The Chieftains' Traditional Irish Sound Comes To Scottsdale

Ireland's honorary musical ambassadors, The Chieftains, will bring the Emerald Isle sound to Scottsdale a few weeks ahead of St. Patrick's Day with a performance at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 27, in the Virginia G. Piper Theater at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Six-time Grammy Award winners, The Chieftains are recognized for calling the world's attention to traditional Irish music, blending classic cultural sounds with a modern approach. For more than 55 years, they have uncovered the wealth of traditional Irish tunes that have accumulated over the centuries, while making the music their own.

The online music guide AllMusic writes: "Music this beautifully articulated allows cultures to talk to one another across time, space, language, and other divides."

Formed in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, The Chieftains drew from the ranks of the top folk musicians in Ireland. Although their early following was purely a folk audience, the range and variety of their music quickly captured a broader fan base.

In 2012, The Boston Globe described a 50th anniversary performance by The Chieftains as "electrifying" and said the band members and their music "seem ageless."

Never afraid to shock purists and push boundaries, The Chieftains have amassed a wide-ranging résumé in the past half-century. They were the first Western group to perform on the Great Wall of China and they joined Pink Floyd's Roger Waters for a 1990 performance of "The Wall" in Berlin. The band also has played inside the U.S. Capitol and before Queen Elizabeth and Pope John Paul II. They've even collaborated with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station who recorded a flute part for the group's 2012 album, "Voice of Ages."

Now the most popular traditional Irish folk group in the world, The Chieftains are known for their collaborations with other musicians, from fellow Irish performers (Sinead O'Connor, The Corrs) to legendary acts (The Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson) to contemporary indie bands (Bon Iver, The Decemberists).

Moloney, who plays the uilleann pipes and tin whistle, is joined by fiddler Seán Keane, vocalist and bodhrán (Irish drum) player Kevin Conneff and flautist Matt Molloy as they continue to push traditional Irish folk music past its limits, while still honoring their roots.

Tickets:
$79 (M $71) / $59 / $49

Supporting Sponsor: Piper Jaffray

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SCOTTSDALE ARTS Through its partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts (formerly known as Scottsdale Cultural Council) creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a regionally and nationally significant, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through three acclaimed divisions - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) and Scottsdale Public Art - serving more than 400,000 participants annually.

SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Since 1975, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has provided a stage for a wide range of artists and genres, creating shared, inspiring experiences for the community that celebrate artistic excellence and cultural awareness. Today one of the premier performing-arts halls in the western United States, the Center presents a diverse season of music, dance, theater, comedy and film from around the world.

LOCATION AND PARKING Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is located at 7380 E. Second St. in downtown Scottsdale. Free parking is available in the public parking garage located to the west of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Wells Fargo Avenue. Additional free parking is available at the Old Town Parking Corral at East Second Street and Brown Avenue and at the Civic Center Library parking garage located on Drinkwater Boulevard at East Second Street.

ACCESSIBILITY Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers performance accommodations to enhance audience members' experience, including: American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation or live audio description with two weeks advance notice. Assistive-listening devices and wheelchair seating are also available. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/visit/accessibility/ or contact the Member and Patron Services Box Office at 480-499-TKTS (8587) [TDD: 480-874-4694] for further details. Please inquire about services when ordering tickets.

TICKET DISCOUNTS Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers a variety of ticket discounts for Scottsdale Arts members at the Friends level and above, groups of 10 or more and those purchasing packages to four or more events in one order. The Center provides free tickets to selected events for eligible students, teachers and active-duty military and veterans, and 50 percent off tickets to selected events for patrons 29 and under. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/visit/tickets-discounts/ or call 480-499-TKTS (8587) for more information.

THE STORE The award-winning Store at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts supports the mission and diverse programs of the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts. The Store's unique selection of merchandise includes artist-made jewelry, stylish furnishings for home and office, unique creations by Arizona artists, fair-trade and upcycled/recycled global crafts, music, books, greeting cards and imaginative toys. Purchases are tax free, and members receive a 10 percent discount. Gift wrapping and shipping are also available. The Store is open seven days a week: Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.; and throughout most evening events. Phone: 480-874-4644.

HOW TO REACH US Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts 7380 E. Second St. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org 480-499-TKTS (8587)

Photo: Kevin Kelly