musical roots: leading folk fans to the western isles of Scotland and to Irelands heartland.
If you cant make that journey, you can hear the music when these talented troubadours bring it to you, August 14th

We are delighted to announce that MEN OF WORTH is sponsored by Celtic Heritage Destinations Travel Agency of Willits! Thank you!

BPT Ticket Sales Close 2 Hours Before the Show Begins, so get your tickets early, or at the door!

Tickets also available:

In Person at Mazahar,

by phone any time 1-800-838-3006.

Also at the door if not sold out.

Advance tickets online, by 800# phone and at Mazahar close 2 hours before the show opens, so get your seats early or show up at the door to claim any unsold seats.

This series is all Open Seating. If you wish to have Accessible Seating in Row A ~ no stairs ~ please make sure to let us know when you purchase your tickets

We are grateful to our Season Underwriters: Les Schwab Tire Center of Willits and Willits Furniture/La Bodega and our special Celtic Concerts Sponsor Celtic Heritage Destinations Travel Agency of Willits