Cumberland’s Blackstone River Theatre will host The Strayaways for a Sunday, Oct. 25, matinee at 3 p.m. The trio brings together Irish traditional musicians Kevin Burke, Dylan Foley and Eamon O’Leary, whose careers span fiddle performance, championship competition and songwriting.
The theatre’s listing describes The Strayaways as “an Irish traditional music trio featuring a collaboration between acclaimed musicians Kevin Burke, Dylan Foley and Eamon O’Leary.” The show was also reported by The Valley Breeze. The performance is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, according to Blackstone River Theatre.
Three Distinct Paths Into Irish Traditional Music
Kevin Burke was born in London and raised in Sligo, Ireland. Blackstone River Theatre’s listing notes his National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship and work with the Bothy Band, Patrick Street, Open House and Celtic Fiddle Festival.
Burke’s website says he has been active in traditional music since the 1970s. In 2016, he received Ireland’s Gradam Ceoil award for Traditional Musician of the Year, according to his website. The National Endowment for the Arts describes its National Heritage Fellowships as the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts, recognizing recipients’ artistic excellence, lifetime achievement and contributions to traditional arts heritage.
Foley’s Championships and Hudson Valley Roots
Dylan Foley grew up in the Catskills and is a four-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, according to the theatre. Foley told the Times Herald-Record that he won titles in different age categories; his most recent was in 2014 in County Sligo, Ireland.
Reporting by hudsonvalleyone.com describes Irish music classes in the Hudson Valley as part of a broader effort by the ICCHV to sustain traditional Irish culture outside Ireland.
Songs and Strings Beyond the Fiddle
Eamon O’Leary, who is from Dublin, adds vocals and songwriting to the trio’s lineup. Blackstone River Theatre identifies him as a singer, songwriter and accompanist who plays bouzouki and guitar. A news release described his songs as “beautiful, crystalline songs.”
A Venue Rooted in the Blackstone River Valley
Blackstone River Theatre says it began hosting performances in September 2000, following a four-year, all-volunteer renovation. Its stated mission is to preserve and support diverse music, dance and visual-art traditions, with an emphasis on those of groups that settled in the Blackstone River Valley.
Tickets are available at brtri.org, and the Blackstone River Theatre accepts reservations by phone at 401-725-9272. Admission costs $28 in advance and $32 on the day of the show. The Sunday matinee is scheduled to take place at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland.
