CARTHAGE – New England Celtic Arts will host Michael Black, a member of Ireland’s foremost family of song, Thursday, June 19, at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center.

Shay, Michael and Martin, along with their sisters, Mary and Frances, have been performers all their lives. Both parents were singers. Dad, Kevin, was an accomplished piper, fiddler and mandolin player.

Black now resides in San Francisco and has taught at the University of San Francisco and San Francisco State University. He came to the United States in 1984 to attend a masters degree program in kinesiology at the University of California at Berkeley. Twelve years later, he received his doctorate in sociology and has remained in the bay area. Having left school at age 14, he spent 11 years working at the famous Arthur Guinness Brewery in Dublin. When he was 25, he earned a bachelor of education degree at the University of Limerick in England.

While in the United States, he became active in the music scene in San Francisco, where he was a regular performer at the Plough and Stars pub for many years. As a banjo player and an accomplished guitarist, he worked with many Irish artists such as Paddy Keenan, John Whelan, Nollaig Casey and James Kelly. More recently, he has rejuvenated his solo career, playing at various venues throughout the United States. He is planning a solo album this year.

Black released his first solo album in July 2007. Simply titled, “Michael Black,” it features a variety of songs from shanties to a song in Irish to anti-war songs to chorus songs.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m., with a preshow jam at 6:30. Tickets are $10 at the door. For reservations, call 562-4445. Skye Theater is at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Road and U.S. Route 2. For more information, log on to www.necelticarts.com

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