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Artist Interview
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MPN Now, Artist Interview >>
Eileen Ivers to highlight powerful traditions at Geneva performance
MPNnow.com —
Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul will “touch the hearts of the audience,” at The Smith Opera House this Friday, Feb. 24.
The Celtic musician has been called “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin” by The New York Times. She’ll bring her love of music and performing to the interactive concert — a multimedia blend of music, story, dance and film.
The concert will touch off her new CD, “Beyond the Bog Road,” to be released in 2012. The concert and album celebrate the journey of the Irish immigrant and showcases how Irish music and dance have integrated with various roots music of North America to create one of the richest cross-fertilizations of folk music styles in the world. The daughter of Irish immigrants, Ivers became rooted in Irish traditional music at age 8.
“Music is timeless.” Ivers said. “I love leaving the audience with joy and a positive message.”
Ivers was the lead fiddler in “Riverdance,” a founding member of the Irish music band Cherish the Ladies and has created movie soundtracks, including “Gangs of New York.”
Her performance at The Smith Opera House is the first stop on her tour.
“Musicians have open ears now, and enjoy the power of traditions and mix history and entertainment,” she said. “It will make for a great evening.”
Q and A with Eileen Ivers
You’ve played at The Smith Opera House several times. What brings you back?
I love playing the opera house, it’s got great acoustics. Obviously this (tour) is getting into St. Patty’s Day, so it will be fun getting back into it. I love that the band and I share a huge passion for performing live. It’s a blessing to be on stage, and a privilege. You want to have something to share.
What’s new for your music?
I’m working on a new record at the moment. I’ll play tunes from the recordings at the show. I love telling stories and connecting the music from the past. Over the past 400 years, Celtic music has integrated with African elements, with old-time bluegrass and others. We do a bluegrass set that shows that journey. It talks about the famine, and where Irish music is today.
What’s your mentality going on stage?
We have mindset of going into an interactive evening, get the crowd stompin’ feet, clapping hands and singing choruses. We’re coming out with great energy. It’s so palpable, and the audience gets we love being there. There’s a lot of raw energy and enthusiasm.
What can the audience expect?
There’s a ton of emotions and sentiments involved in the music, it definitely touches with the audience. Even a poem I recite about immigration, can be very infectious and rhythmic. Irish music has such a strong structure. It feels familiar. But it doesn’t have a huge percussion background. Through the years, it’s been fun to add a fuller drum for bass, and marrying the Irish music with African rhythms. The marriage makes it more accessible for the audience, and they really feel it.
02/22/12 >> go there
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