We Banjo 3
One of the best live acts to come out of Ireland in recent years is the multi-award-winning We Banjo 3. With a seven-time all-Ireland banjo champ, a four-time banjo champ, and another member who is an all-Ireland champ on both fiddle and bodhran, and with a passionate lead vocalist like a young Bruce Springsteen adopted by The Chieftains, the result is truly unforgettable. On both sides of the Atlantic, the word is out about this group – and on Friday, March 2, these Galway boys will come to Maine to perform at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor.
We Banjo 3 performed at the Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., attended by House Speaker Paul Ryan, former President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny. The group has headlined virtually every major U.S. Celtic festival for several years in a row. We Banjo 3 has rapidly gained favor in the bluegrass and Americana world on this side of the Atlantic, as evidenced by its invites to Merlefest, ROMP Fest, Sisters Folk Fest, Old Settlers Fest, Four Corners Fest, and others.
“It’s as if the Punch Brothers, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, and The Chieftains all got together for a battle of the bands but decided to pool their resources instead. The future of world music has arrived,” said Elmore Magazine.
“The wondrous weave of Enda Scahill’s banjo with those of brothers Martin and David Howley, along with the trio’s other tight-knit instrumentation and David’s uniquely expressive vocals, makes We Banjo 3’s recent release “Roots of the Banjo Tree” one of the most impressive debut recordings in several years. These three ultra-talented Irish performers deliver hallowed musical traditions from Ireland and America with a freshness and finesse bordering on magical,” said music writer Earle Hitchner, of The Wall Street Journal .
This evening of music, coined ”Celtgrass” by We Banjo 3, kicks off at 7:30 p.m., with doors for seating opening at 7 p.m. Advance discounted tickets are $25 and are available directly from the box office at 86 Townsend Ave. in Boothbay Harbor or by calling 633-5159. Regularly priced tickets, at $30, are available online at boothbayoperahouse.com and at the door on the night of the show.
