Melanie Beth Curran and Ruskavellas
It's an Evening of Irish American Song with Melanie Beth Curran and Ruskavellas! Join us at the heart of it all, The Cobblestone, and melt back into the arms of history, songstery, and folklore. Melanie is joined by Boston-based fiddler Gwen Johnston and Dublin's own Ruskavellas, Seán Fitzgerald and Ben Strong, two fellows who bring poetry, praises, odes, lays and romances back to life.
Melanie Beth Curran brings the living history of Irish American folk music on tour to Ireland this summer. Melanie is a New York City-based folklorist, traditional musician, and writer. She is the author of “Happy Within: An Irish American Songbook”. Her live performance “takes you on this journey through the evolution of Irish American music” -Rick Steves Monday Night Travel, by “pulling field recordings through the annals of time and sharing them with a new generation of folk music enthusiasts.” -Courtney Fox (@thefoxandtheivy).
Curran’s performance transports listeners back and forth over centuries of musical history and landscape, all while “shifting narratives around the Irish-American experience through music” -Hannah Mayree, Black Banjo Reclamation Project. Fans of traditional American song, hidden histories, and Irish musicality will delight in Curran's performance of forgotten traditionals and “rousing originals” -The Irish Echo. Melanie was a Fulbright recipient for her work documenting the living musical traditions of Bretagne, France. She is accompanied on tour by Boston-based fiddler Gwen Johnston.
“We had the privilege of catching one of Melanie’s shows in Rhode Island a few months ago and were blown away. Her Irish American songbook is incredible, as well as her deep research and commitment to keeping these songs alive.” -Jason Principi, Thee Phibbs