Irish Music in Santa Barbara is alive & well.
Dannsair just finished its biggest St. Patrick's Day ever. 11 gigs in 6 days and all of them great shows with wonderful audiences. Our favorites were 2 performances with the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra. That is Leah Lucas soloing next to Russ on the left, with Susan Picking playing the bodhran next to Suzanne Duffy on flute on the right. Maestro Nir Kabaretti is conducting. We finished the concert both nights with a solo rendition of Star of Munster.

This year's CD recording will be in early May with the expected release sometime in the fall. Tentatively titled "Return to Middle River" the CD will feature a number of solos by Leah Lucas, Shivhan Dohse and Kristen Madler as well as some more of Russ' compositions.

Russ is headed back to Ireland again after the recording. This trip will again find him in Dingle and at the Fleadh in Ennis. Looking forward to it.

Last year's visit to the Willie Clancy School in Miltown Malbay was fun also. The weather in Ireland was beautiful on this trip, often nicer than Santa Barbara in July. The highlight was running into old friend Jan Nelson of SB Sheet Music and attending the Fiddle Recital at the school with her and relatives. With performers like Tommy & Siobhan Peoples, Paul Bradley, Gerry Harrington, Paddy Cronin, Paddy Canny, Mick Conneely, Paddy & Kevin Glackin, Joe Ryan, Máire O'Keeffe, John Kelly, Zoe Conway and Jerry O'Connor, among others, the Community Hall concert was incredible.

Dingle, Santa Barbara’s sister city – the gorgeous seaside town with 52 pubs for its 1,300 residents, was the favorite place on this trip. A concert in St. James’ church with Pauline Scanlon from the Sharon Shannon band & Donough Hennesey, the founding guitarist of Lunasa, was very emotional. Afterwards at the session, Donough shared a number of guitar tips with Russ while playing his seasoned Lowden guitars (one with a couple of holes – he still sounded great!). A conversation featuring friends, acquaintances, and free drinks was had with John T. Moriarity of Lord Baker’s restaurant and the Santa Barbara sister city committee. Saw Mazz Flaherty playing at her family’s pub. Dingle is such an inviting town.

Playing in Logan’s Traditional music club in Limerick with Bridie, Owen and the group was really nice as well as the Hiuidai Beag's session in Donegal with Francie Mooney. Francie is Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s dad, the incredible fiddler from Altan. That session was jam-packed with players from all over Donegal and Northern Ireland.

The Galway Arts Festival was packed. Lots of theater - “DruidSynge”, sessions in the Roisin Dubh and Tigh Neacton’s, street performers, comedians, and plenty of warm weather. Email me RussellDoherty@cox.net if you want some tips on where to play. Otherwise go to Irish Music Magazine at http://mag.irish-music.net/ for a fairly outdated session list or visit Mick Moloney’s http://www.irishfolkloretours.com website for hosted performing tours.

All photos on this website are by Sara Fretwell, Bethany Burns or Kathy Doherty. Except the above photo is by David Bazemore.