Outdoor Concert Series: An Evening of Irish Music and Dance

Sharing the stage for the first time, four Irish music masters based in New England will showcase fiddle music, step dancing, and old-style singing. Performing both individually and collaboratively, artists include: Traditional dancer Kevin Doyle, designated as a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts; Bridget Fitzgerald, performer of the Irish traditional style of unaccompanied singing known as sean nos (Old style); fiddle player Dan Foster who will play tunes from his extensive repertoire and provide accompaniment for Kevin’s dancing; and Mary Lee Partington, a singer/songwriter inspired by local traditions and stories who is an apprentice to Bridget, learning sean nos songs.

These brilliant artists share a deep love for Irish heritage as expressed through music and dance. Committed to passing on their knowledge to up-and-coming practitioners who will carry the traditions forward, all have participated in the CHS-based Southern New England Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

The concert will take place on the beautiful CHS lawns at 1 Elizabeth St., Hartford. Grounds are open for seating and picnicking from 5 PM, and the music begins at 6 PM. All of the CHS outdoor concerts are free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and food. Rain Date Friday, June 22. 

This concert opens the third season of the Connecticut Historical Society’s outdoor concert series on summer third Thursdays with generous support from the Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Trust Fund, Bank of America N.A., Trustee; and the National Endowment for the Arts and the CT Office of the Arts/DECD.

The concert is part of Make Music Day, a global celebration of live, free music in over 800 places including ten Connecticut cities. Hartford’s participation is being coordinated by the Greater Hartford Arts Council.