Irish Music & Musicians in Santa Barbara -

Dannsair consists of Emily Sommermann & Karl Burrelsman– Fiddles, Linda Holland - Flute, Russ Doherty – Guitar & Vocals, Jocelyn Tipple - Whistle, Andrea Arrendondo - Vocals, Siobhan Doherty - Vocals, Nick Moore & Kevin Kinsella - Percussion and Armand Renga on Double Bass. The various members have been performing on and off for seven years. Their styles are incredibly well suited to each other with the emotional Irish melodies melding into jazzy undertones, classical phrasing and danceable rhythms. Russ & Siobhan have performed or recorded with a wide variety of musicians including: The Chieftains, Dennis Cahill (Martin Hayes), Matt Molloy, Donogh Hennessy (Lunasa), Eilis Kennedy, Natalie MacMaster, Allison Moorer (Songcatcher), Mick Conneely, The Beach Boys, Kenny Loggins. Steppenwolf, Pat Broderick and Gilles Apap.

Currently performing Thursdays at Dargan’s Irish Pub and Sundays at The James Joyce in Santa Barbara Dannsair draws an eclectic following interested in traditional, world and Irish music. The dancers always seem to follow the band as well as listeners interested in current trends in Irish music. Three current CDs: Galicia, Rias Medias and Mists of Ennistymon are available for purchase. Go to the Albums & Books page for info. The tune book, for learning the songs on the CD, will be available for purchase soon.

A YouTube video of Dannsair with Uilleann piper Micheal Eskin sitting in is available for viewing at: http://www.tradlessons.com/?page_id=71.

A typical performance YouTube video of Dannsair at Dargan's is available for viewing at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cki70UQ3gnM

It features a Linda Holland composition "Ulysses' Lament" and 2 crowd favorites "Sporting Paddy" and "Hobart's Transformation." In one of the funnier reactions to the video one of our fans wrote that "Russ Doherty is the Mick Jagger of Irish Music." We do get a little fast on the uptempo tunes.

Thanks for listening.