Sun 8 Nov 2009
Holy Trinity Parish Hall
2926 Beaver Ave., Des Moines, IA
Doors open at 7:00
Concert starts at 8:00
We are besides ourselves on this one. February 13th, Saturday Night, Valentine’s Day Weekend, have we got a treat for you. Some old friends had an open date and asked if they could stop by. It is our pleasure to oblige.
When describing Cherish the Ladies, the critics say it best – “It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do,” The Boston Globe, “An astonishing array of virtuosity,” The Washington Post, “Expands the annals of Irish music in America…the music is passionate, tender and rambunctious,” The New York Times – and for the past eighteen years, Cherish the Ladies have proven themselves worthy to live up to these accolades and in doing so have become one of the most engaging ensembles in the history of Irish music.
They have grown from a one-time concert concept to an Irish traditional music sensation, literally the most successful and sought-after Irish-American group in Celtic music. Organized by folklorist/musician Mick Moloney and sponsored by the Ethnic Folk Arts Center and the National Endowment for the Arts, they began as a concert series featuring the brightest lights in Irish traditional music. Taking their name from the name of a traditional Irish jig, the group initially won recognition as the first and only all-women traditional Irish band. In a relatively short time, they soon established themselves as musicians and performers without peer and have won many thousands of listeners and fans of their music. With their unique spectacular blend of virtuosi instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing, this powerhouse group combines all the facets of Irish traditional culture and puts it forth in an immensely humorous and entertaining package.
The past years have seen the group traveling all over North and South America, the United Kingdom and Europe, Australia and New Zealand performing in the finest concert halls and international festivals. They are equally at home in front of a symphony orchestra, a performing arts center, a folk festival or even the White House.
Cherish the Ladies Web Site
Mon 1 Feb 2010
Malinky was a great band. Truly a great Scottish folk band with beautiful harmonies, masterful musicianship, and wonderful tales to go along with the songs. One of my favorite from the concert was that of the Drunked Duck.
You see, the Drunked Duck is a pub in Northern England, around the Newcastle area. Apparently there is an interesting story for this aptly named establishment. The owner, an elderly lady, came across a batch of bad beer, and didn’t know what to do with it. After some deliberation, she decided to pour the bad batch of beer into the duck pond behind the pub. Much to her dismay, the next day, she found all the ducks in the pond laying dead.
Well, this woman was resourceful and didn’t want the event to be much of a tragedy. She decided to make the most of the situation by putting the ducks on the menu for the evening, Beer Braised Duck, if you will. She gather the lifeless ducks, brought them into the kitchen, and plucked them of all their feathers before preparing them for the evening meal.
Well, as business goes, she was called up front to wait on patrons, and when she got back to the kitchen, she found the ducks very much alive, although obviously impaired from their drunkenness, and now, naked and perplexed on their nakedness, stumbling around the kitchen in a stupor.
So the ducks made it after all. The women kindly made them all wooly sweaters and everyone got along nicely after that.
Cheers!
Wed 27 Jan 2010
A few updates for our friends on ticket sales and availability.
First, Malinky…
Ticket sales are going well. Chances are we will sell out after the concert begins. We have capacity for an audience of 400. We continue to sell tickets about half way through the first set. Given ticket sales to date, which have been strong, we’ll have ticket for purchase at the door, but we might sell out about 8 o’clock. This estimate comes from experience, and not any hard numbers. Best bet is to get there early if you don’t have tickets. If you do have tickets, well, get there early so you can get a good seat. If you do show up a wee bit late, no worries, we’re a friendly crew and we’ll be glad to help you find a seat.
Second, Cherish The Ladies.
By all measures, this concert will sell out quickly. Pre sale tickets were offered as part of the Winter Ticket Package, of which we’ve sold 100. Tickets will first be offered to those attending the Malinky concert this Saturday, January 30th. The remaining tickets will be distributed to our ticket outlets in Des Moines, and will be available on IowaTix.com. Once the concert has sold out, we will post a message here on the web site.
Third, Slide
Tradionally, the March concert sells out. With Slide as the attraction and their atomic personae, you’re going to want to get your tickets early. Tickets are currently available online through IowaTix.com. Tickets will be available at the Cherish the Ladies concert, and the remainder will be become available at our local ticket outlets and Iowatix.com. We should have a number of tickets the night of the show, but we’ll keep you posted here on the web site.
As always, drop us a line if you have any direct questions. We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Sun 17 Jan 2010
Recently, we’ve had a few Celtic music lovers ask if there was any policy on children coming to the concerts.
We absolutely love children. We rarely have a show that isn’t completely family friendly. If you ever have any questions about the appropriateness of our acts, please send us an e-mail and we’ll share our opinions so you can make an informed decision. Otherwise, children of all ages are welcome to attend, enjoy the show, and get up and dance along with everyone else.
We do not have a set policy on ticket prices for children, but our general rule is “half price”. We expect to formalize the pricing in our next board meeting.
Thanks for your friendship and we’ll see you at the next show!
Sun 8 Nov 2009
OFFER EXPIRES JANUARY 22ND!!!!
For $50 ($45 for Friends), receive one ticket for each concert in 2010
- Malinky, January 30th
- Cherish the Ladies, February 13th
- Slide, March 6th
The Winter 2010 ticket package is available by check only through our regular postal address:
The Celtic Music Association
PO Box 30001
Des Moines, Iowa 50310
The Winter 2010 ticket package is not available through our ticket outlets or through Iowa Tix. You can still buy tickets to the individual concerts from CMA board members, at the ticket outlets, or at the door at the usual prices. Tickets will sell out quickly. Order your tickets soon!
We will take orders for the package until January 15th, 2010. If the order is received by December 15th, we will make every effort to have the tickets in your mailbox before Christmas. After January 15th, 2010, this ticket package will no longer be available.
Sun 8 Nov 2009
Scotland’s finest folksong quintet 
Malinky has a reputation as one of Scotland’s most distinctive and accomplished folk bands. They have a hallmark song-based repertoire, performed by three superb lead vocalists and arrayed with tastefully inventive instrumentation. Make sure to catch this rising star in the Celtic music scene on their North American Tour.
- “May be the finest young Scottish band since Silly Wizard” Boston Globe
- “Malinky should be one of the folk bands of 2009″ The Guardian, UK
- “Scots music at its most evocative” MOJO
- “producing great music…another gem of Scottish folk” Irish Music Magazine
- “a class act…just gets better each time you play it” fRoots
- “just glorious” Living Tradition • _____ Rock’n’Reel
- BOSTON GLOBE TOP 10 PICK OF 2008
- FOLK BAND OF THE YEAR NOMINEE, SCOTTISH TRAD MUSIC AWARDS 2008
Malinky web site
