By Michael Horton

For good people, dedicated fans and trad music novices alike, experience the music of Dervish and Paddy Keenan in the acoustically engineered and rebuilt Napa Valley Opera House. Although this event is fundraiser for the Community Action of Napa Valley Family Shelter Project, my efforts with this are admittedly selfish.

Talking about the music of Dervish and Paddy Keenan is akin to preaching to the saved in these pages, but therein lies the magic. You certainly don't need me to tell you what a national treasure uilleann piper Paddy Keenan and the band Dervish are to Ireland. Their talent is a treasure for all of us. I had the luck to see them do a set together once. Their musical sky split open raining faerie dust on us all. Time stretched, twisted and collapsed on itself, geography and politics rendered meaningless, and the whole chain of human history past and future became manifested in the urgency of now. The uncluttered articulate detail of their musical performance went from an intimate whisper to a light speed expression of heart: the real within a reel, if you will. Something that defies language took place on that stage. Before you find me beyond reason, it should suffice to say I had a spiritually grounding, emotionally healing community connection during a grand musical experience. Looking about to those around me, I was not alone in this. I began making plans to bring that sound experience to Napa for completely selfish reasons. First, I live there. Second, I wanted to see lightning strike twice. Third was for the acoustics. I have played music at certain events in years past. I have experienced what certain rooms can do for the sound of a performance. The aforementioned show I'd seen, for all the great sound and magic it produced, was in a tent, a good tent it was, but a tent. The Napa Valley Opera House has been through an extensive rebuild and the theatre is now a finely tuned instrument to reflect and resonate the dynamics and velocity of sound that comes from these fine Irish musicians. The acoustic engineering that went into the Napa Valley Opera House rebuild is evident to everyone within earshot of the stage. With only sixteen rows to the stage, there is not a bad seat in the house, and a fine box for the best air sculptors to work in. I became determined to share this experience to benefit my own community and shout out to the musicians and music that continue to inspire me every day. A fine time to be alive!

The event includes a pre show silent auction, open bar and tasty treats available. Premium seat ticket holders are invited to an informal after show reception with the Paddy Keenan and Dervish, with sparkling wine pouring by Artesa Winery included! The magic does not stop there however. The Sisters of Fate may have a hand on this thread as well. Faith in the past, Hope for the future, and Charity for now. All proceeds from this event go to help homeless families in the Napa Valley. My wish for you is to have a healing experience while healing others.