PHILL A MCINTYRE, DIRECTOR, NEW ENGLAND CELTIC ARTS
Phone: (207) 562-4445 / E-mail: phill@necelticarts.com 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Top traditional Irish band to tour in Maine

New England Celtic Arts will host the critically acclaimed Irish band Teada at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage, Maine on Tuesday May 12th, at the Franco American Heritage Center in Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday May 13th, and at the Lakeside Theater in Rangeley on Thursday May 14th with all concerts starting at 7:00 PM. This will be the Third in a series of approximately 25 concerts to be shared by the three venues this season. A pre-show jam will start at 6:15 at both at Skye Theatre and the Franco American Heritage Center, please bring your instruments and join in. Reservations are strongly suggested at all three venues.

Frequent headline performances by Téada at major music festivals throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Israel and Australia has seen Irish Music Magazine’s “Best Traditional Newcomers 2003” evolve into one of the busiest Irish touring acts worldwide with an established reputation for knock-out live shows. Recent performances have ranged from a 30,000-audience headlining appearance alongside Carlos Nunez in Brittany, to closer to home Irish festivals such as Kilkenny Arts Festival.

The new CD/DVD from Teada, Inne Amarach (In-ay A-moor-ak), which is Irish for “Yesterday/Tomorrow”, brilliantly showcases their uncanny ability to blend the modern with the traditional. Although no words are spoken, stories are certainly being told through the eleven sets of reels, jigs, marches, polkas and slips. Outstanding and electrifying tracks include the hornpipes on “The Ebb Tide/Peter Wyper’s” and the slip jog/hop jig set starting off with “The Tenpenny Piece.” The accompanying DVD is an additional window into the band’s influences, live performance style, and their connection to Sligo.

Founded by Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, Téada first came together in 2001 to make an appearance on the innovative Irish television series ‘Flosc’. The young musicians shared a passion for a deeply traditional approach, and following an initial gig opening for the Sharon Shannon band at Dublin’s Celtic Flame festival in February 2001, Téada was off and running. Their self-titled debut CD in 2002 brought popular and critical raves, with THE IRISH TIMES applauding the band for “keeping the traditional flag flying at full mast.”

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Most of the group’s members grew up in rural Ireland, assimilating the tradition through local classes and by listening to older musicians. With Téada, the group strives to capture some of the rawness and individuality of the solo artist within a modern group context. Oisín, on fiddle, was joined in the band initially by John Blake on guitar and later flute, Seán McElwain from Monaghan on banjo and bouzouki, and Dubliner Tristan Rosenstock on bodhrán. Following a growing popularity, particularly in the US, which had seen the band becoming a full-time worldwide touring act by early 2003, the band sound was augmented greatly by the joining of Co. Laois accordion-player Paul Finn. The end of 2004 saw founding member John Blake depart the band for other pursuits as Sligo flutist Damien Stenson became the most recent addition to the line-up.

The Franco American Heritage Center is located on 46 Cedar Street in Lewiston, Skye Theater is located 3 miles West of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Rd and US RT. 2 in South Carthage. Lakeside Theater is on Main Street in Rangeley. Ticket price by reservation is $10.00 or $12.50 at the door. For reservations call FAHC at (207-783-1585), or Skye Theatre at (207) 562-4445 or Lakeside Theater at 864-5000.

More information is available at: http://www.necelticarts.com

Bio and photo links: http://compassrecords.com/teada http://www.rgmbooking.com/home1.htm click on Teada then click on promo photos.


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