Michael Black opens Celtic Sundays series at Skye
CARTHAGE —  New England Celtic Arts will host Michael Black, a member of one of Ireland’s most famous musical families, at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 21, at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center. This is the first in a series of several Sunday concerts to be held at Skye Theatre this summer. A preshow jam will start at 6:15; bring your instruments and join in.
“Skye Theatre’s regular midweek Wednesday dates are completely booked through the rest of the year. We have been inundated with requests from top Celtic artists from all over the world to play here at Skye this year and the only way we can accommodate them is to add the Sunday concert series to the mix,” said Phill McIntyre, Skye’s director.
 The Celtic concert series will include such artists as Canada’s hot Celtic/pop duo Madison Violet on July 12; New Englanders Ed Pearlman, David Surette and Susie Burke on Aug, 2; the pairing of world-famous Irish artists Dermit Hyde of Pipeline and Aoife Clancy of the famous Clancy Legacy on Aug. 9; Maine’s own favorite Dave Mallet with his band on Aug. 23; and Canada’s legendary fiddler Sandy MacIntyre on Aug. 30.
Black and his brothers and sisters are regarded among the finest and most popular singers in Ireland today. Both parents were singers, with dad, Kevin, being an accomplished piper, fiddler and mandolin player.
Black now lives in San Francisco and has taught at the University of San Francisco and San Francisco State University. He first came to the United States in 1984 to attend the University of California at Berkeley. Twelve years later, he received his Ph.D. in sociology and has remained in the bay area. Having left school at the age of 14, he spent 11 years working at the famous Arthur Guinness Brewery in Dublin.
While in the United States, he became active in the music scene in San Francisco. As a banjo player and an accomplished guitarist, he worked with many Irish artists, including Paddy Keenan, John Whelan, Nollaig Casey and James Kelly. More recently, Black has rejuvenated his solo career, playing at various venues throughout the United States and is planning a new solo album this year.
Black released his first solo album in July of 2007. Simply titled, “Michael Black,” it  features a variety of songs from shanties to a song in Irish, antiwar songs and a number of chorus songs.
Black’s three daughters, Ciara, Maeve and Catriona, are avid Irish dancers and will perform with him at Skye.
Skye Theater is at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Road and Route 2. Tickets are $10 at the door. Call New England Celtic Arts at 562-4445 for reservations. More information is available at www.necelticarts.com.