The concerts advertised on this page are being officially sponsored by the Arkansas Celtic Music Society ( ACMS ). For other concerts or events that might be simply endorsed or, in some way, supported by ACMS please visit our EVENTS   page.

* Upcoming Concerts...

Check this page often for announcements regarding upcoming concerts!

* Past Concerts...

Craobh Rua!

Click HERE to see some
Pictures from the Craobh Rua Concert!

* ABOUT THE BAND...

Click HERE for the official Craobh Rua website.

CRAOBH RUA (pronounced CRAVE ROO-AH) translates from Irish to RED BRANCH and is a name that is well known in Celtic history from THE RED BRANCH KNIGHTS OF ULSTER. This Belfast based Irish Traditional Music band has given concert and festival performances in the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Slovenia, Denmark, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Their music has delighted audiences and earned them wide acclaim and recognition and they are now regarded around the world as one of the finest ambassadors of Irish Traditional Music. Craobh Rua's impeccable musicians bring their own individual experience to the group and fuse their talents to bring life to a wide array of instruments such as banjo, mandolin, fiddle, uilleann pipes, flute, tin whistle, guitar and vocals. Craobh Rua takes a refreshing, unpretentious but uncommonly skilled run at some of the greatest music in the world.

On New Year's Day, 2004, the band performed live from Belfast on BBC Radio 3 in WORLD MUSIC DAY along with a host of artists from around the world. They have appeared on the BBC TV Series THE SHETLAND SESSIONS and also on BBC MUSIC LIVE when they played live in front of millions of viewers. Craobh Rua performed at the MILLENNIUM STAGE LIVE INTERNET BROADCAST concert series from the KENNEDY CENTER, Washington, DC. Also, their performance for the SMITHSONIAN CONCERT SERIES, Washington, DC was recorded and broadcast worldwide on VOICE OF AMERICA. On stage they have performed with De Dannan, Alan Stivell and have taken part in an "Ireland meets Mongolia" collaboration in Italy with Egschiglen, a traditional band from Mongolia.

Craobh Rua has released five albums to date and appeared on a number of compilation albums. Their current offering being aptly entitled "IF IDA BEEN HERE IDA BEEN THERE".

* MEET THE LADS!...

Gabe McVarish (fiddle) Originally hailing from California's Sacramento Valley and now resides in the Moidart region of the Scottish Highlands. Gabe studied traditional music at the RSAMD in Glasgow, where he obtained a BA in June 2003. Having performed and recorded in the past with such artists as Cliar, Na Tri Seudan, Its Jo and Danny, Leo McCann, Drever MacKenzie Band, Black Rose Ceilidh Band, Phamie Gow and Hoogie, Gabe now plays with Daimh, Dannsa, Six Foot Ginger and The Claire Mann Band.

Brian Connolly (banjo and mandolin) from Belfast was taught the mandolin by his grandfather and then started playing the banjo. His main influences include Barney McKenna of the Dubliners, The Chieftains, The Bothy Band and Planxty. He played with several groups while at school and began playing at sessions. He founded the original Craobh Rua in the mid-eighties and remains the driving force behind the band today.

Conor Lamb (uilleann pipes and tin whistle) from Crumlin, Co. Antrim. Conor took up piano at age 9 and started playing tin whistle when 11 and uilleann pipes at 13. He was taught uilleann pipes by Paddy O'Hare and his main influences include The Bothy Band, Paddy Keenan, John McSherry and Mick O'Brien. Conor has toured Australia, Denmark and Portugal with the Rhythm of the Dance.

Jim Rainey (guitar and vocals) Belfast born, began playing guitar and trying to sing at around the age of 16. It was at this time that he first discovered Irish trad music and whilst immediately smitten, did not begin to play at sessions until into his twenties. A self-taught musician, Jim got most of his musical education at the various sessions throughout Belfast. His influences are too numerous to list-though he is particularly drawn to Breton fest noz music, blues, bluegrass and gypsy swing.

Joining GLEN ROAD for the evening is Kelly Winter.

A St. Louis native, Kelly specializes in the playing of traditional Irish music on the piano accordion. Under the tutelage of Triona O'Neill and Niall Gannon, Kelly has received numerous titles and awards in the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil competitions. In 1998, she was the All-Ireland bronze medalist, making her one of few Americans to achieve this prestigious world title. Several of Kelly's students have also gone on to win honors in the All-Ireland competition.

Kelly frequently performs with such well-known musicians as harpist Eileen Gannon, uilleann piper Tommy Martin, fiddlers Laura Kerr, Kevin Buckley, and New-York based banjo player Darren Maloney. She performs regularly with the dance show Emerald Beat at Busch Gardens, Virginia and at the world-famous John D. McGurk's Pub in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, she is a highly sought after musician to play for feisanna (Irish dancing competitions) and travels nationwide doing so.

While studying in Ireland, Kelly began playing the concertina and has since started the first concertina school in her native St. Louis. She currently teaches accordion and directs ensembles for St. Louis Irish Arts School of Music, Song and Dance. As a professional musician, there is great demand for her to play at events of all kinds both as a soloist, or and member of an ensemble.

* Other Past Concerts...

Click HERE for a page that shows other concerts we have
sponsored in the past.