Join us for a festive celebration with John Doyle & Cathie Ryan.
John Doyle is the most influential Irish American guitarist of his generation. Born in Dublin, John came up in a family where “everybody played something,” and his father, singer and song collector Sean Doyle, nurtured his interest in the deep wellspring of Irish song. Doyle is a remarkable guitarist, a devoted ballad collector, and a celebrated songwriter. His professional career began at age 16 with the Irish band the Chanting House. Following his move to the U.S. three decades ago, he gained acclaim with Solás; among current projects is the noted trio the Alt, who played at the Richmond Folk Festival in 2015. Through his collaborations with nearly every noted Irish American musician playing today, Doyle is unquestionably one of the preeminent champions of Irish music in America.
Cathie Ryan first began singing as a child growing up in Detroit with the tutelage of her father Tim, a fine Irish tenor who had emigrated from Tipperary. Ryan took regular summer trips to Ireland where she found further inspiration in the singing of her paternal grandmother and from the storytelling of her maternal grandfather, a traditional seanachie (storyteller). Ryan was the original singer for Cherish the Ladies, an all-star ensemble of Irish American women musicians. Today she fronts the beloved Cathie Ryan Band, teaches traditional singing, leads cultural tours of Ireland, and is celebrated as one of the finest singers in Irish music.
Cathie and John have been musical collaborators for decades and Cathie is firmly a favorite for John for duo and small ensemble performances. Cathie’s long-standing as a highly regarded singer, songwriter, performer and educator is well-deserved in traditional music circles on both sides of the Atlantic. John has played guitar and helped to create arrangements for three of Cathie’s studio recordings, they have toured as a duo throughout Europe, are both members of The Irish Music Masters, are featured on the PBS’ television special The Soul of Christmas, and are long-time songwriting partners. Cathie and John’s songs are inspired by their love of traditional music, and two of those songs, Carrick-a-rede and Grace O’Malley, are now firmly in the Irish music repertoire.
John and Cathie are looking forward to being back on stage together and penning some new songs in celebration of Christmas time. An Irish Christmas will be woven through with song and stories from beloved carols, through favorite traditional tunes and airs, to newly composed songs for the season presented by two of Irish music’s most highly regarded performers.
