Songs of Love, Lust, and the Arrival of Spring May 10, 2019
The ancient Irish festival of Beltane (May Day) signaled the end of winter and the coming of summer. Come hear Washington, D.C.’s award-winning Celtic ensemble the OCEAN Celtic Quartet in a program of traditional and original music celebrating the return of the sun and the greening of the land. OCEAN’s soaring vocals, fiery fiddle tunes, and rollicking button accordion will have your heart swelling and your toes tapping, while you sing along with songs that stretch back for centuries . . . songs of love, lust, and everything in between. In addition to seasonal music, enjoy dramatic readings of May poetry from the Middle Ages up through the 1800s . . . even a special guest appearance by the ancient Green Man, also known as Jack-in-the-Green!
OCEAN’s members are bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Jennifer Cutting (a Washington Area Music Association Musician of the Year); mesmerizing vocalist Chris Noyes (formerly of the maritime music group Crab Alley); champion Scottish fiddler Andrew Dodds; and traditional singer/Ph.D. folklorist Stephen Winick.
“Nothing short of spellbinding.” —The Washington Post
Join us for this joyful celebration to mark the end of the cold and dark and the return of the light and warmth. If you don’t have spring fever when you come, you’ll definitely catch it by the time this concert is over!
MAGPIE (Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner) have been playing music together since 1973, and this concert marks their incredible 45th anniversary of playing in D.C. Since their last appearance at Carroll Café they have released a new CD–When We Stand Together: Songs of Joe Hill, the IWW and Fellow Workers.
A gifted singer of jazz and blues in the tradition of Connie Boswell and Billie Holiday Terry is equally comfortable with the subtle beauty of traditional folk and contemporary songs and has an uncanny ability to find the perfect harmony line. She is also an excellent player of the harmonica, mandolin, fretted dulcimer, and rhythm guitar.
Greg is an outstanding guitarist whose fingerpicking forms the solid basis of Magpie’s sound, providing whatever is called for, from slow Scots airs and plaintive ballads to rollicking ragtime blues and infectious swing. His high baritone voice has equal range, and his captivating interpretation gives power and beauty to the full spectrum, from growling blues, to a Chilean lament, to a sweet croon.
From the beginning Terry and Greg’s interests in various musical styles have led them to be eclectic in their repertoire. Internationally known for their musical work in the environmental movement, Magpie is also well known for their performances of hard-hitting topical songs and are regular performers on Phil Ochs Song Nights, organized by Phil’s sister, Sonny Ochs.
Magpie has been on hiatus since early June, so come help welcome them back to the stage!
OCEAN’s members are bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Jennifer Cutting (a Washington Area Music Association Musician of the Year); mesmerizing vocalist Chris Noyes (formerly of the maritime music group Crab Alley); champion Scottish fiddler Andrew Dodds; and traditional singer/Ph.D. folklorist Stephen Winick.
