Last modified: Monday, February 14, 2011
IU Auditorium presents world-renowned Irish folk band The Chieftains
WHAT: The Chieftains
WHEN: March 1, 8 p.m.
WHERE: IU Auditorium
TICKETS: $19-$40 for IU Bloomington students with a valid ID, and $40-$55 for general public, on sale now. Individual tickets may be purchased online at IUauditorium.com, in person at the IU Auditorium Box Office, as well as through Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. The IU Auditorium Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 14, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Chieftains popularized Irish music by seamlessly melding traditional Celtic and modern music for a sound like no other. Now, the band is bringing its unique sound back to IU Auditorium March 1 at 8 p.m.
The Chieftains
Band founder Paddy Moloney initially brought together masters of fiddle, flute, tin whistle and bodhran to form the group, later adding harp and vocals. Although the band's early following was a folk audience, the range and variation of its music quickly captured a much broader public, making The Chieftains the best-known Irish band in the world.
The group has collaborated with symphonies, folk singers, bluegrass musicians, rockers, pop singers and traditional Irish musicians, resulting in six Grammy Award-winning albums, 18 Grammy nominations and an Emmy Award, among other honors.
The Chieftains' most recent tour is in support of its new critically acclaimed album San Patricio (Spanish for St. Patrick), which tells the nearly forgotten story of the brave San Patricio battalion, a group of Irish immigrants who deserted the U.S. Army in 1846 to fight on the Mexican side against the invading Yankees in the Mexican-American War. The album lists more than 90 contributors and has been praised for its novel and effective blending of Irish and Mexican folk styles.
"In 2011, The Chieftains' performances could be better described as a 'big show' or a 'spectacular,' rather than a concert," said Moloney. "There will be upwards of 12 people on stage at all times, with the addition of local musicians, special guests I'm not allowed to divulge, anywhere from six to 20 local dancers on a couple of pieces and the Scottish pipe bands performing the 'March to Battle,' which was narrated by Liam Neeson for San Patricio."
Since The Chieftains' debut album in 1962, the band hasbeen involved in events both intimate and historic. It was the first musical group to perform on the Great Wall; took part in Roger Waters' "The Wall" performance in Berlin in 1990; and was the first band to give a concert in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., at the invitation of former Speaker of the House "Tip" O'Neill. The Chieftains have also performed for the Pope and at a memorial service honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The Chieftains brought Irish music to the world and created a legacy of groundbreaking collaborations and phenomenal music in the process," said Doug Booher, director of IU Auditorium. "Their latest tour furthers the band's history of excellent quality and revolutionary style in a performance that will inspire old and new fans alike."
For more information on The Chieftains and all 2010-2011 season shows at IU Auditorium visit IUauditorium.com. The website features video clips and a selection of songs from this season's performances, in addition to a direct link to the IU Auditorium Facebook Fan Page and Twitter page, whose members receive exclusive benefits throughout the year.
The Chieftains performance is sponsored by Indiana University Foundation, WFIU, WTIU, Ivy Tech Community College, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, and Hilliard Lyons. The IU Auditorium 2010-2011 season is presented by Curry Auto Center, B97, the Herald-Times, Indiana University Document Service Center, and Indiana University Residential Programs and Services.
