LEWISTON — Former Riverdance-featured fiddler Niamh Ni Charra will take the stage Tuesday, July 28, at the Franco American Heritage Center. She will also perform Wednesday, July 29, at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage and Thursday, July 30, at Lakeside Theater in Rangeley.
Charra toured Europe, Asia and North America for eight years as a soloist with Riverdance, performing in more than 2,500 shows before returning to Ireland, where she is now based.
Hailing from Killarney, County Kerry, in southwestern Ireland, Charra had support gigs for The Chieftains and Noel Hill under her belt before she reached her teens. She followed up with recordings for Irish radio and television, and performances with Riverdance’s European troupe in Europe, Asia and on board the Queen Mary II, before joining the U.S. troupe in 1998 until December 2005.
From Mexico to Vancouver, and Los Angeles to Broadway, Charra has delighted audiences with her fiery fiddling, fancy footwork and dazzling smiles. More recently she shared her talents in Riverdance’s Irish and Far East productions performing in her native capital as well as in Tokyo and Taipei.
Charra has returned to Dublin, where she is working as a freelance musician. She released her debut album, “Ón Dá Thaobh / From Both Sides,” in 2007 to critical acclaim. The album was the only Irish album to be listed in Mojo´s Top 10 Folk Albums for 2007. Last year, Charra was presented with the Best Traditional Music Act award by The Irish World, the largest newspaper for the Irish community in Britain. She is a member of the Carlos Nunez band and tours both with them and as a solo artist.
General admission tickets are $10 at the Franco center and Skye Theater. They may be purchased by calling the FAHC at 689-2000, visiting francoamericanheritage.org and at the door; or by calling Skye at 562-4445. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12.50 at the door at Lakeside Theater on Main Street in Rangeley. They may be purchased at the theater, online at rangeleymovies.com or by calling 864-5000.
There will be a preshow jam at 6:15 p.m. at FAHC and at Skye when audience members are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam for a few minutes with the artists. Curtain is at 7 p.m. for all three venues. New England Celtic Arts is presenting the concerts in partnership with the Franco center. For more information, log on to www.necelticarts.com.