Name: Téada
Start: 2026-03-22T19:00:00
Location: Blackstone River Theatre

Get ready to embark on a musical journey celebrating the richness of global folk traditions with a series of captivating performances at the Blackstone River Theatre. This upcoming season, the theatre hosts an array of talented artists who blend traditional sounds with modern influences, offering a diverse lineup that spans Irish, Celtic, Scandinavian, Tuvan, and Québécois music. From the legendary Irish band Lúnasa to the unique throat singing of Alash, these events promise to bring the world to your doorstep through the universal language of music.

Celebrating Global Folk Traditions: A Journey Through Music at Blackstone River Theatre

Samantha Harvey

Oisín Mac Diarmada

Paul Finn

Damien Stenson

Seán Mc Elwain

Tristan Rosenstock

Téada

Blackstone River Theatre

ALASH are masters of Tuvan throat singing (xöömei), a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. What distinguishes this group from earlier generations of Tuvan throat singers is the subtle infusion of modern influences into their traditional music. One can find complex harmonies, western instruments, and contemporary song forms in Alash’s music, but its overall sound and spirit remain decidedly Tuvan. Trained in traditional Tuvan music since childhood, the Alash musicians studied at Kyzyl Arts College just as Tuva was beginning to open up to the West. They formed a traditional ensemble and won multiple awards for traditional throat singing in international xöömei competitions, both as an ensemble and as individuals. At the same time, they paid close attention to new trends coming out of the West. They have borrowed newideas that mesh well with the sound and feel of traditional Tuvan music, but they have never sacrificed the integrity of their own heritage in an effort to make their music more popular. Alash first toured the U.S. under the sponsorship of the OpenWorld Leadership program of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts. Since then they have returned many times, to the delight of American audiences. The Washington Post described their music as “utterly stunning,” saying that after the performance “audience members picked their jaws up off the floor.”

Alash – Masters of Tuvan throat singing

The word été in French means summer – a fitting tribute to how this trio’s original, lively take on Québec traditional music is infused with a new vitality. With lush vocal harmonies, deep groove, and rich instrumentation, É.T.É are an explosive trio on stage, transforming the nostalgia of a kitchen party into an unforgettable show experience that celebrates the joie de vivre of Québecois culture. É.T.É are Élisabeth Moquin (fiddle, step-dancing, vocals), Thierry Clouette (bouzouki, vocals), and Élisabeth Giroux (cello, vocals). Awarded the 2020 Gala GAMIQ Album of the Year award in Traditional Music, plus the OPUS prize for “Discovery of the Year 2017-2018” among many other accolades since their first album release in 2017, this trio is winning over the hearts of listeners worldwide, young and old alike.

É.T.É – Music from Quebec

If you like your Celtic music loud, this concert is for you! At long last, Blackstone River Theatre hosts the return of Tempest, celebrating 38 years of Celtic Rock music! Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy Folk Rock, fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 30-plus years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area-based act release 18 critically acclaimed albums, and play more than 2,500 gigs. The current line-up of the band features all the original members, performing a variety of selections from the band’s extensive repertoire, sparking with vitality and energy. Hailing from Oslo, Norway, founder and lead singer/electric mandolinist, Lief Sorbye, is recognized as a driving force in the modern folk-rock movement. He started Tempest after years of touring and recording on the folk circuit. He is joined by Bay Area native Rob Wullenjohn on guitar and San Diego’s Ian Butler on bass. Rob and Ian rejoined the band after performing an impromptu reunion concert in Berkeley, California, that rekindled the original spirit of Tempest. Vermont-born fiddler Jon Berger first joined the band in 1993. He is now back, bringing his passion for Celtic and British Isles traditional music. Audience favorite, Cuban-born drummer Adolfo Lazo, thickens the band’s sound with inventive rhythms, and rock-steady drumming. After more than three decades Adolfo has never missed a Tempest gig! Tempest is regularly featured at prestigious festivals such as The Philadelphia Folk Festival, and has also appeared at Denmark’s Skagen Festival, Britain’s Cropredy Festival and The Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada. The band is a mainstay at countless American Celtic festivals, as well.

Tempest – Celtic Rock

Twenty years on from winning the Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections, Breabach remain securely ranked amongst Scotland’s most skilled & imaginative contemporary-folk acts and at the forefront of the burgeoning traditional music scene. The band unites deep roots in Highland and Island Gaelic tradition alongside progressive musical influences and have cultivated a unique sound, anchoring double bagpipes, fiddle, whistle, step-dance and song with energetic double bass and guitar accompaniment. Versatility, love of experimentation and a willingness to push the boundaries of Scottish roots music have endured as the core values of the band over the past two decades. With 8 critically acclaimed studio releases to date, an extensive global touring schedule which has seen them perform from the Sydney Opera House to Central Park NY, and having received recognition with 6 BBC ALBA Traditional Music Awards, a 2023 German Record Critic’s Award, and as “European Folk Group of the year finalists” in the prestigious Songlines Awards. Breabach are: Megan Henderson (Fiddle/Vocals/Step Dance), James Lindsay (Double Bass/Vocals), Calum MacCrimmon (Highland Bagpipe/Whistle/Bouzouki/Vocals), Conal McDonagh (Highland Bagpipe/Uilleann pipes/Whistle/Vocals), and Ewan Robertson (Guitar/Cajon/Vocals).

