The Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall welcomes a return engagement by celebrated Irish-American band Cherish the Ladies on Friday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m. This concert is part of the Performing Arts Center's 2007-2008 Great Performers Series, presented by M&T Bank.
Tickets for Cherish the Ladies are $32 each, with a discount for seniors and rush tickets for students. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the Rockwell Hall Box Office, 1300 Elmwood Ave., by calling 716-878-3005 or online at www.buffalostate.edu/pac. Box Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The first all-women Irish music ensemble, Cherish the Ladies, celebrates their roots with sensational singing and exuberant Celtic music. The commanding stage presence of these five multitalented musicians matches their elaborate and clever songwriting. All of the arrangements are brought forth with a new freshness by the use of the group's unique Celtic instrumentation (penny whistles, fiddles, accordion, concertina, piano, guitar, mandolin, banjo, flutes) and beautiful harmonies, then heightened by the inclusion of world-class Irish stepdancing.
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. For two decades, 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. 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 to 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 group has toured 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 have been named Best Musical Group of the Year by the BBC and Entertainment Group of the Year by the Irish Voice Newspaper. The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall named them International Group of the Year at the Celtic Connections Festival in Scotland and NPR Radio's "Thistle and Shamrock" voted them Top North American Celtic act.
The Ladies have recorded eleven highly acclaimed albums. With Woman of the House, their latest release on Rounder Records, Cherish the Ladies cement their reputation as one of the finest ensembles of Celtic musicians on either side of the Atlantic. The group recorded much of Woman of the House in Scotland with many of their talented friends from the festival. The resulting combination of reels, jigs and heart-rending ballads is a glorious celebration of a thriving musical tradition. Critics have hailed this the best Cherish Album to date. The album has placed on the Billboard World Music Charts Top 10.
The Great Performers Series is sponsored by M&T Bank and WBFO.