Bua was awarded the Irish Music Awards’ 2009 “Top Traditional Group”. Bua is a quartet comprised of some of the most talented young musicians in the US. Bua plays Irish traditional music with “a precision and intensity that is rarely heard on this side of the Atlantic.” Their sound stands out among modern bands in the genre by “keeping the music down the path of tradition.” Their 2011 release, Down the Green Fields, finds Bua further down that path where the band explores forgotten sounds and inspirations with a blend of enchantingly stark song arrangements and bold, earthy dance tunes. An early review of Bua’s 2011 release, calls it “a testament, from beginning to end, of the lasting essentials of the Irish tradition.” Bua has performed at many of the top Irish and folk festivals in North America including the National Folk Festival, the Milwaukee Irish Festival, the Lowell Folk Festival, the Dublin Irish Festival, Celtic Fest Chicago, the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, CityFolk, Catskills Irish Arts Week and Bethlehem’s Celtic Classic.
Overview of the Festival
Evening Concert: Bua will play at Beall Hall at University of Oregon, 8 PM, Friday, March 9th, 2012. The opening performance will be McG's: Hannah McGowan (fiddle) and Sean McGowan (guitar). No Alcohol Permitted.
The McG's
Daytime Festival: Saturday, March 10th, 2012, 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Sheldon High School (2455 Willakenzie Rd Eugene, OR 97401):
Additional Performers: Sheldon Dublinairs & Sheldon Choir, Murray Irish Dancers, The McG's (Traditional Irish/Celtic Music), Eugene Recorder Ensemble (Turlough O'Carolan tunes), Ceili Mhor (Traditional Irish/Celtic Music), Yvonne Young (Irish Stories), Harp Circle (Traditional Irish/Celtic Music) and Celtic Duo (Linda Danielson and Janet Naylor)
Music Workshops: Irish Music on Fiddle - Intermediate to Advanced Level (Devin Shepherd), Introduction to Irish Music on Fiddle (Hannah McGowan), How to Play Guitar at an Irish Session (Brian Miller), Irish Music on Flute and Tin Whistle (Sean Gavin), Irish Songs (Brían Ó hAirt), Uilleann Pipes (Eliot Grasso), All About Irish Music (Peggy Hinsman), Presentation and Performance about Turlough O'Carolan (Eugene Recorder Ensemble)
Art Workshops: Basket Weaving (Sheila Tasker), How to Draw Celtic Knots (Anne Merydith) and Irish Calligraphy (Anne Merydith)
Irish Language Workshops: To be announced
History Workshops/Presentations: Presentation and Performance about Turlough O'Carolan (Eugene Recorder Ensemble), About Irish Music (Peggy Hinsman), Genealogy - How to Trace Your Ancestors Back to Ireland (Dawn Carlisle), and still trying to confirm two others.
Sports: Hurling Match, and trying to verify a Hurling presentation.
Family Activities: Crafts and activities for all ages that help you learn more about Ireland and Irish culture
Irish Session: Bring your instrument, join the group and play Irish and other Celtic music with the others at the session.
Vendors: Performer's CDs/DVDs/Books, Raffle Tickets, T-Shirts From Previous Festival Years, Eugene Irish Cultural Festival Magnets, Eugene Irish Cultural Festival Mugs, Eugene Irish Cultural Festival Pens, Celtic Fantasy (Celtic designs on shirt and cards), Deliberate Innocence Books (lots of Irish books) and more to be announced.
Food & Drink: The South Eugene High School Culinary Group will be our food vendor this year.
