The Chieftains, a legendary Irish bandâ along with special guests Liadan, an all-female Irish band, plus step dancers Jon and Nathan Pilatzke, Irish harpist Triona Marshall, traditional Irish dancer Cara Butler and keyboardist/vocalist Ryan MacNeil will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park.
Tickets for the Center for the Performing Arts presentation are $42 for adults, $28 for University Park students and $36 for a people 18 and younger. For tickets and information, visit http://www.cpa.psu.edu/ or call (814) 863-0255. Outside the local calling area, dial (800) ARTS-TIX. Tickets also are available at Eisenhower Auditorium, Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State Tickets Downtown and HUB-Robeson Center.
Paddy Moloney, the uillean pipes player who started the Dublin band in 1962 and serves as its music director, is joined by Kevin Conneff (bodhran, vocals), Sean Keane (fiddle) and Matt Molloy (flute).
The band, which plays traditional Celtic music, has released more than 40 albums -- among them collaborations with the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Sting, James Galway, Linda Ronstadt and Los Lobos -- and earned six Grammy Awards and 19 Grammy nominations.
"Live From Dublin: A Tribute to Derek Bell," a homage to the longtime band mate who died in 2002, was among the nominees for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 2006 Grammys. The group's 2006 release, "The Essential Chieftains," is a two-disc gathering of gems from across the decades. The Eisenhower concert is scheduled to include selections from both albums.
Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring a visiting artist or local expert, is offered in Eisenhower Auditorium one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders. Artistic Viewpoints regularly fills to capacity. Seating is available on a first-arrival basis.