FARMINGTON – New England Celtic Arts in collaboration Patriot Renewables Masters Series will present highly acclaimed Irish flautist and vocalist Shannon Heaton with her new project “After the Morning” at the North Church for the Farmington Historical Society on Thursday, June 4. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to bring their musical instruments to the 6:15 p.m. jam session.
With Irish flute player/singer Shannon Heaton at the helm, After the Morning nestles stirring traditional melodies in a sublime string quartet bed. Imagine Beethoven meets Diane Reeves in a pub in Galway: a masterful fusion of contemporary sophistication and traditional folk music appeal.
The band had its start when Heaton (IAN 2009 Female Musician of the Year; Live Ireland 2010 and 2011 Female Artist of the Year) was invited to premiere a new collaboration for the 2015 Boston Celtic Music Fest. Laura Cortese’s Dance Cards anchored the debut performance. Since then Heaton has crafted these full-hearted string accompaniments for a handful of quartets around the world.
Like her work with acclaimed husband and wife duo Matt and Shannon Heaton and NPR-celebrated ensemble Childsplay, After the Morning’s music blends new compositions with a timeless spirit, and old ballads with a modern twist. The style and approach is deeply rooted in the Irish tradition, but there are also references to the Thai traditional music Heaton learned as a kid in Suphanburi, the classical compositional techniques she studied as a music student at Northwestern University and the jazz and pop music she grew up listening to.
Whether performing in scenic New England, a lakeside Midwestern town or rural Thailand, Heaton brings a passion for bridging musical words and bringing traditional music to wide audiences.
The North Church is located at 118 High Street in Farmington. For reservations call: 207-778-2006. Concert ticket price is $15. More info available at http://www.necelticarts.com.
