Old Blind Dogs in Concert September 7, 2008

RE: Old Blind Dogs in concert
When: Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 7:00pm. Doors open at 6pm.
Where: The Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen St. Flagstaff
Contact: Kari Barton, 928-600-1365 or Kari@LivingTraditionsPresentations.com
Description: Old Blind Dogs are a Scottish band that have entertained Flagstaff audiences for 16 years. Simply the best Scottish folk band out there today.

Living Traditions Presentations is excited to bring to you once again, the Old Blind Dogs. This band was our first official presentation ever in October 2004, but under various organizations, Ron and Kari Barton have been bringing Celtic music to Flagstaff for 20 years.
Old Blind Dogs has been one of my favorite bands since they first played in Flagstaff around 1993. They have been through personnel changes over the years and now are back to a four piece band, with a new piper, Ali Hutton. This band is entertaining for audiences of all ages and never disappoint! Come see the Old Blind Dogs September 7, 2008 at 7:00pm (please note the earlier start time) at The Orpheum in downtown Flagstaff. Tickets are available at Animas Trading Company, Rainbow’s End, www.orpheumpresents.com, and Cedar Music. Email Kari@LivingTraditionsPresentations.com for more information or call 928-600-1365. This concert is brought to you by Living Traditions Presentations.

About the new album:
New CD, new line-up, very recognisable sound...Old Blind Dogs are now Fraser Stone (percussion), Aaron Jones (bouzouki/guitar), Ali Hutton (pipes) and the only remaining founder member Jonny Hardie (fiddle). They continue their habit of many years of treating the tradition with respect...but not too much respect… New-boy vocalist Aaron Jones brings his own sound to the OBDs as well. It's more reminiscent of the intense, occasionally almost snarly Ian F. Benzie sound of yore than of the creamy, melliflous tones of Jim Malcolm, and the OBDs seem to have adjusted their choice of songs to take account of that. – The Living Tradition Magazine.

Awards:
We have recently learned of another award for the album 'Four on the Floor'. The CD picked up the award for best album in the Celtic category of the recent IAP Awards. The Indie Acoustic Project is dedicated to giving recognition to outstanding works of innovative acoustic (or mainly acoustic) music.

SCOTTISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR The ROSAS awards
Four on the Floor – Old Blind Dogs
Simply the best Scottish folk band out there today. They have survived personnel changes and thrived. Aaron, Johnny, Rory, and Frazer have brought all of their amazing talents to this album, holding nothing back. Original arrangements of traditional tunes and songs that will steal your heart away. Live on stage they never disappoint, always true to their traditional heart, Old Blind Dogs are not afraid of change and this album 'Four on the Floor' is a brilliant collection of what Old Blind Dogs are all about. Great stuff, their best album yet.

Buille - May 15, 2008

Living Traditions Presentations is proud to bring you another Irish music experience, by the name of Buille. ‘Buílle’ means blow, stroke or beat, or in this presenter’s opinion, you’ll be blown away by the artistry and amazing music performed by these three well-known musicians. This concert is sponsored by NAU Community Music and Dance Academy and Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society. Buille will be performing Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 7:30pm in Ashurst Auditorium on NAU’s north campus. Doors will open at 7:00pm. Tickets are available from NAU Central Ticketing (928-523-5661) Cedar Music, or Jitters Coffee. Tickets are $25, $23 for NACHS, FFOTM, NAU/CCC Faculty/Staff, and Seniors, and $15 for children (17 and under) and NAU/CCC students.
About the Band
Buille first came into being during the summer of 2004. It combines the unique talents of Niall Vallely on concertina, Paul Meehan on guitar and Caoimhín Vallely on piano. They have just completed their debut album which will be released on the Vertical label in June. The album consists mostly of new music composed by Niall Vallely over the past couple of years. While based in traditional Irish forms, the music draws on a wide range of influences from the worlds of jazz and classical music in particular.
Armagh-born Niall Vallely has established himself in recent years as one of the most original and distinctive voices in Irish music. A former member of Cork-based band NOMOS, he has been acclaimed throughout the world as one of Ireland's greatest concertina players. He has played with Michaél Ó Súilleabháin, Karen Casey, Tim O’Brien, Paddy Keenan, and many others.
Paul grew up and started learning Irish music in Manchester in the midst of a flourishing scene . In his early teens Paul moved back to Middletown, County Armagh with his family. He quickly established himself as a rising star on the banjo, while more recently spending a lot of time on the guitar. He has toured with Karen Casey band and is a member of Lunasa. He’s also performed with Altan, Paddy Keenan, Tommy Peoples, Liz Carroll, and many others.
Like his older brother, Niall, Caoimhín grew up in Armagh and began tin whistle lessons at the Armagh Pipers Club before moving on to learn the fiddle. He also started classical piano lessons at this time.
What the experts think…
Together “Buille is as fresh a breath that's blown through traditional (and roots) circles in a long, long time.” – The Irish Times “Buílle is mostly Niall's own tunes, often in the Irish or Scottish idiom, and invariably played with the type of flair and musicality which most of us can only wonder at…Miss it if you dare.” – Irish Music Magazine
“…of all the albums issued in pursuit of the holy grail of trad-jazz-classical fusion, "Buille" ranks near the top in vision and execution. If Niall Vallely, Caoimhín Vallely, and Paul Meehan have not quite hit upon something startlingly new in sound, they have most assuredly raised that sound to a new level of skill, sophistication, and soul worthy of any Irish music devotee's interest.” - Irish Echo