Breabach – Music from Scotland

With multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards, Genticorum have earned a reputation as a leading voice in the evolution of Québécois traditional music. For over twenty years, the trio has earned a place of privilege on world, traditional, folk and Celtic music stages. Known for their unbridled energy, their musicianship, and their magnetic stage presence, Pascal Gemme and Yann Falquet, the group’s two founding members, are both recognized individually as major contributors to the trad music scene in Québec. Since 2015, they have been joined by accomplished multi-instrumentalist and composer Nicholas Williams (flute, accordion). Together, they weave precise and intricate fiddle, flute, and accordion work, gorgeous vocal harmonies,and energetic foot percussion and guitar accompaniment into a high-energy musical feast. The band was named “Ensemble of the Year” at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Pascal Gemme (fiddle, feet, voice) is widely recognized as a cultural ambassador for Québécois music. Yann Falquet is one of the most active and creative acoustic guitar players in the Québécois and New England music scenes. Since completing a bachelor’s degree in jazz, he has developed his own personal guitar style for Québec folk music. Nicholas Williams has developed a reputation as a versatile and sought-after musician in the traditional music scenes of Québec and New England. His rhythmic yet nuanced style of flute playing draws from Irish and Scottish traditions, as well as from his studies of classical North Indian music.

Genticorum

Today’s matinee concert will be presented with two sets and will feature special guest Fishel Michael Bresler! Multi-instrumentalists Cathy Clasper-Torch and Shelley Katsh bring years of music making and friendship to a virtuoso collaboration of musicianship and spirit. Their repertoire, as heard on their previous CD, “From the Inside Out” as well as on their 2024 CD “With Woven Hands” is infused with melodies ancient and contemporary – played “straight from the heart.” Clasper-Torch performs violin, cello, erhu and piano with a diverse range of RI-based bands and musicians, and has recorded on over 3 dozen albums. Cathy has also been the fiddle instructor at Blackstone River Theatre since 2006. Shelley Katsh, on piano and accordion, performed klezmer and Hassidic music with Fishel Bresler and a range of Boston-based klezmer musicians for 20 years. She currently accompanies and sings with several Rhode Island musical groups. Click link for video clip! IMG_1706 Cathy and Shelley will be joined today by Fishel Bresler on clarinet, flute, mandolin, guitar. After performing in venues from the street to Carnegie Hall in styles from bluegrass to vaudeville, Fishel studied klezmer clarinet and mandolin with recognized master Andy Statman. He has toured with mandolinist David Grisman’s ensemble, and spent thousands of hours in Chassidic communities collecting tunes and absorbing the music in its natural setting. For the past four decades, in addition to performing, he has been providing therapeutic music in settings such as Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Cathy Clasper-Torch & Shelley Katsh

Multistyle violinist and champion fiddler Mari Black delights audiences around the world with her energetic playing, sparkling stage presence, and virtuosic fiddling. Raised on a rich blend of traditional musical styles, Mari burst onto the international stage when she became Scotland’s Glenfiddich Fiddle Champion, 2-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and 2-time Canadian Maritime Fiddle Champion, all within a three-year period. Ever since then, she has been spreading her love for dance-based music, performing as a featured artist at performing arts centers, Celtic festivals, Scottish Highland Games, celebrated folk venues, world music concert series, and acclaimed classical venues including Carnegie Hall. A master of diverse musical styles and winner of several major international competitions, Mari sweeps her audiences away on a spirited musical adventure celebrating tradition and exploring possibility in the dance-driven music of the Celtic regions: Scotland, Ireland, Shetland, Canada, and more. She and her dynamic band featuring Adam Hendey on guitar and Noah Harrington on bass will treat you to an unforgettable experience that will have you tapping your toes and dancing in the aisles!

Mari Black Trio

Téada will be celebrating its 25th anniversary as a band just as Blackstone River Theatre celebrates its 25th anniversary year so this is a perfect match! A traditional band with a truly worldwide reach, Téada has appeared as a frequent headliner at major music festivals throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Russia, Israel and Australia. Highlights include a 30,000-capacity stadium concert in Brittany, along with performances at Rainforest World Music Festival & Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia, Edmonton Folk Festival in Canada, Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe and World Music Festival Taiwan. The band features Oisín Mac Diarmada – fiddle, Paul Finn – accordion, Damien Stenson – flute, Seán Mc Elwain – guitar, and Tristan Rosenstock – bodhrán. Dancer/pianist Samantha Harvey will be joining Téada on this year’s 25th anniversary U.S. tour. Their latest release on Gael Linn features special guest appearances by Hollywood actor and singer John C. Reilly and the late Séamus Begley, one of Ireland’s most beloved traditional singers and accordionists. Recent highlights include performances at the Dublin Irish Festival, Savannah Music Festival, and Montana Folk Festival (USA), as well as Festival Interceltique de Lorient (France)and the Irish Festival of Oulu (Finland) underscoring Téada’s continuing role as a vibrant ambassador for Irish culture worldwide.

Téada

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