‘Ring of Kerry’ Irish group, and dancers celebrate Celtic culture and tradition
Ring of Kerry is a group that takes its name from a beautiful, craggy drive in southwestern County Kerry, Ireland.
On Saturday, Celtic music lovers in Borderland can take a musical journey to the isle of green when Ring of Kerry as well as Celtic step dancers perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Backus Community Center.
“Since this is Ring of Kerry's first show in International Falls, we are thrilled to be able come to the northern-most part of Minnesota to light the fire of Irish music in the hearts of the audience,” Paul Cotton of Ring of Kerry told The Journal.
“Our concert in the Falls will feature high-energy and ruggedly beautiful acoustic music, as well as the colorful Irish step dancing of very talented young women.”
Joining the band in its Backus concert will be two members of the St. Paul Irish Dancers. They will perform traditional step dances in full Irish costumes.
All five of the group’s musicians sing and play several instruments. “With sounds that range from the thunder of the Irish bodhran drum to the sparkle of the hammered dulcimer; from the lilt and rhythm of fiddle and guitar to the haunting wails of the flute and penny whistles; the band has developed a blend that is animated, ruggedly beautiful and fun,” say promoters. The musicians get close to their audience, joking, ribbing and sharing music that allows the audience to react.
“Ring of Kerry concerts have been enthusiastically received by a wide range of audiences. In the 10 years we've been playing Irish music together, we have heard thousands of positive comments ...,” Cotton said. “... various groups of people — young, old, middle-aged, folkies, rockers, and classical listeners — tell how much they appreciate what we do.”
Cotton said that audience members who love traditional Celtic music will feel very much at home during the show. But, he added, those who are new to Irish and Scottish music will also be captured by the rousing melodies and amazing dancing.
The band blends a mixture of the very traditional instruments like fiddle, penny whistle, and guitar with lesser known ones like hammered dulcimer, bodhran drum and cello to create a sound all its own. “One of Ring of Kerry's trademarks in performance is the powerhouse vocals,” Cotton said.
Russell Letson, a writer for “Guitar” magazine wrote, "Ring of Kerry is in love with the music that the Irish and Scots took with them as they made their way from the Old World to the new. Here are tunes sweet and raucous, rough and smooth; tunes for dancing or drinking or loving or even working; songs about railroads and robbers, farms and pubs and the odd battlefield.
“The accents here might be mid-American, but the sentiments cross oceans and centuries with ease. This is living music, played live and lively, so raise your glasses and dance and sing along."
Ring of Kerry has released two CDs and is currently working on its third recording.
Tickets for Ring of Kerry are $12, adults; $6, students; and $30 for a family. They are available at City Drug and the Backus Office in International Falls; Betty's in Fort Frances; and at the door.
A Top the Tater supper, open to the public, will precede the concert at 4:30-7 p.m. The price is $6 per meal which includes a baked potato, toppings, salad, dessert and a beverage.
If you go:
WHAT: Concert by Ring of Kerry
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Backus Community Center
TICKETS: $12, adults; $6, students; $30, family; available at City Drug and the Backus Office in the Falls; and Betty’s in Fort Frances.
