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Sept. 13: Celtic band Story Road playing in Lockwood 

Story Road

Story Road band.

St. Luke’s Church will present Celtic band Story Road performing a lively brew of Irish, Scottish, American, and original music

Following up on the success of their Spring 2013 tour, acclaimed traditional musicians Colleen Raney, Johnny B. Connolly, Stuart Mason, and John Weed are teaming up for another West Coast tour, again performing as the new Celtic quartet Story Road. From the Pacific Northwest down to the Central Coast of California, Story Road brings a lively brew of Irish, Scottish, American, and original music that ranges from delicate to hard-driving, with a few surprises in the mix.

Singers don’t often come with much more history in the craft than Irish-American singer Colleen Raney. She’s been singing for more than three decades, and has been immersed in America’s Celtic music and dance scene for just as long. Raised in Seattle, previously based in New York, and now calling Portland, Oregon home, Raney has established herself as a respected artist among her peers. In the last several years, Colleen has translated the tapestry of her upbringing in Seattle’s multi-talented Raney family into several recordings, and now her songs can be heard on radio from Dublin, to New York, to Maui. A forthcoming collaboration recorded in Ireland with Aidan Brennan is set for release in October of 2013.

Acordionist Johnny B. Connolly was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. He began playing when he was eight and by age 15 he was a regular feature around his hometown, performing with musicians sometimes twice his age. Johnny’s dexterity on the accordion earned him a place with the established Celtic ensemble Anam at the age of seventeen. In 1996 Johnny seized an opportunity to bring his skills to America. In 2001 he signed with Green Linnet Records and released his first album entitled Bridgetown, named after his adopted hometown of Portland. While based in Portland, Johnny tours internationally, performing at festivals, concerts, and schools.

John Weed and Stuart Mason are members of Molly’s Revenge, a dynamic, acoustic Celtic band known for its unique and infectious enthusiasm. Molly’s Revenge has performed at many of the top folk festivals and performing arts events in the USA, and prestigious events in Australia, Scotland, and China. They have appeared on stage with John Doyle, Liz Carroll, Aaron Jones, and other top Celtic artists. “There is an engaging freshness and yet an impressive maturity in their playing.” –Mick Moloney, National Heritage Award recipient.

An accomplished fiddler across genres, John Weed has lived in Ireland and immersed himself in the traditional styles of Clare and Donegal. The result is an old-time Irish fiddling style that compliments his forays into bluegrass, swing, and other American music. A classically trained violinist, John leverages his understanding of the instrument to coax emotion from every tune. Stuart Mason has been collecting and performing traditional music for over 30 years. He has appeared on stage from Ireland to China performing Celtic, old time bluegrass, and his original compositions, which have won awards from the West Coast Songwriters Association.

Story Road Performers

  • Colleen Raney – vocals, bodhrán, guitar
  • Stuart Mason – guitar, mandola, vocals
  • John Weed – fiddle, vocals
  • Johnny B. Connolly – button accordions

 

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About the author: Publisher Scott Brennan

Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Follow him on Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog.