January 3, 2006
The rollicking Celtic and country music blend of Canadian band Leahy—comprised of eight talented brothers and sisters—makes its Santa Barbara debut at UCSB Campbell Hall
Summary Facts:
- Leahy
- The awe-inspiring eight-member brother and sister act from Canada
- The Juno Award-winning performers brew up a wonderful Celtic/country music mix
- Acclaimed in the U.S. since their 1998 PBS special Leahy in Concert
- Sunday, February 12 / 7 pm
- UCSB Campbell Hall
- General public: $40 / UCSB students: $19
- Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535
The eight brothers and sisters of the band Leahy will perform a beguiling brew of Celtic and country music, full of high spirits, toe-tapping tunes, energetic step-dancing and instrumental virtuosity on Sunday, February 12 at 7 pm at UCSB Campbell Hall. Like fellow Canadian Natalie MacMaster, Leahy is acclaimed for its rousing live shows. The oldest brother Donnell, one of the best fiddlers in the world, and the rest of his talented clan were turning heads even before they were hand-picked to open for Shania Twain on her 1999 world tour. Time Out New York asserts their live performances “make Riverdance look like Lawrence Welk re-runs.”
The Leahy clan grew up in Lakefield, Ontario where ancestor Michael Leahy settled in 1825, bringing with him from Ireland a deep family musical tradition. Each of the Leahy children learned to play fiddle from their father Frank, while their mother Julie, a champion step-dancer born and raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, taught them to sing, dance and play piano. As teenagers on breaks from school or farm work, the siblings gained popularity touring as the Leahy Family, traveling across Canada to play fairs and festivals. Their recognition increased with the release of a student documentary about them entitled Leahy: Music Most of All that won an Academy Award in 1985 for Best Foreign Student Film.
In 1996 the group burst onto the Canadian recording scene with the release of its debut self-titled CD. Subsequent touring earned Leahy three Juno Awards, as Best Instrumental Group and Best New Group in 1997 and as Best Country Group or Duo in 1998. Pop/country star Shania Twain saw Leahy’s live performance on the 1998 Juno Awards telecast and invited the group to join her upcoming two-year worldwide tour. Leahy was instantaneously catapulted into an international spotlight, performing in stadiums and amphitheatres, where they were routinely rewarded with standing ovations. Leahy played 175 tour dates with Twain and appeared on her two U.S. television network specials. When the tour came to Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times wrote, “For all of Twain’s showmanship and allure, the musical heart of the evening was Leahy. Its approach seems so gloriously free of commercial pollution...this is an act whose music is invigorating.”
In 2004 Leahy released its most recent album In All Things, a follow-up to their double platinum album Leahy, and has since reached combined sales of over 400,000 units. In All Things takes the listener on another fascinating journey across different genres and musical cultures. There are the trademark instrumental pieces like “Pointe Au Pic Medley” (an homage to their Quebecois influences), “Gzowski Medley” (inspired by their respect for the cultural icon Peter Gzowski, one of the best-loved broadcasters in Canada), “Wedding Day Jig,” and “Chasing Rain,” a tune capturing the step dancing element that’s always a key part of the Leahy live experience. The group has taken similarly impressive strides forward with the vocal tracks on In All Things. The dramatic “High Places” showcases their sonic adventurousness, “Coyote” and “Runaway” are bright melodic pop songs, and “I Want You To Know” is a haunting ballad, featuring pure vocals and eloquent fiddle playing.
Leahy is Donnell (fiddle, dancer), Maria (guitar, piano, fiddle, singer, dancer), Frank (drums, fiddle, dancer), Agnes (dancer, piano, fiddle, singer), Doug (fiddle, dancer), Angus (fiddle, piano, dancer), Siobheann (bass, piano, fiddle, singer, dancer), Erin (keyboards, fiddle, singer, dancer).
Leahy is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and sponsored by the Goleta Valley Voice and Buttonwood Wines. Tickets are $40 for the general public and $19 for UCSB students who must show valid ID at ticket purchase and the evening of the show. Ticket prices are subject to convenience fees. Tickets are on sale now and can also be purchased at the door, if still available.
For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.
Editor: For photos, please call
George Yatchisin at (805) 893-3494.