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Texas Performing Arts Presents: Maura O'Connell & Solas

Presented by Texas Performing Arts at Bass Concert Hall

March 2, 2012

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 Texas Performing Arts celebrates the best of Celtic music with an extraordinary double-bill featuring Irish singing sensation, Maura O’Connell, and the internationally acclaimed Celtic super-group, Solas.

Irish-born singer Maura O'Connell combines traditional Celtic music with modern folk sensibilities to create an unmistakable sound. From her days as lead singer of DeDanaan to a successful solo career, O'Connell has earned a legion of fans around the world. Her ground breaking musical penchant for blending Celtic traditions with a wide variety of other genres has led to collaborations with Van Morrison, Bela Fleck, James Taylor, Nanci Griffith, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, The Chieftains and Roseanne Cash.

Solas is the quintessential Irish-American band recording and touring in the US today. Fifteen years ago, in a manner befitting their name (Gaelic for "light”), Solas burst onto the Irish music scene and instantly became a beacon – an incandescent ensemble that found contemporary relevance in timeless traditions without ever stooping to clichés. Anchored by founding members Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistles, guitars, bodhran), and Winifred Horan (violins, vocals), Solas is rounded out by Mick McAuley (accordians, low whistle, concertina, vocals), Eamon McElholm (guitars, keyboards, vocals), and newest member and lead singer, Niamh Varian-Barry. Through fresh and unexpected arrangements of age-old tunes, compelling and topical originals and covers, and unparalleled musicianship, Solas continues to define the path for the Celtic music world and drive the genre forward.

Solas will be performing songs from their upcoming album Shamrock City – their most ambitious project to date. Shamrock City tells the story of Butte, MT, a mining town at the turn of the 20th century, as seen through the eyes of an Irish immigrant and Seamus Egan’s great-great uncle, Michael Conway. With an EP of five songs available at gigs, as well as visuals and stories incorporated into the live show, fans will get a taste of the full album, to be released in early 2013.