New England Celtic Arts will host the son of one of Ireland’s most famous musical families, Michael Black, at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage, Maine on Sunday, June 21 with the concert starting at 7 p.m. This is the first in a series of several special Sunday concerts being held at Skye Theatre this summer. A pre-show jam will start at 6:15 please bring your instruments and join in.

“Skye Theatre’s regular mid-week Wednesday dates are completely booked through the rest of the year. We have been inundated with requests from top Celtic artists from all over the world to play here at Skye this year and the only way we can accommodate them is to add the Sunday concert series to the mix”, said Phill McIntyre, Skye’s director. The highly popular Celtic concert series will include such artists as, Canada’s hot Celtic/Pop duo Madison Violet on July 12th; New Englander’s Ed Pearlman, David Surette and Susie Burke on Aug, 2nd; A very special pairing of two world famous Irish artists Dermit Hyde of “Pipeline” and Aofie Clancy of the famous “Clancy Legacy” on August 9th; Maine’s own favorite son, Dave Maillet with his band on August 23rd; Canada’s iconic legendary fiddler, Sandy MacIntyre on Aug. 30th. Eight other artists are booked in to complete the series this season and will be announced in the early Fall.

Michael Black is a member of Ireland’s foremost family of song. Michael, his brothers and sisters are regarded among the finest and most popular singers in Ireland today. Shay, Michael and Martin, along with their sisters, Mary and Frances, have been performers all their lives. Both parents were singers, with dad Kevin being an accomplished piper, fiddler and mandolin player.

Michael now resides in San Francisco and has taught at the University of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University. He first came to the United States in 1984 to attend the University of California at Berkeley, on a Masters Degree Program in Kinesiology. Twelve years later, he received his PhD in Sociology and he has remained in the bay area. Having left school at the age of 14, he spent 11 years working at the famous Arthur Guinness Brewery in Dublin. When he was 25, he got accepted at a small college in England to study Physical Education and he completed his B.Ed degree at the University of Limerick.
 
While in the U.S. he became very active in the music scene in San Francisco where he was a regular performer at the Plough and Stars pub for many years. As a banjo player and an accomplished guitarist he worked with many Irish artists including Paddy Keenan, John Whelan, Nollaig Casey and James Kelly. More recently Michael has rejuvenated his solo career, playing at various venues throughout the United States. In the past year he has performed in Maine, Utah, Texas, Philadelphia, and is planning a new solo album this year.
 
He remains an active athlete running twice or three times a week and is an A-rated squash player. He also plays league soccer and coaches an Irish soccer team in the Golden Gate Women’s Soccer League. His three daughters, Ciara, Maeve and Catriona all play soccer and are avid Irish dancers and will be performing with him at Skye.
 
Michael released his first solo album in July of 2007.  Simply titled, Michael Black, this album is Michael’s first solo CD and was produced by John Doyle. This CD features a variety of songs from shanties, to a song in Irish, anti-war songs and a number of chorus songs. Musicians on the album include John Doyle, Liz Carroll, Liz Knowles, Seamus Egan, John Williams, Chico Huff, Dirk Powell and backing vocals include John Doyle, Mary, Frances, Martin, Shay, Eoghan Scott, Danny and Roisin O’Reilly.

 
Skye Theater is located 3 miles West of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Rd and US RT. 2 in South Carthage. Ticket price is $10 at the door. Call New England Celtic Arts at (207) 562-4445 for reservations and directions. More information at: http://www.necelticarts.com