Sunday, October 12th at 4pm
at the Littlefield Celtic Center
1124 Cleveland Ave. Mount Vernon, WA
Tickets $30 general/$25 CAF members
Accordionist John Whelan and fiddler Brian Conway will join forces on October 12th in what will prove to be a powerful duet. Bothe are all-Ireland Champions, and both are masters of their instruments.
For over 50 years John Whelan has been hailed as one of the world’s best living Irish button accordion players. Originally from England and now based on the US West Coast, the seven-time All-Ireland champion fearlessly explores the creative reaches of music, artistry, and expression while carefully preserving the musical roots from which he originally flourished and passing those on to the next generation.
As a celebrated recording artist, John has recorded more than 15 CDs, appeared on more than 30 albums with other artists, and spent several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard World Music Charts. John is also a sought-after composer and producer and has written more than 65 original tunes, many of which have been recorded and performed by artists all over the world. He is widely recognized for forming the John Whelan Band, and also his duo performances with Grammy Award-winning fiddle player Eileen Ivers during the first years of Riverdance.
New York born fiddler Brian Conway is a leading exponent of the tastefully ornamented Sligo fiddling style made famous by the late Michael Coleman. The winner of two All- Ireland junior titles in 1973 and 1974 and the All-Ireland senior championship of 1986, Brian's early studies were with his father Jim of Plumbridge, County Tyrone, and with Limerick born fiddler/teacher Martin Mulvihill. However, it was the legendary fiddler and composer Martin Wynne who taught him the real secrets of the County Sligo style. Later, Brian met and befriended the great Andy McGann of New York, a direct student of Michael Coleman, who further shaped his precision and skill on the instrument.
In 1979, Brian recorded a duet album, The Apple In Winter (Green Linnet) with fellow New York fiddler Tony Demarco. He released his debut solo CD, First through the Gate, on the Smithsonian-Folkways label in July 2002. In 2007, Brian released a CD titled A Tribute to Andy McGann on the prestigious Irish Label Cló Iar-Chonnachta. This CD pairs up Irish Music legends Joe Burke and Felix Dolan along with Brian in a CD which has received glowing accolades since it's release in the summer of 2007. Brian followed this CD with a much-anticipated Solo CD titled "Consider the Source" in deference to the rich environment from which Brian learned his music. Brian followed up that recording with the highly acclaimed “Pride of New York” and, in 2016, recorded with the group “Gailfean” featuring John Whelan, Mairtin DeCogain and Don Penzien.
In 2025 Brian released his long awaited third solo album titled Wallace Avenue in collaboration with Brendan Dolan. The title pays homage to the street Brian grew up on in the Bronx where he first learned so much of his music from his father Jim and later Martin Wynne. Brian also features over 20 of his top former and present students on a track on the CD showcasing Brian’s prowess as one of the greatest instructors teaching Irish music today.
Doors will open at 3:30pm and music will begin at 4pm. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
Members receive a discount on tickets to this show. To become a Celtic Arts Foundation member, please visit www.celticarts.org
Concert goers can take advantage of 15% off of the best available rate at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Burlington–just mention the Celtic Arts Foundation when booking.
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