PORTLAND — Mayo Street Arts will present an evening of traditional Irish song and dance with Fódhla at Mayo Street Arts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7.
Fódhla brings both high energy and stellar artistry to the traditional music stage. The evening’s performance will also feature special guest Irish dancer Kieran Jordan.
The trio’s sound is firmly rooted in the traditional Irish melodies and ornamentation that fiddler Ellery Klein and flute player Nicole Rabata honed during years spent abroad in Ireland’s cities Cork, Limerick and Ennis. Fiddle and flute tunes are superbly supported by guitarist Bethany Waickman, whose inventive, tasteful chords unfold with driving rhythm perfected from years of playing in the New England contradance scene.
Cognizant of their North American roots, Fódhla appeals to a broad audience by bringing variety, inventive harmonies and unique arrangements to traditional music. A typical concert starts off with high-energy traditional sets of Irish reels and jigs. Fiddle and flute then trade melody and harmonies on a Québécois waltz paired with an elegant French bourrée. A joyful and toe-tapping pair of barn dances soar out on a high note. Finally, the soft notes of guitar bring in a melancholy, exquisite slow air–music that often brings out audible sighs from the audience.
Mayo Street Arts is a welcoming community arts center in the heart of Portland’s Kennedy Park neighborhood. The organization’s building serves as a performance venue, gallery, and gathering space, and offers affordable studios and rehearsal space for artists. Mayo Street Arts’ programming embraces variety, with a particular focus on puppetry and folk music and dance.
Tickets to see the traditional Irish song and dance are available for $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Pay-what-you-can options are available to support accessibility. Visitwww.mayostreetarts.org for ticket links and more information.
